11th May 2024
Diamonds & St Vincents claim Irish Senior Cups
League form went out the window at this years Irish Senior Cup in this years Women’s competition when Diamonds WPC upset the odds and won their first ever Irish Senior Cup.
This evenings final saw the Belfast team face Drogheda who were in their fourth Irish Senior Cup final in a row and who started the brighter of the two teams, racing into a 5-3 lead by the end of the first quarter before Diamonds came back into it to lead 9-7 at half time, a lead which they held in the third quarter (9-11) before pulling away in the fourth to win 13-8 to make club history.
Women’s Team of the tournament:
1 Amelia Urry (Diamonds WPC)
2 Aine Hennessy (St Vincents)
3 Meabh McGurk (Diamonds)
4 Simona Herbaj (Drogheda)
5 Cliona Colvin (St Vincents)
6 Siobhan McGurk (Diamonds WPC)
7 Sophie Moran (Tribes WPC)
Women’s Bert O’Brien MVP of the tournament:
Meabh McGurk (Diamonds)
In the Mens competitions it was repeat of the 2023 final where reigning champions St Vincents faced local side Cathal Brugha. It was a tight opening quarter with Cathal Brugha ending the period leading 1-0 but it was all Brugha in the second quarter as they extended their lead to be 4-1 ahead at HT. It soon became 5-1 before Vincents started their comeback as they ate into the Brugha’s lead to be only behind by two (6-4) at the end of the third quarter before going on to dominate the fourth quarter with Cillian Colvin sealing victory with a breakaway goal with a minute on the clock for the Dublin team to retain their title and their fifth Irish Senior Cup.
Men’s Team of the tournament:
1 Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
2 James Reid (North Dublin)
3 Dominique Zahra (Cathal Brugha)
4 Stiofan McMahon (Cathal Brugha)
5 Cillian Colvin (St Vincents)
6 Tiarnan Colvin (St Vincents)
7 Fionn Byrne (St Vincents)
Men’s Shane Moraghan MVP of the tournament:
Shane O’Brien (St Vincents)
Young Player of the Year was also awarded at the end of the competition to Fionn Byrne (St Vincents)
A big thank you to all our LEN referees & table officials, President of Ireland Water Polo Adrian Hanna who was in attendance for the presentations of medals and in particular to Tournament Directors, Phil Kelly, Aveen Colvin and Sarah Kelly for organising and running the tournament over the weekend.
Officials
LEN referees appointed for the tournament:
Pau Segurana (ESP)
Karel Dvoracek (CZE)
Massimo Castrilli (SUI)
Maniel Manea (ROU)
Jakov Blaskovic (CRO)
Declan McKerr (IRE)
Also thank you to our pool providers in Bangor Aurora as well as their staff who were very obliging in making hours available over the weekend and providing assistance when needed.
Information, Match Sheets & Results:
Results – Saturday 11th May 2024
Women
Semi Final 1 St Vincents WPC 10 v 12 Drogheda WPC
Semi Final 2 Diamonds WPC 21 v 7 Tribes WPC
Final Drogheda WPC 9 v 13 Diamonds WPC
Men
Semi Final 1 North Dublin 8 v 10 Cathal Brugha
Semi Final 2 St Vincents 11 v 4 Sandycove
Final Cathal Brugha 7 v 9 St Vincents
