Dundalk IT open up their Lynch Cup campaign with victory over UU Magee College

Dundalk IT 3-14 UU Magee 2-7

Dundalk IT opened up their Lynch Cup campaign with ten points to spare against UU Magee College in Dundalk on Tuesday evening, ensuring that they will have home advantage in their second round clash next week.

On the face of it, this outcome would indicate a routine victory for DKIT. However, the home side’s profligacy in front of the posts, which saw them score 1-6 from 20 first half shots, including 7 wides, and some brave last-ditch blocking from Mary Traynor and Hannah Mullan for the visitors, kept UU Magee in the game on occasions.

DKIT’s major arrived in the 22nd minute, and in a week when we saw Derry footballer Conor Glass score a goal in fortuitous fashion on Sunday, DKIT’s Mia Duffy’s strike for a point was spilled by Magee keeper Chloe McManus and crept into the net, which gave the Dundalk side a 1-6 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Apart from Duffy’s strike, there was nothing to choose between the sides, with UU Magee mainly relying on the free taking of Tyrone footballer Aoife Horrisk to keep them in contention. The talented forward who has played a key role in her county’s flawless start to Division 2, duly obliged, with UU Magee who were the only side to beat DKIT this season, once again proving tricky customers.

Along with her goal, Mia Duffy’s influence was seen all over this DKIT side. Finishing with 1-9 overall, Duffy’s free taking was crucial for the Dundalk side’s cause, while she saw her fair share of the ball, finishing with 27 possessions over the hour.

The St Kevins attacker played a key role in early scores from Rachel McCabe, as did another Louth player Caitlin O’Reilly, whose timely interception while cutting out a UU Magee attack, saw Rachel Casserly’s sweetly struck effort via the post, followed by a Duffy free ensure a 0-4 to 0-2 lead for DKIT inside the opening quarter.

However, with DKIT continuing to miss chances, which included a magnificent Chloe McManus save to deny Rachel Casserly, with Gemma Grimes’ follow up effort blocked, UU Magee were still in contention.

The visitors even had moments of their own, when the hardworking Leah Connolly set up Aoife McQuaid, whose effort was turned aside by DKIT custodian Rebecca Lambe Fagan, who also stood firm to deny McQuaid later in the half too.

Alongside Horrisk’s place kicking, Aoife McQuaid was lively inside, and both players found the range to draw the sides level at 0-4 each.

Anything Aoife Horrisk could do, Mia Duffy could do better, and 1-2 from Duffy, trading scores via both feet from Horrisk left DKIT with their noses ahead at the break by 1-6 to 0-6.

Second Half:

When the sides met in the league before Christmas, UU Magee hit DKIT with two early goals to pip their opponents on that occasion.

The Ulster side looked like they were about to repeat the feat, when goals from the lively McQuaid who was first to react to the loose ball after Lauren Rushe struck the bar, before Rushe got on the end of a flowing move involving effective ball carrier Maeve Devine gave the visitors a three point lead, leaving DKIT shellshocked.

A serious question was asked of DKIT, but an outstanding trait of this side is their ability to tackle adversity, and so it proved, as they outscored UU Magee by 1-8 to 0-1 in the final 25 minutes of this game, as they took it by the scruff of the neck, when it was required the most, forcing their opponents into turning over the ball, with forwards working as hard as defenders when out of possession, particularly DKIT’s Emer Finnegan.

Mia Duffy continued to sparkle at crucial moments, nailing some vital frees as DKIT clawed back this three point deficit, thanks to a fine Duffy strike from play, as well as two frees, one of which saw the hardworking Ciara Gilsenan fouled. The Oldcastle midfielder finished with 38 possessions over the hour.

The second period saw a more patient performance from DKIT, moving the ball with the foot from side to side, with Megan Benson, Ciara Gilsenan and Caitlin O’Reilly key to this, alongside Mia Duffy, while Louth defender Holly Lambe Sally continues to justify her return to the Louth fold as she nullified the influence of key players like Leah Connolly, and Aoife Horrisk, producing some key defensive turnovers in another outstanding performance in the white of DKIT, alongside Caoimhe Dooley and the Johnson twins Louise and Emily, with Clan na Gael’s Dearbhla Tinnelly a welcome return at full back.

Rachel Casserly, the heroine from the league final victory over ATU Sligo, was at it again, as two second half goals from the St Ultan’s star set DKIT on their way to this opening night victory, with further efforts from Mia Duffy, as well as Ciara Gilsenan and sub Marcella Molloy, putting the seal on this victory for the Dundalk side.

Dundalk IT: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Caoimhe Dooley, Dearbhla Tinnelly, Emily Johnson; Holly Lambe Sally, Caitlin O’Reilly, Louise Johnson; Ciara Gilsenan (0-1), Megan Benson; Emer Finnegan, Mia Duffy (1-9), Erin O’Reilly; Rachel McCabe (0-2), Rachel Casserly (2-1), Gemma Grimes.

Subs: Abi Keenan for Erin O’Reilly (35), Stephanie Cunningham for McCabe (47), Marcella Molloy (0-1) for Finnegan (51), Amy Farrell for Emily Johnson (58), Cliona McCoy for Louise Johnson (58).

UU Magee: Chloe McManus; Hannah Mullan, Mary Traynor, Maeve Casserly; Meave Devine, Amie Devine, Michaela Moore; Leah Connolly (0-1), Emile Loughman; Annie McKenna, Ciara McGurk, Aoife Horrisk (0-3) (2f); Lauren Rushe (1-1), Mia O’Reilly, Aine McQuaid (1-2).

Subs: Cora O’Neill for Devine (49), Meave Devine for Amie Devine (55).

Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Co Down)