Strong Mayo involvement in tomorrow's O'Connor Cup semi-finals

There is strong Mayo involvement in tomorrow's Ladies HEC Championship O'Connor Cup semi-finals at MTU Cork.

On International Women’s Day, Friday, March 8, will decide the semi-finals of the Moynihan, Lynch, and O’Connor Cups, with the Giles Cup also being awarded on the day.

The finals of the Moynihan, Lynch and O’Connor Cups will take place on Saturday next.

University College Cork (UCC) and Ulster University (UU), will face off at 1.30pm.

These two teams are looking to end long droughts in the O’Connor Cup.

UCC are three-time competition winners but haven’t landed the silverware since 2012, while you have to go back to 2008 for UU’s sole success.

Both sides will feel confident of making a big impact over Finals weekend, however, with plenty of inter-county talent on show. Mayo's Annie Gough is on the bench for UU.

UCC, based just a short distance from host venue MTU Cork, have county star Dara Kiniry at full-back, with Kerry’s Mary O’Connell featuring alongside Waterford star and UCC captain Kellyann Hogan at midfield.

Evie Twomey is a 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate club winning captain from Glanmire and listed at centre forward for UCC, while former Senior club winner with Mourneabbey, Ellie Jack, is in the full-forward line.

UU’s named starting 15 features stars from Tyrone, Down, Monaghan, Antrim, Armagh, Galway and Meath.

At centre-half-back, Antrim’s Ciara Brown is the current county team captain, while Mairead Glynn has been in good form for Galway during the Lidl National League.

The Garland twins from Donaghmoyne in Monaghan, Amy and Lauren, are in a potent-looking attack, with Amy captaining UU.

There is plenty of Mayo players on show as Dublin City University (DCU) face Technological University (TU) Dublin at 3.30pm.

Louisburgh's Tara Needham starts at left-corner-forward for DCU while Hollymount's Jenna Mortimer, Burrishoole's Maria Cannon and Westport's Fionnuala McLaughlin are on the bench.

Louisburgh's Gráinne Gavin and Westport's Katie Chambers are on the bench for TU Dublin.

This is a repeat of the 2023 O’Connor Cup semi-final between the sides, won comfortably by DCU, who would go on to defeat University of Limerick in the Final.

DCU were unstoppable last year, defeating TU Dublin by 7-14 to 2-10 in the last four, before ousting University of Limerick in the Final, a game in which Offaly’s Kate Kenny scored 1-10.

Kenny’s still on board with a star-studded DCU DÉ, who have Meath’s Emma Duggan captaining the team in the full-forward line.

Niamh Donlon, Niamh Crowley and Chloe Darby are the Dublin stars in the starting line-up, while Leitrim’s Leah Fox and Needham are other key stars to watch out for.

TU Dublin will be keen to close the gap that existed between the teams last year and they can call upon in-form captain and Dublin star Caoimhe O’Connor at centre forward.

Another Dubliner, full-back Ashling Nyhan, has been making a big impact during the Lidl National League to date, while Ellen Gribben at wing-back is another player well known to fans of the Sky Blues.

Niamh Divilly is an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship winner from Galway outfit Kilkerrin-Clonberne, listed in the half-forward line, with Meath’s Ciara Smyth on the other flank.

On paper, TU Dublin have a squad capable of making a big impact but DCU, chasing back-to-back titles and a sixth O’Connor Cup win, have been around the block and know what it takes to win this competition.