IT Sligo Women’s soccer team have won the Intervarsities Cup for the third time in the club’s history.
They put in an awesome display to beat hosts and pre-match favourites UCD 6-1 in a thrilling Cup final.
Earlier in competition, IT Sligo had a convincing 4-0 win over Mary Immaculate College, Limerick at the quarter-final stage with goals from Geraldine McLoughlin (2), Aoife Brennan and Kim Flood.
They beat holders UCC 3-0 in the semi-final stage with Aoife Brennan (2) and Emma Hansberry both on target. This semi-final win was sweet revenge for IT Sligo who lost on penalties to UCC in last year’s Cup final.
IT Sligo were underdogs going into this year’s final. They had already lost 3-2 to UCD in the Premier League Final and then suffered a second defeat at the hands of UCD in the Futsal Cup final. With the Cup final being played in the UCD Bowl, the host were firm favourites to lift the title.
However, IT Sligo gave a stellar performance. They dominated play in the first-half and were up 4-1 at the interval, courtesy of goals from Emma Hansberry (2), Geraldine McLoughlin and Aileen Gilroy.
Nicole Fowley and Aoife Brennan added a further two goals in the second-half, allowing IT Sligo to run out convincing winners. UCD did have chances in the second-half but IT Sligo goalkeeper Rachel King pulled of a number of excellent saves.
IT Sligo is captained by Sligo woman Nicole Fowley, who is a Recreation and Leisure Year 3 student.
Emma Hansberry won the coveted Intervarsities Player of the Tournament award. She joins an elite group of previous IT Sligo winners of the award – Maz Sweeney, Emma Mullin and Deirdre Doherty
It has been a memorable three months for the Year 2 Health Science and Physiology student. Emma won the National League Player of the Month award for both January and February and was called up to the Irish senior squad for the Cyprus Cup in March.
Recreation and Leisure Year 3 student, Aileen Gilroy won Player of the Match for the final. She, too, was named on the Cyprus Cup senior squad.
Emma Hansberry, Aileen Gilroy and Kim Flood were selected on the Intervarsities Team of the Tournament.
Winning the Intervarsity Cup was a personal triumph for team manager, Emma Mullin, FAI facilitator at IT Sligo. Emma has the unique achievement of winning an Intervarsity medal as both a Captain and a Manager. She captained the last IT Sligo soccer women’s team to win the Intervarsity Cup in 2007 and also played on the 2005 winning team.
Most of the Squad are IT Sligo Sports Scholarship holders – a scheme designed to assist talented student athletes to reach their sporting potential. For further information on the scheme, go to https://www.itsligo.ie/campus-life/sports-recreation/itsligosportsscholarships/
IT Sligo Panel: Rachel King (Forensics Year 1); Kathryn Sullivan (Business Recreation and Leisure Year 4); Amy Roddy (Recreation and Leisure Year 3); Kim Flood (Business Recreation and Leisure Year 4); Nicole Fowley (Recreation and Leisure Year 3); Caoimhe Barrett (Health Science and Physiology Year 3); Geraldine McLoughlin (Recreation and Leisure Year 2); Aileen Gilroy (Recreation and Leisure Year 3); Aoife Brennan (Recreation and Leisure Year 2); Emma Hansberry (Health Science and Physiology Year 2); Colleen Cavanagh (Recreation and Leisure Year 3); Colleen Kearney (Health Science and Physiology Year 3); Enya Clarke (Health Science and Physiology Year 2); Louise O’ Connor (Recreation and Leisure Year 2); Tracy O’ Boyle (Health Science and Physiology Year 1); Cliodhna Maloney (Business Recreation and Leisure Year 4)
IT Sligo players jump for joy at the final whistle in their Intervarsities Cup win over UCD.
Jubliant IT Sligo captain Nicole Fowley holds the trophy aloft after the WSCAI Intervarities Cup final. Photo credit: SPORTSFILE
IT Sligo Panel jpg: The victorious IT Sligo panel –(left to right) Colleen Kearney, Caoimhe Barrett, Emma Hansberry, Rachel King, Colleen Cavanagh, Geraldine McLoughlin, Louise O’ Connor, Amy Roddy, Kim Flood, Enya Clarke, Aoife Brennan, Cliodhna Maloney, Aileen Gilroy, Tracy O’ Boyle. Giving a thumbs up on the ground is the captain, Nicole Fowley. (Missing from photo- Kathryn Sullivan).