Following their flawless season last year, UCD cemented their place as the premier force in Irish collegiate swimming with a dominating victory at last weekend’s Intervarsity Championships in Ballyshannon.

Coached by Olympian Earl McCarthy, and conditioned by UCD Elite Strength coach George Petrakos; the team blew away all competition to win the overall award with a combined total of 160 points.

Consistent rivals NUI Maynooth and NUI Galway placed 2nd and 3rd respectively, with 100 and 92 points apiece.

The Women’s team continued their forceful display of late, making every single final on their way to winning the ladies’ title for a third consecutive year. The women’s team alone scored more points than all but NUIM overall, easily routing the QUB ladies to 2nd, and NUI Maynooth to 3rd. Head-Coach, Earl Mc Carthy commented:

Once again UCD women show how strong they are as a team. This is the third year in row that they have won the Intervarsity title and I am extremely proud of them.

On the Men’s side, UCD faced fierce competition from NUI Galway, regularly trading the lead right up to the final event; the 200m Freestyle Relay. With only 2 points separating the teams at the top, the atmosphere reached fever pitch as the starter set them off. The tension was relentless, with the swimmers neck and neck throughout. It was only at the final touch that NUIG snatched their victory, much to the chagrin of the UCD support. The final points tally saw NUIG’s Men emerge victorious with 66, UCD a close 2nd with 61, and NUIM 3rd with 39.

The Men’s event was an extremely hard fought competition the UCD Men gave everything they had right up until the end.

The standard of the competition has been increasing notably in recent times with numerous Irish record holders and Olympic hopefuls in attendance The battle for medals was intense as both the Men’s and Women’s teams displayed a fearsome tenacity and spirit to net themselves a mind boggling 42 medals, while smashing 12 UCD club records along the way.

Swimmers Aisling Cooney, Julie Farrell, Eva Kelly and Aoife Lawlor from the women’s team, and Phil Meagher and Paul Murphy from the men’s team were selected to represent Ireland at the Celtic Nations competition in Edinburgh in April.

Such a victory sets the stage for what promises to be the most challenging Intervarsity’s yet. Next year’s competition will be hosted here in UCD’s very own brand new Olympic facility, with the team hopefully commencing training there in the next few months.

Top individual performances from the women came from Aisling Cooney (1st 200m Back, 1st 100m Back); Rosanna Cooney (3rd 200m Back); Caoimhe Gowran (3rd 100m Breast, 1st 200m Fly); Julie Farrell (1st 200m IM; 1st 100m IM); Aoife Murray (2nd 200m IM); Eva Kelly (1st 100m Fly); Aoife Lawlor (2nd 50m Breast, 3rd 200m Breast); Ciara Murray (3rd 100m Free); and Maria Matthews (3rd 50m Back). The women’s relay teams won both the 4x50m freestyle and 4x50m medley events with ease.

Top individual performances from the men came from Conor Hillick (2nd 200m Back); Pippy Rocliffe (3rd 200m back);Phil Meagher (1st 100m Breast, 2nd 50m Breast); Eoin Gray (1st 200m Fly, 3rd 100m IM); Alex Rathke (2nd 200m Fly); Paul Murphy (2nd 100m Back, 2nd 50m Back);David Cooney (3rd 50m Fly); and Sam Toner (3rd 200m Breast). The men’s relay teams were placed 3rd in both the 4x50 freestyle and 4x50 medley events.