NUIG women faced off against UCC in their final match before the Christmas break. Having suffered early loses in the league it was vital for the girls to come away with a win against a tough UCC outfit.The pair had met just last march in the final of this very league, 1- 22 knew that this would be a tough encounter. With a slight delay to proceedings slowing down the momentum built by the students during the warm up. It was UCC who seemed to start the game more settled in the opening 10 minutes of the first half, poor discipline on NUI’s part handing free ground to the home-side. The girls defending well in the opening stages of the game, with pack leaders Faye Drohan, Karen Douglas and Tara Buggie (capt) putting in some big hits to push UCC back form their own try line.
A knock on by UCC in the NUI half saw a quick change in events, Faye Dohan picking and going from the rear, drawing her defender well before a quick pop off to centre Orla Dixon, unfortunately on this occasion ball did not go to hand, though it was a marker of things to come. NUI quickly began to grow in confidence, full back Orla Mallon running solid offensive lines which UCC found difficult to defend. Quickly the girls had turned the momentum in the favour, Cella O’Callaghan and Dixon each making solid ground with each run. Shannen Lane dictating from the rear of the rucks kept the UCC defence guessing. Eventually after some magnificent phase play and questionable lineouts, Tara Buggie once again took charge with a quick pick and go, the second row crashing over the whitewash for the games first and only points of the half.