Laois LGFA stars set for college finals as Stephen Duff targets fourth O’Connor Cup with DCU

Laois LGFA will be strongly represented across this weekend’s HEC Ladies Football finals, with players from several clubs around the county involved in several deciders taking place at St Clare’s, DCU.

The intervarsity competitions represent the biggest weekend in the college ladies' football calendar, and a host of Laois players will be hoping to help their respective colleges to silverware.

The action begins on Friday afternoon, March 13, with the Lagan International Cup final, where DCU7 face Coventry at 2pm. The DCU side includes Lauren Rowan of St Joseph’s and Killeshin’s Aisling Cawley.

On Friday evening, attention turns to the Moynihan Cup final, with ATU Galway taking on SETU Carlow at 6pm. The Carlow panel features three Laois players in Timahoe’s Lily Hooney, Grace Moore of St Joseph’s and Shanahoe’s Ava Tynan.

Saturday’s action begins with the Lynch Cup final at 12pm when DCU(4) meet ATU Sligo. DCU can call on Timahoe’s Sinead Goode and St Brigid’s Emma Hickey, while the side is coached by Ballyroan-Abbey’s Sam Quinn. ATU Sligo, meanwhile, have Timahoe’s Orla Hennessy among their ranks.

READ NEXT: Good news for Laois padel fans as hotel gets green light for new courts

At 2pm, the Giles Cup final sees DCU2 take on UCD1. Graiguecullen’s Kelly O’Neil captains the DCU side and Aishling Fitzpatrick of The Heath is also part of their panel, while UCD will look to Portlaoise duo Ciara Crowley and Ella McNulty.

The weekend concludes with the main event which is O’Connor Cup final at 4pm, where DCU1 take on TU Dublin. DCU are managed by current Laois Ladies manager Stephen Duff as they bid to win the competition for a fourth year in a row. Their panel includes Ballyroan’s Faye McEvoy and Timahoe’s Aoife Gorman, while Shanahoe’s Eimear Barry, the Laois Ladies goalkeeper, is also involved in Duff's management team.

With representation across five finals, it promises to be a busy and exciting weekend for Laois Ladies Football with players from clubs across the county hoping to return home with intervarsity honours.