The 2024 edition of the Ladies HEC third-level championships promises another bumper weekend of football action with seven finals up for decision, hosted by MTU Cork.
Representatives from competing teams gathered at MTU Cork today (Wednesday February 29th) in advance of the concluding stages of the competitions.
13 institutions will be involved, bringing about the end to another fascinating season in which over 2,200 players took part.
Introduce yourselves..
See FOURTEEN players at today's @LadiesHEC Captain's Call in Cork.
Full interviews with @JeromeQuinn will follow on our Facebook page.@MaynoothUniGAA @MTUCork_GAA @DCUDocEirGAA @MTUKerryGAAClub @ucc_gaa @MICLimerick @SETUGAAWD @TUDublinCCGAA #LadiesHEC pic.twitter.com/y0w5wakJg0— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) February 29, 2024
The Donaghy, Lagan and HEC Cup Finals will be contested on Thursday, March 7th, while Friday, March 8th, which is also International Women’s Day, will decide the semi-finals of the Moynihan, Lynch, and O’Connor Cups, with the Giles Cup also being awarded on the day.
The finals of the Moynihan, Lynch and O’Connor Cups will take place on Saturday, March 9th.
It has also been confirmed that the showpiece O’Connor Cup Final will be broadcast live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube page, here.
This year sees the return of the British Champions to the Ladies HEC championships as they contest the Moynihan Cup semi-final. Representing Britain will be The University of Liverpool, who face off against Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College on Friday March 8th.
In the weekend’s headline event, the O’Connor Cup, the semi-finals will see holders DCU Dóchas Éireann take on TU Dublin, while locals UCC will battle it out against Ulster University.
Ladies HEC Chairperson, Daniel Caldwell, said "We are delighted this year that the HEC Championships will take place in MTU Cork on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March.
“International Women's Day will continue to feature strongly in our promotion of our championships over the three days.
“This year will see the return of the British champions to HEC competition and we look forward to welcoming them to Cork.
“I'd like to wish all of the teams well in their competitions and I look forward to welcoming the teams and supporters to Cork for what promises to be a great three days of football."
Speaking at the MTU Sports Stadium which will host the finals, MTU Cork Campus GAA Development Officer, Kevin O Callaghan, said "On behalf of everyone involved in MTU Student GAA Club, I’d like to say how delighted we are to be hosting the 2024 HEC LGFA O’Connor Cup Championships.
“Ladies Gaelic Football continues to grow year on year and to be able to bring together the best third level players and teams from across the island of Ireland and the UK to showcase their talents in the incredible facilities at MTU Cork Campus is very exciting".
Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, added: "I am looking forward to visiting the MTU Cork Campus for the concluding stages of the 2024 Ladies HEC Championships, with seven pieces of silverware to be handed out by the time that play concludes on Saturday March 9th.
"For college students and footballers, many of whom are also high-ranking inter-county stars, these are very special days and these games are occasions to savour and cherish.
"The sense of camaraderie and the pursuit of common goals create a bond and memories that will be cherished, remembered and spoken about for many, many years to come.
"For many players, achieving great things at third-level can often act as a springboard for further success and this is a real window of opportunity for players to showcase their undoubted talents in the colours of their respective third-level institutions."
Now RUN!
This is what happens when you try to have a photo shoot in Cork in February!! @sportsfilebren @cahilljackie @LadiesHEC @MTUCork_GAA @DCUDocEirGAA @MaynoothUniGAA @ucc_gaa @MICLimerick @SETUGAAWD @TUDublinCCGAA @MTU_ie @sportsfile @CorkLGFA
Video by @JeromeQuinn pic.twitter.com/rgha7Vmdzp— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) February 29, 2024
Ticket details:
Tickets will be available shortly here. The pricing is as follows:
Student Ticket – €5
Per day
1 Day Ticket – €10
Thursday – €10
Friday – €10
Saturday – €10
3 Day Ticket Pass – €15
Schedule
Thursday, March 7th
Ladies HEC Championship HEC Cup Final: DCU DÉ 7 v MICL 3, Grass Pitch 3, 1.00pm
Ladies HEC Championship Lagan Cup Final: DCU DÉ 6 v UU 4 (Belfast), Grass Pitch 4, 3.00pm
Ladies HEC Championship Donaghy Cup Final: Maynooth University 2 v UL 4, Grass Pitch 1, 5.00pm
Friday, March 8th
Ladies HEC Championship Moynihan Cup Semi Final: ATU Sligo v SETU Waterford, Grass Pitch 3, 12pm
Ladies HEC Championship Moynihan Cup Semi Final: MICL 2 v University of Liverpool, Grass Pitch 5, 12pm
Ladies HEC Championship O’Connor Cup Semi Final: UCC v Ulster University, Grass Pitch 1, 1.30pm
Ladies HEC Championship O’Connor Cup Semi Final: DCU DÉ v TU Dublin, Grass Pitch 1, 3.30pm
Ladies HEC Championship Lynch Cup Semi Final: DkIT v MTU Cork, 3pm
Ladies HEC Championship Lynch Cup Semi Final: UCC 2 v DCU DÉ 3, 3pm
Ladies HEC Championship Giles Cup Final: Maynooth University v MTU Kerry, Grass Pitch 1, 5.30pm
Saturday, March 9th
Ladies HEC Moynihan Cup Final: Grass Pitch 1, 12pm
Ladies HEC Lynch Cup Final: Grass Pitch 1, 2pm
Ladies HEC O’Connor Cup Final: Grass Pitch 1, 4pm
