UCC's and Cork's Aoife Healy pictured at the launch of the Electric Ireland Championships. Alongside the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Leagues and Championships sponsorship and the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level sponsorship, Electric Ireland is committed to supporting the development of the Gaelic Games across the island through their Minor GAA and Camogie sponsorship ensuring young players are supported and celebrated through these important stages of their career.
By John Harrington
UCC has long had a well-earned reputation for high achievement on the sports fields, which is why their recent record in both the Ashbourne and O’Connor Cups is something they’re desperate to rectify.
Even though they’re second on the roll of honour in the Ashbourne Cup they haven’t won the Higher Education camogie silverware since 2003, while their last LGFA O’Connor Cup was in 2012.
They’ve been knocking on the door in recent years, losing last year’s O’Connor Cup Final and the 2023 Electric Ireland Ashbourne Cup Final.
Cork dual star, Aoife Healy, played in both of those matches and is hopeful UCC will finally break their duck in one or both competitions this year, with their Ashbourne Cup campaign starting this evening against MTU Cork.
“There's just such a drive in UCC now,” says Healy. “It feels like it's been just out of reach for us last year and the year before. We were so, so close and we just didn't make it past the line.
“Knowing that we're there or there abouts in both codes just makes it so much more achievable and so much more desirable now. We know we can do it, we're definitely good enough.
“We back our teams, they’re only getting stronger.”
UCC looked like they were going to end their long wait for an Electric Ireland Ashbourne Cup back in 2023 when they lead TUD by a point in the final with time almost up, but then Roisin McCormack hit a last gasp equaliser for the Dubliners at the end of normal time and a late extra-time winner to break Cork hearts.
“It was a tough weekend because we had played extra-time the day before as well, so playing extra-time in the final the day after really took it out of us,” say Healy.
“We kind of have a name for getting to the final and then losing the finals by very small margins. Hopefully I'll come out of college with one if not two Ashbourne Cup medals.
“We've only lost three or four players from last year's team. For the most part it's the same group and it's a really good group.”
Just like she did last year, Healy plans to play for both the Cork ladies football and camogie teams in 2025.
Aoife Healy of Cork in action against Maryanne Jordan of Galway during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Galway at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Campaigning on two fronts with both college and county this year will be challenging, but Healy has learned a lot from fellow Cork dual stars Hannah Looney and Libby Coppinger.
“They're such organised people and if you want to have a dual career you need to be that organised too,” says Healy.
“I know when I was in first year I wasn't as organised and it was just pure chaos. This year I feel like I have a way better set-up and much clearer communication with the managers when it comes to organising my week.
“Once I have my week sorted, that's that, I just stick to it and I don't have too much issues with it then.
“Last year I was travelling up to college from home on the bus which made things more difficult whereas I'm living up here now, but I also have more college work so I need to get up earlier to do more work to allow time to go to the gym in the evening.
“But for the most part I'm able to get one or two days off in the week for a recovery day or some sort of light gym session. Once it's organised it's okay.”
She’s hopeful that Cork can retain their All-Ireland camogie title in 2025 and go further in the All-Ireland LGFA Senior Championship than last year’s semi-final exit, but for now Healy is fully focused on winning some silverware with UCC.
“It's an experience that I really want to savour because I know I only have four years of it. It's a group of people that are in such a similar stage of their life to you and it creates such a tight-knit bunch.
“Even the girls from counties that you'd nearly be enemies with on the pitch when you play against them, when you're with the college and in such similar situations you become really, really close.”
Tuesday, January 14
Electric Ireland Ashbourne Cup Round 1
UCC v MTUC, The Mardyke, 6pm.