Holders DCU aiming for third successive AIG O'Connor Cup crown

Four champions will be crowned in the 2025 AIG Ladies HEC Championships over the course of Friday and Saturday – with the showpiece AIG O’Connor Cup Final down for decision on Saturday afternoon.

The AIG HEC, Lagan and Moynihan Cup Finals were contested on Thursday, while Friday will see the AIG O’Connor, Lynch and Giles Cup finalists confirmed, with the Donaghy Cup Final also down for decision.

The AIG O’Connor, Lynch and Giles Cup Finals will be played on Saturday.

On Friday, the AIG O’Connor Cup Semi Final between UCC and UG will get underway from 1pm.

Beaten finalists last year UCC will be aiming to go one better this time.

Standing in their way at the semi-final stage are University of Galway, who have Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s AIB All-Ireland Club winner Eva Noone in their ranks.

Noone was player of the match at Croke Park in December as Kilkerrin-Clonberne made it four titles in a row and now she is aiming for third-level glory.

In 2005, UG were then NUI Galway when they contested an O’Connor Cup decider, losing out to UCD.

In recent times, UCC have contested finals in 2022 and 2024, losing out on both occasions, while you have to go back to 2012 for their last title win.

They have some quality about them again this year, including Offaly’s Roisin Ennis and Tipperary’s Emma Morrissey, who was in the colours of winners DCU Dóchas Éireann in the 2024 showpiece.

Dara Kiniry is part of a Cork squad pushing hard for promotion from Division 2 of the Lidl National League, while Waterford’s Brid McMaugh is another well-known inter-county star.

Later in the afternoon on Friday, DCU DÉ will face UU Belfast in the other AIG O’Connor Cup Semi Final.

DCU Dóchas Éireann head for Finals weekend aiming for a third successive AIG