University of Galway go one better than last year in final

Ulster University Magee1-5

By Darren Kelly in Bekan

University of Galway gave Saturday the perfect ending as they were crowned Ui Mhaolagáin Cup champions, just four hours after their Ashbourne team went down in their semi-final.

It was a fitting victory for Louise O’Connor’s crew who’d lost the 2024 equivalent to University of Limerick. They led this game under lights from start to finish, even if Ulster University brought the deficit back to just one point during the third quarter.

Léana Nic Dhonncha set up Aoibhín Marren for a Galway point on two minutes before Alia Joyce helped Lisa English double their advantage. Two more English placed-balls put four between them, before Jennifer McNicholas’ run resulted in another point on 12 minutes.

Galway were dominant but Magee started growing into proceedings with Aoife McDowell’s free getting them off the mark on 14 minutes. Marren replied for the hosts but points for Caitlin Davidson and Orlaith Hull left just three between them, and that was the margin at half-time.

Aoife Kelly picked out Sarah Duffy for a 20th minute point but McDowell left the visitors’ deficit at just 0-7 to 0-4, and Galway had to repel an Ulster onslaught during the next 15 minutes.

Skehana-Menlough’s Jacqueline Glynn was Galway’s main first-half defender but Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Aoife Keane made no few than four important second-half interceptions as Magee tried to find a breakthrough.

At the other end, Nic Dhonncha put four between them, but Reece Armstrong’s charges were finally rewarded on 38 minutes when Naoise Hughes found McDowell for their goal.

However, University of Galway showed the character required to ensure they ended up in the winner’s enclosure. Points from Nic Dhonncha and two for English cancelled out the goal, before Hull left it 0-11 to 1-5 entering the final 10 minutes.

Galway came close to getting their own three-pointer as Dooley was denied by the side netting. That being said, they finished with three more points. English got two of them, the second from play, either side of Nic Dhonncha picking out Dooley for a point as they became the second Galway side to win silverware on the day.

University of Galway: C Higgins; A Keane, C Grealish, R Linnane; C Murray, J Glynn, J Nicholas (0-1); L Nic Dhonncha (0-2), N Ni Lachtnáin; L English (0-7, 0-4f), A Kelly, A Dooley (0-1); A Joyce, S Duffy (0-1), A Marren (0-2). Subs used: D Beston for Joyce (48mins), S McGann for Murray (60mins).

Pictured: University of Galway players and coaches celebrate after their side's victory in the Uí Mhaolagáin Cup final. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.