In 2009, under the supervision of four teams in Ireland, the Irish Lacrosse League was founded. The league was contested by UCD Lacrosse, Dublin Lacrosse, NUIG Lacrosse and Trinity Lacrosse over the course of several game-days throughout the year.

University College Dublin took the inaugural Irish Lacrosse League Championship and are now aiming to take their second consecutive league title and firmly establish themselves as the number one team in the country.

Unbeknownst to many, U.C.D has been the core introductory training ground for lacrosse development in Ireland. The university is the only lacrosse team in Ireland to have the luxury of experienced coaches always available to them, which has lead to a large number of players being selected for the Ireland National team. Even though there are a relatively small number of players active in Ireland, there are a huge number of Irish and Irish American players active in the USA who compete to play for Ireland.

With lacrosse a national sport of the USA (and Canada) these players have a huge advantage over our Irish players, but U.C.D has made huge inroads into preparing players for international competitions. In fact, the Irish team selected for the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships contained no less than 7 previous U.C.D lacrosse players from a 23 man squad. Considering players from the USA have been playing on average 5 years more than their Irish counterparts, this number is a massively significant ratio, and lacrosse in Ireland still continues to grow.

U.C.D has also won the Irish tournament known as ‘Dublinfest’ for the past 2 years. With opposition from England, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland and Germany all competing, this is a massive feat which should not be ignored, and has seen U.C.D recognised not only as the dominant force in Irish Lacrosse but as a major competitor in European Lacrosse. Many of the UCD players are using tournaments like these as well as others this spring in the Czech Republic, Germany, Holland and Enlgans as practice for Irish National Team trials later this year.  UCD Coach Sean Bodie thinks a number of his players will be representing Ireland at the European Championships 2012 in Prague, “We certainly have a number of players that will be considered for roster places.  We have a pedigree of sorts.  UCD have always had representatives on the National Team since the club was founded in 2006 and we’re known for producing fundamentally sound, intelligent players and we hope to continue that trend.”  Bodie cited a number of former UCD players that will be representing Ireland this summer at the World Indoor Lacrosse championships.

With the ILL formed, U.C.D Lacrosse continues to prosper. The first ILL in 2009/2010 contained four teams; this year it contains five and a mere 3 years ago there were just two teams in the entire country. This increase is not just down to one factor, but the hard work and dedication of many people involved in the lacrosse network, many of whom began their journey into lacrosse in U.C.D.

With the university having over 22,000 students it is a vital resource that is crucial to the development of lacrosse in Ireland and without the support of U.C.D Sport we would not be where we are today. It is the perfect sport for both men and women to take up in college when pondering for a sports club to join. No previous experience is necessary and there is a fantastic atmosphere amongst all the teams in the league who are fully aware that everyone is eager to learn, play, and compete in good spirit.

Next Saturday, April 2^nd will be the final game-day of the 2010/2011 Irish Lacrosse League season and U.C.D has one hand firmly on the trophy. We kindly encourage as many people as possible to come down and to support the team (or even just to come down and see lacrosse being played if you never have!).

Looking forward to next week’s finale it is important to also look back and see where we have come from. What has been created and achieved over the past number of years has been nothing short of remarkable. U.C.D and the players who have passed through its gates have been major contributors to the club’s success, the creation of a national league, and most importantly the growth of lacrosse in Ireland. Long may it continue.

Sean Bodie & Keith Kane

Anyone interested in joining UCD Lacrosse should email ucdlax@gmail.com, or contact Rachel Blake (Women’s Captain) or Aidan Marshall (Men’s Captain). Also check out the UCD website at http://www.irelandlacrosse.ie/clubs/ucd/

Come support the UCD students as they push to retain their Irish Lacrosse League title. The final tournament of the ILL will be held at the Roebuck Castle GAA field (beside Roebuck student accommodation) from 9.30am-4pm on Saturday April 2nd 2011