If points were awarded for effort, Wednesday’s Colours match between University College Dublin (UCD) and Dublin University Football Club (DUFC) women would have proven a much closer affair. Unfortunately, however, they’re not, and DUFC fell victim to this cruel reality, suffering a crushing 39-0 loss against a formidable UCD side.
Trinity started out in high spirits and immediately applied pressure. Despite this, UCD held their half, fending off a ferocious Molly Boyne and hitting back with a strong counter-attack. It was 10 minutes into this that UCD’s Kate Hegarty pulled off an exhilarating run into the corner of Trinity’s try zone and secured the first try of the game.
A great run by Trinity’s Fiona Tuite gave the hosts some breathing space but it was to little avail. Misread signals and sloppy passes scuppered what advantage this may have given them and UCD quickly regained their lost ground. In the 19th minute Heather Cullen burst out of a ruck, taking Trinity by surprise and scampering into the try zone to deliver UCD their second, unconverted try.
Seizing the opportunity offered by some shabby passing by UCD out to their left flank, DUFC managed once again to press into UCD’s half. They were stopped in their tracks by UCD’s Sarah Gleeson. Roisín Crowe clinched yet another try for UCD, taking the score to 15-0 going into half-time.
The second half did not start well for DUFC. A mistaken kick set them back, giving UCD a lineout and room to exploit. And exploit they did, consistently building momentum behind an intense but protracted assault on Trinity’s try line. It took a whole team effort to push them over that line, with Alice O’Dowd delivering the final blow, touching down right between the posts and setting up the team’s first converted try, bringing the score to 22-0.
UCD carried their momentum through, despite a brief reprieve when DUFC’s Ciara Grogan, swift on her feet, dashed along and through UCD’s defensive line, leaving several UCD players chasing her back to the halfway line and breaking UCD’s stronghold on Trinity’s 22. Five minutes later, though, UCD substitute Ray Lawless was storming up Trinity’s left flank, taking her from halfway line to the top left corner of the try zone.
Until this point Trinity had been technically strong: lineouts had been generally well-executed, scrums had been cleanly and bravely contested and passing had mostly been tight. They certainly couldn’t be faulted for energy either. Even with the points difference as it was, players were still shouting their throats sore in encouragement. But this latest try induced a noticeable breakdown. Amidst it Kate Hegarty got another try, which was converted, before Gleeson delivered one of the game’s most impressive moments. Seizing on a slack pass, she sprinted over half of the length of the pitch to crash over the line.
DUFC fought fiercely to put some points on the board in the closing minutes, and indeed it looked very much like they would. Indeed, it was in these moments that the team came the closest to the try line that they had got the whole game. Even with their comfortable lead, UCD looked like they were under strain. Eventually the inevitable came and a jubilant UCD side were handed the Colours Cup. Heather Cullen was awarded player of the match.
