Smyth fires TUD to HEC final

TUD got the better of UCC on Wednesday in the O'Connor Cup

TUD 2-12

UCC 2-11

(After extra-time)

By Anthony Newman

TUD are through to the HEC O’Connor Cup final for the first time after their hard-fought win over UCC at the Mardyke on Wednesday night. Skryne's Ciara Smyth was influential and finished with five points.

It was a close game all through and an extra-time goal and point from Caoimhe Cregg proved the vital scores as the Dublin side ran out deserving winners against a UCC side beaten in the last two finals.

Defensively they were superb and they needed to be late on as UCC drove forward in search of scores.

TUD did all the early running and took the lead in the fourth minute when Katie Murphy pointed.

They doubled their lead three minutes later when Ciara Smyth scored from distance. Smyth added another to see TUD leading by 0-3 to no score after 10 minutes.

That became a four point lead when Angela McGuigan pointed as UCC had yet to get going.

A quick ball from Aine O’Neill to Emily Lacey got UCC off the mark, with Smyth replying at the other end.

Lacey got her second from a free, with Brid McMaugh getting UCC’s third as they were now much more in the game.

Lacey pointed to put one between the sides, 0-5 to 0-4 and with 22 minutes gone the home side were back on level terms.

A sweeping move from midfield, involving Kate Redmond and Emma Morrissey saw McMaugh get her second to make it 0-5 each.

TUD were unlucky not to get a goal with McGuigan’s effort coming back off the post after 27 minutes of play.

Redmond pointed from a free for UCC as they took the lead for the first time, before Cregg had TUD back on level terms.

Just before half-time UCC went back in front, when Lacey scored to see them lead by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

TUD retook the lead after 38 minutes when Aoife Byrne was quickest to react to the breaking ball after Niamh Divilly’s shot came back off the post.

Divilly increased their lead to 1-6 to 0-7 before Morrissey replied for UCC.

Smyth pointed from a free for TUD and Divilly pointed again to put them 1-9 to 0-8 in front.

UCC’s Grace Murphy had a shot on goal well saved by Niamh Byrne but with their next attack they found the back of the net.

Abigail Ring scored the vital goal, to make it 1-8 to 1-9 and with the last kick of the game Lacey equalised to take it to extra time.

Smyth and Ella O’Dell scored for TUD, with O’Neill replying for UCC to see the Dublin college in front by 1-11 to 1-10 at half time in extra time.

Then Cregg scored a superb goal with an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to put four between the sides. She followed up with a point to make it 2-12 to 1-10

O’Neill pulled a point back and late on Lacey goaled for UCC, but TUD stood strong to reach the final after a highly entertaining game.

TUD - N Byrne; S El Masry, G Gavin, A Nyhan; S Daly, N Divilly (0-2), D Egan; E Crowne, C Smyth (0-5); C Cregg (1-2), A McGuigan (0-1), A King; A Byrne (1-0), N Byrne, K Murphy (0-1). Sub: E O’Dell (0-1) for S Daly 45m.

UCC - S Murphy; N Martin, E Power, D Kiniry; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, N Martin; A Healy, K Redmond; A O’Neill (0-3), E Morrissey (0-1), R Ennis; L Hallahan, E Lacey (1-5), B McMaugh (0-2). Subs: A Ring (1-0) for L Hallahan 35m, G Murphy for R Ennis 45m, K Smith (Aghada) for B McMaugh 73m.

Referee: Paddy Smith, Waterford.