Carey Cup Won By Munster Girls

The Carey Memorial Cup was contested by the UCC and Munster Under-19 sides recently at the Mardyke, with the girls in red coming out on top in a 10-0 victory.

On a sun-soaked evening at the Mardyk, the Munster Under-19s took to the pitch against UCC in the Eimear Carey Memorial Cup. Both teams started with intent, concentration and at a very fast pace.

The Munster U-19s were first to threaten to scoreboard, maintaining possession and territory for the opening minutes. However, the UCC defence managed to hold them out.

The opening try of the game came in the first half when number 8 Valerie Mitchell crashed over the line for an unconverted try for the Munster side.

Some great passages of play on a night made for expansive, free-flowing rugby, with some fantastic individual displays. None topped that of Shannon winger Nicole Cronin whose tremendous break up the touchline was richly applauded by the crowd.

Cronin’s lightening pace saw her cut through the UCC defence in the closing minute of the game, and her well-timed offload to fullback Danni Delahunty of Clonmel RFC, who was up in support, resulted in the clinching try.

With the talent that was on display on the night from both teams, there is no question that the future looks bright for women’s rugby in Cork and Munster.

Eimear Carey sadly passed away in January 2008. She played rugby with UCC during her time in the college as she qualified as a doctor. She was living in Manchester with her boyfriend at the time of her unexpected death.

Eimear played ‘anywhere’ and ‘everywhere’ for UCC but she really was at her best when she wore the number 7 jersey. She epitomised the ideal rugby player, with a high skill level and work-rate on the pitch and off the pitch she was very welcoming to new members, always suggesting to organise the social ‘bonding’ nights out which always involved plenty of fun!!

Eimear was always smiling, and a really remarkable individual. Her saying in life was ‘Carpe diem’ – seize the day.

The Carey family presented the Munster Under-19 captain Emma Crowther with the Carey Memorial Cup after the game.