2007UCD Camogie Secure Ashbourne Cup

 2007 winning team  in all their glory>
The UCD team danced with joy at the final whistle following their 2-10 to 1-4 victory over UCC in the Ashbourne Cup Final the first time to win the coveted trophy since 1988.  UCD may have had to wait thirteen minutes for their opening score, but once Cork star and 2006 All-Star Rena Buckley got the first of her six frees UCD, who had lost the previous four finals, never looked back after that.

UCC tried hard, but somehow or other they could not match the same drive as they possessed on the Saturday when they defeated UL the holders in the semi-final.

UCD got the all important first goal midway.  A breaking ball in from midfield which hung around the Cork square until half forward Lorraine Davis seized the opportunity to bang it in from the left to leave it 1-2 to 0-1 after just fifteen minutes.

The pitch conditions may have been heavy but two very determined sides made the most of it but at half time it was UCD who went in smiling 1-5 to 0-3.

UCC did not go in at the break, UCD did and what ever Manager Dave Kennedy said to them at half time it must have been strong words as immediately the team went three points up thanks to Rena Buckley, Susie O'Carroll and Una Leacy inside the opening five minutes.  It was the perfect start for UCD, however, Cork seemed stunned as it took them eighteen minutes to record their first score of the second half - a point from Cork star Emer Dillon.

Despite the scoreline at this stage UCC were still very threatening, but they did not have sufficient finishing power up front and they were punished for that.  The UCD winning goal came nine minutes from time.  Kilkenny player Julianne Woodcock made the perfect pass for fellow Kilkenny player Emillie Darmody who smashed the ball to the net.  The UCD line and subs jumped for joy.  Any time that UCC forwards tried to go for goal the UCD defence defended as if their lives depended on the winning of this game.

A late consolation goal from Cork player Sarah O'Donovan with one minute of normal time remaining put a better picture on it for UCC, but on the day there was no denying as to who the winners could be.  When captain Mary Leacy went up to accept the cup from honorary the President of the Third Level Colleges Camogie Association Bridin Ui Mhaolagáin the joy was etched across her face.

Details:
Ashbourne Cup Final:
UCD: 2-10:L Davis 1-1, E Darmody 1-0,R Buckley 0-6f, S O'Carroll 0-2 (0-1f), U Leacy 0-1.
UCC: 1-4: SO'Donovan 1-0, E Dillon 0-3 (0-1f),C Desmond 0-1.

UCD Camogie Club was founded in 1914 at a meeting presided over by Agnes O'Farrelly who was president until 1951. She influenced Edwin Gibson, Lord Ashbourne, to present a cup bearing his name which is now the highlight of colleges camogie. UCD competed in Dublin Competitions and won the championship for the first time in 1931. What followed was a golden era for UCD with Aine O'Sullivan as captain UCD two further championships , 3 Ashbourne cups and four of its players won All Ireland medels with Dublin in 1933. UCD's most famous year however came in 1937 when the team swept all in front of them winning Ashbourne ,Dublin , Leinster and All Ireland  chapionships.This  was followed by a further six Ashbourne cups in a row . The next Ashbourne victoy did'nt come until 1948 , Seven Ashbourne cups and two Dublin championships were won during the fifties . By 1970 college had won 26 Ashbournes and won the Dublin championship in1982 captained by Annette Mc Grath . With the opening up of the Ashboiurne to a wider audience Victories were not as forthcoming during the seventies . UCD soon adopted to the new competition and during the eighties the cup only left Belfield twiceand indeed ucd won the Dublin camogie championship with great stalwarts like Edel Murphy,Marie Connell and Maire NI Ceallaigh..

First President of the UCD Camogie Club 1914-1951 
Dr. Agnes O'Farrelly