Lauren Boyle the difference maker as DkIT secure national crown

Moynihan Cup Final 2023

DkIT 2-6 ATU Sligo 2-6

Lauren Boyle was the difference maker on Friday evening as her two goals proved decisive in a hard-fought Moynihan Cup Final victory over ATU Sligo at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome.

The Cooley Kickhams sharpshooter found the net at vital stages in the first half, helping her team take a three point lead into the dressing rooms.

But in a low scoring affair, they were kept to just two points after the restart, which left the door open for the Girls from the Western College.

But their poor shooting ultimately cost them late on, with four of their final five shots wasted, meaning it was the Louth based side that secured the trophy for a second time in their history.

The tie was played at a very high intensity from the off, with the Karl O’Connor and Jack McNamee managed DkIT starting the brighter, dictating the pace of the game and dominating possession.

Ciara Mulligan was immense throughout, her ability to win possession, either in the air or from breaking balls being a huge help in creating opportunities, alongside some pacey solo running. Plus, she was well able to force turnovers with her tackling too.

The problem was they weren’t making it count on the scoreboard, with the girls in white letting eight chances go abegging in the first 10 minutes of action: three were dropped short, three went wide, one was blocked down and another hit the post.

In comparison ATU had just one effort in this time, a breakaway move involving Dearbhla Lynch and Megan Davey, showcasing how dominant DkIT were. But it ultimately led to Mia McDonald driving it wide.

The girls in Blue had another chance take to control of proceedings on 11 minutes, when they could’ve grabbed a goal.
Again, it was a breakaway move, this time Hannah Walsh and Lynch combining to tee up Niamh McDonagh. However, her fisted effort was dealt with nicely by Rebecca Lambe Fagan.

Just as they began to find some rhythm to their play, the Sligo side was dealt a huge blow when losing powerful runner Lisa Powell, who went down following one such run. It saw the game stopped for five minutes as the Eastern Harps clubwoman was stretchered off the field.

It didn’t stop them taking the lead with what was the first score of the game on 18 minutes, no surprise to see it was following a turnover. Holly Lambe Sally was dispossessed in her own half by Walsh, and it led to Orla Hennessy being fouled. From close range Lynch struck it over.

However their lead didn’t last long, as DkIT broke right up the field for the first of their two goals. A lovely diagonal ball from Niamh Rice found her club and Louth teammate Lauren Boyle in the corner. Despite having two defenders on her, she turned and unleashed a superb bullet past Lily Vickers.

Rice grew into the game from here and was constantly looking for the killer pass to set up her teammates, who despite the early misses are clearly talented shooters. But whenever getting Boyle free, that was when they looked at their most dangerous.

ATU bounced back via a free from Lynch, which was quickly cancelled out as Boyle tapped over a simple free of her own in the corner.

From here the momentum swung back towards Gavin Cawley’s side, who started to take a foothold around the middle, all while crucially forcing turnovers from DkIT kickouts. Front and centre during this period on top was Laois star Orla Hennessy.

She was ATU’s go-to playmaker throughout this contest and rarely were Dundalk able to stop her from soloing the ball into scorable positions.

They were also drawing a lot of fouls, with eight recorded in the opposition half in the opening period alone.
Four points in a row saw them regain the lead, but they too were slack during their purple patch, with three other attempts wasted.

But from here they were again contained by their opponents, bagging just one more score before the break.
The Girls in White outgunned them from here as Boyle, Rice and Aisling O’Doherty all raised white flags. However the second goal was what really put them in a prime position and it came on 36 minutes, shortly before half time.

Mia Duffy drifted back into the half forward line before floating an effort over the ATU defenders and into the path of Boyle. Three defenders were nearby, but none could get close enough to deny her as she landed another unbeatable strike past Vickers to leave them one up, 2-4 to 0-7.

The Sligo outfit were much more solid following the break, defending in packs and no longer leaving as much space for Boyle and Co to work their magic. It led to the DkIT forwards becoming isolated up top. Chances were slim, with just two points added from here to the full-time whistle.

Aoife Morrisroe was coming up the field a lot more and the extra body was a huge help for ATU and backed by the runs of Hennessy they were moving the ball well as a team. Three of the next four scores came their way, but a point from Mia Duffy kept Dundalk marginally in front.

They did eventually find their feet again and Rice ended an 11-minute barren spell with a crucial score. From here, opportunities came and went as DkIT failed to create any sort of significant gap at this late stage.

When the influential Ciara Mulligan was sinbinned for an off the ball incident, their supporters must’ve feared the worse, especially when a score in injury time from Mia McDonald reduced the gap to just a single point.

But they all dug deep in the final moments, keeping their nerve late on to stay in front and secure the Moynihan Cup for the first time since 2019.

DKIT: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Caoimhe Dooley, Holly Lambe-Sally, Rebecca Rooney; Megan Benson, Ciara Gilsenan, Caitlin O’Reilly; Ciara Mulligan, Ellen Brodigan; Aisling O’Doherty (0-1), Niamh Rice (0-2), Grace Treanor; Lauren Boyle (2-2, 0-2 frees), Gemma Grimes, Mia Duffy (0-1). Subs: Caitlin O’Brien for Grimes (HT), Chloe McQuillan for O’Doherty (47), Louise Johnson for Benson (49).

ATU SLIGO: Lily Vickers; Louise Merrick, Ellen O’Donoghue, Aoife Morrisroe; Niamh Beggan, Róisín Rodgers, Megan Davey; Éilis Keane, Lisa Powell; Dearbhla Lynch (0-4, 0-4 frees), Orla Hennessy (0-1), Niamh Boyle (0-1); Hannah Walsh, Niamh McDonagh (0-1), Mia McDonald (0-3). Subs: Ellen McNamara (0-1) for Powell (16), Ella O’Neill for Morrisroe (43), Laura Conway.

REFEREE: Justin Murphy (Cork).