‘The Aishling Moloney final.’
DCU became O’Connor Cup champions for the first time since 2011 when they defeated UL in the decider in Blanchardstown on Sunday.
Captain fantastic Aishling Moloney was the game-changer for the Glasnevin college. Their Tipperary flier kicked seven points in an eventful afternoon that saw her spend ten minutes in the sin-bin.
She picked up from exactly where she left off upon her re-introduction to the fray, however, running the length of the field to make herself available for the pass, before ghosting past a couple of UL defenders in a move that eventually saw her team win a penalty.
Moloney’s housemate Sarah Rowe stepped up to slot it past the UL ‘keeper to drag them back into the game. The two colleges, who also contested the Fitzgibbon Cup final this year, traded blows again before the fleet-footed Moloney sealed it with a score fit to win any game.
Just minutes later, Moloney popped up again to kick an amazing last minute winner to turn this tie in her side’s favour.
You can watch all of the action below via the wonderful coverage of Jerome Quinn Media. The footage begins with Moloney’s re-introduction to the pitch after her period in the bin. Her awareness and galloping movement to win that penalty shouldn’t be underestimated.
Moloney, who was exceptional in Tipperary’s march to last year’s All-Ireland intermediate title, possesses a rare natural talent. She just glides past opponents and her end product is usually class, too.
She was speaking to Quinn after the game and told of her eagerness to impact on this game.
“I suppose, UL had gotten a few points and we thought things weren’t going to swing our way, but the game is never over until the final whistle blows but I suppose when I was coming on at that stage, there was only one thing you could really do and that was take the thing by the scruff of the neck and drive on.
“Thankfully we got out the right side of it today, so it was all good,” she said.
Watch it all here.
Amazing stuff.
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