Donaghy Cup Report: NUIG come put on top in Donaghy Cup Decider
Result: UCG (3) 3-08 UCC (2) 1-06

UCG lifted the first title on over at the O'Connor Cup weekend in Jordenstown with a deserved victory over Cork after a very exciting Donaghy Cup decider. After a very closely contested opening period the Galway girls went in at the interval with a slender one point lead. It remained anyone's game until midway through the second period when the eventual winners began to take control.

The girls from the West got off to the perfect start with a goal after just four minutes when full forward Edel McCormack fired home. The early UCG pressure continued with points from the excellent Mari Herron with a free and Tricia Lally. The Cork side opened their account as we entered the second quarter with a fine score from Tara Ni Bhuachalla. This seemed to waken them up as they followed with points from Ilona Ni Dhubhda and a converted free from Caitriona Moloney. Herron responded with a point at the other end before Cork struck for the equalising goal eight minutes from the break. Ilona Ni Dhubhda reacting quickest to a loose ball to fire to the net. Moloney edged the Rebel county side ahead with a free but it was short lived as within two minutes Galway were back in front. A wonderful pin point pass from Eimear Connellan found Trica lally who without breaking her stride buried the ball into the far corner of the net. The same player almost followed up with another goal but Catherine Twomey in the Cork goal pulled off a fine save. The final say over a very lively opening half went to Cork captain Emma Harrington with a point to leave her side trailing by one at the interval 2-03 to 1-05.

Within a minute of the restart the Twomey was again called into action with another fine stop in the Cork goal. Galway did however find the rang moments later when Sarah Hourigan fired over a point. Harrington soon cancelled this out at the other end after five minutes but gradually Galway began to get the upper hand. Hourigan struck over her second point of the game that was followed by a wonderful point from Herron midway through the half. Connellan fired over a free to stretch the Galway lead to four with just over ten minutes remaining. The final nail in UCC's coffin came eight minutes from time when they conceded a penalty. Donegal's Herron stepped up to fire an unstoppable shot low into the corner of the net. That was to end any hopes Cork had and the final score went to Lauraine Walpole in the dying moments to end a wonderful day for the Galway girls.

The score line in the end hard on the Cork side as they pushed this Galway side to their limit but on the day UCG were the better side.

UCG: Tricia Gallagher, Jamie Flattery, Aisling Egan, Camilla McDonagh, Sharon Heeney, Aine O'Sullivan, Sinead O'Sullivan, Vanessa Summers, Sarah Hourigan (0-02), Deirdre Flynn, Aileen Moran, Mari Herron (1-02), Lauraine Walpole (0-01), Edel McCormack (1-00), Trica Lally (1-01)
Subs: Eimear Connellan (0-01), Aoife Cummins

UCC: Catherine Twomey, Norma O'Sullivan, Tracey Bambury, Lisa Hanlon, Terri O'Keefe, Mary Foley, Kate O'Brien, Sandra O'Flynn, Sarah O'Donovan, Caitriona Moloney (0-02),Emma Harrington (0-02), Grainne Lucey, Tara Ni Bhuachalla (0-01), Aoife McGovern,Ilona Ni Dhubhda (1-01)
Sub: Claire Owens
Referee: Brendan Gallagher (Tyrone)
Player of the Tournament: Mari Herron (NUIG)