Replay in Ballykelly on Wednesday 25/2/2015
Mary Immaculate College 1-12 Dublin Institute of Technology 0-08
Mary Immaculate College Camogie team regained the Purcell Cup after seventeen years with a swashbuckling performance in the replay of the Purcell Cup final played in a misty Ballykelly, Co. Laois.
A goal swept into the net by corner forward Orla Hanrick midway through the second half opened a gap between the teams that DIT were unable to bridge in the final moments of the game. Top-class performances by many of the Mary Immaculate girls, who had to play without their fellow player Maria Cooney due to an ankle injury, right throughout the field ensued that the Purcell Cup returned to Limerick.
Mary Immaculate College dominated possession early on but some of the shooting by their forwards did not find the target and it was DIT who showed the way in scoring with less opportunity to lead by 0-05 to 0-01 after twenty minutes, the Mary Immaculate College point coming from free-taker Laura Mitchell. Megan Ryan who was playing exceptionally well at centre-forward was moved to full-forward and the change in focus brought dividends with scores coming from Caoimhe Costelloe and Laura Mitchell. The DIT defenders found it difficult to cope with the pace of the Mary Immaculate College forwards and conceded frees with fouls on Jenny McCarthy and Megan Ryan. The DIT forwards maintained their threat and had a couple of goal opportunities but Claire Murphy in goals maintained the incredible form she showed in the drawn final to alleviate the dangers. The full-back trio of Jillian O'Leary, Susan Kate Brosnan and Kate Gallagher used their guile and skill to thwart further attacks on goal. In the final couple of minutes both teams converted frees to leave the teams level at six points apiece at half time.
Early in the second half it was DIT who showed the initiative and they regained the lead with a point from a free, but it took them another twenty-five minutes to get their final score and in the mean-time it was the Mary Immaculate College team that played took their scores with panache to match their endeavour. Points from Cotelloe and Mitchell gave them the lead before Hanricks goal created a significant gap between the teams. As DIT pressed forward they found it impossible to break through the Mary Immaculate College half-back line of Aislinn Moloney, Rebecca Delee and captain Fiona Morrissey whose leadership at this stage made her stand out. Any time they got inside the half-backs Naomi Carroll with her sixth sense was always there to rescue the situation. As DIT pressed forward they left space for Sarah Harington, Julie Bourke, Delee and in particular Shauna Quirke to drive forward past the DIT cover to further stretch the Mary Immaculate College lead. Having restricted DIT to just two points in the second half Mary Immaculate College were able to complete the final few minutes knowing they had won the match.
Captain Fiona Morrissey received the cup from Cumann Camogaiocht Comhairle Ardoideachais chairperson Shane Darcy. She praised the work of Willie Banks and his management team of Síle Moynihan, Adrian O'Sullivan and John O'Connor in preparing the team for the tournament.
Team: Claire Murphy B.Ed 2nd, Jillian O Leary B.Ed 2nd, Sue Brosnan B.Ed&Psych , Kate Gallagher B.Ed 1st, Aisling Moloney B.Ed 2nd, Fiona Morrissey B.Ed 3rd, Rebecca Delee B.A 1st, Sarah Harrington ECCE 4, Julie Bourke B.Ed 1st , Laura Mitchell B.Ed 3rd, Megan Ryan B.A 2nd , Shauna Quirke B.Ed 3rd, Orla Hanrick B.Ed 2nd, Caoimhe Costelloe B.Ed 1st, Jenny Mc Carthy , B.A. ECCE 4th, Maria Cooney B.A 1st, Emma Ruttledge B.A 1st, Lisa Donoghue B.A 1st, Katie Doheny, B.Ed 2nd, Karen Earls B.Ed 3rd, Clara Finnerty B.Ed 2nd, Aislinn Keogh B.Ed 2nd, Ellen Martin B.Ed 1st, Naomi Carroll B.A 4th