Ulster Universiy 4-15 Trinity 4-05

A excellent game in Crossmaglen on Tuesday, 28th January, saw Ulster University and Trinity battled it out in a fiercely contested game with the winners set to be crowned league winners. From the opening whistle, UU set the tempo, with early points coming from Cassie McArthur and Lara Devlin which gave them a good footing.

 Their strong start, however, was met with an immediate response from Trinity, who launched a long ball into the square. UU goalkeeper Eimear McGivern managed to block the initial effort, but an unfortunate deflection saw the ball find its way into the net, giving Trinity an early goal.

Undeterred by the setback, UU quickly responded with two well-taken points to bring the game level once again. The momentum shifted significantly in their favour when captain Evanne Martin produced a moment of brilliance, the Creggan star embarking on a spectacular solo run before striking the ball off her stick and over the bar from 50m out.

This ignited UU’s attacking play, and they took firm control of the first half. Fionnuala Kelly and Lara Devlin both found the net, adding to UU’s growing tally. Despite a determined response from Trinity, the halftime score stood at UU 2:9, Trinity 2:3, giving UU a well-earned six point cushion.

UU carried their dominance into the second half, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with well-placed points from Cassie McArthur and Fionnuala Kelly. Their relentless pressure paid off in the third quarter when they netted their third goal of the game, further solidifying their advantage. However, Trinity refused to back down, responding immediately with a goal of their own to keep themselves in contention.

As the game entered its final stages, both teams battled fiercely, leading to frantic goalmouth scrambles at both ends. Despite Trinity’s best efforts to close the gap, UU continued to find their scores, ensuring their lead remained intact. The match concluded with UU emerging victorious on a scoreline of 4:14 to 4:05, capping off a fantastic performance from all their players.

This was a game marked by skill, determination, and teamwork, with every UU player contributing to a well-deserved win. Their ability to respond to Trinity’s challenges, maintain control, and convert crucial chances was instrumental in their success. With such a strong showing, UU will look to carry this momentum forward into their next fixture.

1. Eimear McGivern
2. Alex Healey
3. Grace Daly
4. Carla McEldowney
5. Erin Coulter
6. Evanne Martin
7. Emily Fitzpartick
8. Sophie McGrath
9. Eimear Johnston
10. Kaitlin Gallagher
11. Aisling O’Donnell
12. Lara Devlin
13. Grace Cunningham
14. Cassie McArthur
15. Fionnuala Kelly

Replacements

Bronagh McCloskey for Lara Devlin (50mins)

Lia Kelly for Emily Fitzpatrick (50mins)

Nuala Devlin for Grace Cunningham (55mins) Aoibhinn Daly for Aisling O’Donnell (55mins