Three second-half goals help Maynooth University to Curran Cup glory
County Kildare was well represented on the Maynooth University panel.
Maynooth University ladies picked up their first silverware of the season as they landed the Curran Cup (Higher Education Division 2 League) with an impressive win over ATU Donegal in Convoy.
Trailing by a point (0-5 to 0-4) at half-time, Maynooth turned on the style after the break with three well-taken goals.
Five Kildare players featured on the evening, namely Niamh Hayes and Aoife Murnane from Maynooth, Saoirse O’Gorman from Sallins, Aoife Kilkenny from Carbury and Laura Dunlea from Raheens.
Scores were at a premium in the first half, with Monaghan senior star Éabha Sherry opening the scoring and laying on the second for Kate Slevin.
Aoife Murnane saw her effort on goal turned over the crossbar as the sides more or less cancelled each other out in a first half where defences were on top.
However, Maynooth, managed by Kilcock native Louise Keane, were a different team on the resumption.
An early score from Carbury defender Aoife Kilkenny was followed by a long-range Grace Shannon effort and another from Cavanwoman Ellie Brady, who has recently signed for Collingwood.
Shannon was on the mark again and Maynooth pulled clear when Murnane reacted quickest to a break and found the net.
Slevin added the second major, rounding the goalkeeper and side-footing home, and Longford’s Funmi Talabi belted home the third as Maynooth ran out commanding winners.
They will face UU Magee in the opening round of the Giles Cup following this week’s draw.
Laura Kehoe (Clonee, Wexford); Dervla Cawley (Emyvale, Monaghan), Saoirse O’Gorman (Sallins, Kildare), Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers, Longford); Clodagh Millington (Donaghmore Ashbourne, Meath), Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond, Longford), Aoife Kilkenny (Carbury, Kildare); Amelia Furlong (Rapparees Starlights, Wexford), Niamh Hayes (Maynooth, Kildare); Kate Slevin (Claregalway, Galway), Grace Shannon (Longford Slashers, Longford), Ciara Doherty (Donaghmore Ashbourne, Meath); Aoife Murnane (Maynooth, Kildare), Éabha Sherry (Scotstown, Monaghan), Ellie Brady (Ballyhaise, Cavan).
Laura Dunlea (Raheens, Kildare), Kamille Burke (Clonguish, Longford), Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish, Longford), Funmi Talabi (Mostrim, Longford), Eve Kelly (Clara, Offaly)
