They say a lot can change in a year, and that rings especially true for the UL Camogie team, who have transitioned from being on the fence in protest last year to reaching the pinnacle of college camogie in 2024.
Their iconic protest on the fence last year was the culmination of a bizarre chain of events. Having been given the daunting task of needing to beat Maynooth University by 33 points in order to advance to the next round, they remarkably surpassed this target, winning by 34. However, their joy was short-lived as they were later disqualified when DCU raised a query regarding the score difference. UL were then informed via email from the THDC that DCU would be advancing to the final four after a referee confirmed a scoreline from a match dated November 29th, 2022.
Among the members of that team was Limerick camogie star Ailbhe Larkin, who returned to play a pivotal role in this year’s success. For Larkin, the events of last year were a significant disappointment.
“It was massively disappointing. We went up to Maynooth, we won the match, we won on the scoreline that we were supposed to. We came off the pitch, and we were absolutely delighted. Then I think there was word throughout that week that this was happening and we didn’t know until it was fully confirmed, I think on the Thursday before the Ashbourne Cup weekend that we weren’t going through. It was massively disappointing. What happened shouldn’t have happened. It was wrong and I think there was some quote on it this year ‘from the fence to the final’ or something. I think it’s important this year that we put it to bed. It was more about us this year and just forgetting about the past that did happen.”
11 February 2023; The University of Limerick players look on during the Electric Ireland Ashbourne Cup Semi Final between UCC and DCU at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
As a key player in the UL team, Larkin assumed much of the leadership responsibilities both on and off the field. However, in such a unique situation, the lack of a playbook posed challenges for the UL team on knowing what to do next.
“I suppose when you’re in that situation, you don’t really know what to do. I think the management team was brilliant last year. They went through what we went through, I think everyone was just bitterly disappointed. We decided on a plan that we were going to go up to the weekend, just like we initially thought we were going to be going up to. We went up together, we sat on a fence together. I think that was a massive point for us this year as well, there was a massive unity within the group of girls. There was a strong core left from last year this year. I know there were the likes of Siobhan McGrath, Aoife Prendergast, Annie Fitzgerald, those girls were gone, but there was a core group of us there, from last year that came into this year again. It was important to us, we knew that we all went through that together, so there was a huge unity there.”
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'I think we just wanted to showcase how good we were.'
With an abundance of talent in the UL team entering 2024, featuring stars such as Waterford’s Mairéad O’Brien, and the Tipperary duo Eimear McGrath and Casey Hennessy, among others, it was evident that UL would once again be strong contenders for the Ashbourne Cup. Given the events of 2023, there was little question that UL would be incredibly driven to right the wrongs of the past in 2024.
“I think it was just a silent thing that we all kind of knew, what happened last year wasn’t going to just go away. So I think it was definitely a driving factor. We wanted to participate in that weekend, to show how talented of a group of girls we were, and how much talent we had within the squad. You’ve got some big names in there, you have Mairead O’Brien, Casey Hennessy, you have Sarah McCartin. I think we just wanted to showcase how good we were. We didn’t get the opportunity last year. This year was important to do that.”
They showcased their talent and prowess right from the start as they marched towards the final, making a bold statement with their 1-18 to 0-4 victory over UCD in Round 2. However, it was their triumph over UCC in the Semi Final that truly signaled UL’s determination to avenge last year’s injustice. In the final, facing champions TU Dublin, UL produced a five star display, securing a dominant 6-11 to 1-12 victory to claim the Ashbourne Cup and rectify the disappointments of 2023. With Larkin also set to depart the college at the end of this academic year, she describes it as a fitting conclusion to this chapter of her life.
“We had a massive game on that Saturday, you know, UCC is a huge team. I think we knew how good they were going to be, and we have friends from the inter-county teams and the UCC team. So to get over UCC was a massive relief. Then it was just about getting the bodies right and everything for Sunday. And then with TUD they were champions last year. We knew they were a good team- we actually played them in a group game last year as well. We hadn’t played them this year, so we knew they were going to be a good outfit. Roisin McCormack, she’s a huge player. I think we knew we had one more performance in us. I don’t think we knew how big of a performance it was, but I think we knew that we were going to unleash something. We didn’t know we would score six goals, but it was a huge performance.”
“It’s definitely not a bad way to leave college. At the final whistle, it was just a massive relief. It was huge, the Ashbourne Cup is a significant trophy. You hear of all these players winning it throughout UL, I think they won five in a row a few years ago. And you’re always saying, God, someday could that be us? There was just relief, there was massive emotion with what happened last year. Our management from last year that wasn’t involved this year was there and it was really special. I don’t think we’ll ever forget it.”
