Women’s Roma Leones Lacrosse Tournament Champions

Dublinfest Mixed Lacrosse Champions

Dublinfest Men’s Lacrosse Champions

Men’s Ireland Lacrosse League Champions

As the season is over it is time again for a new committee. Congratulations to those elected, the new committee is:

Men’s Captain – Sean O’Shaughnessy

Women’s Captain – Laura O’Flynn

Secretary – Olly Renney

Treasurer – Gareth Kavanagh

Public Relations Officer – Eoin Parsons

Trips & Tournaments Officer – Aoife O’Shea

Also, a huge congratulations to everyone who won the end of year awards this year:

Men’s MVP – Sean O’Shaughnessy

Women’s MVP – Ashley DeFlumere

Men’s Defensive – Danny Jones

Women’s Defensive – Laura O’Flynn

Men’s Offensive – Richard “Dexter” Blanc

Women’s Offensive – Aoife Ferguson

Men’s Rookie – Aidan Kelly

Women’s Rookie – Olly Renney

Men’s Most Improved – Ciaran Boylan

Women’s Most Improved – Caoimhe Rahill

Overall, it has been a very successful year for the club, and hopefully this success will continue into next year and beyond

UCD Men’s Team are two time winners of the ILL trophy and currently sit on top of the league table for the 2012/2013 season. The men are defending Dublinfest champions and are set to defend their title in April from teams around the UK and mainland Europe.

The UCD Women’s Team is also set to compete in the competition and is looking to improve their standing on last year, as they seek revenge over their British counterparts.

UCD play in the Belfield campus, Dublin 4, and are coached by:

Sean Bodie – UCD Men’s Team Head Coach, former National Team Player and current Ireland Assistant Coach

Kevin Quinn – Men’s Team Assistant Coach and National Team Player

Katelin Billups – Women’s Team Head Coach and National Team Player

Ashley DeFlumere – Women’s Team Assistant Coach and National Team Player

The training and playing facilities UCD Lacrosse possess are second to none; world class training pitches and gym, sports and conditioning and high performance gyms. Although UCD are a highly competitive outfit we are also driven by the love of the game and the need to develop the sport in this country. The focus within UCD is to recruit and develop new players every season.

UCD is the biggest lacrosse programme in the country and produces national team players every year but the main driving force behind the two teams is, and always will be, fun. We train hard but we always play harder, both on and off the field. Whether you’re a seasoned player or you just want to try something new UCD Lax is where you are going to enjoy it most.

See you on the field.

Drew Moran, UCD PRO

This year’s group are a motley crew made up of experienced players and players new to the game alike. For the past five years, UCD has been the pride of Irish Lacrosse in terms of gaining and retaining players new to the game. This year has been no different with the addition of a number of great athletes and potential stars of the future.

The boys got off to a flying start this year. In October, they travelled to Galway for the first game day of the 2010-2011 Irish Lacrosse League season as defending champions. The team’s first competitive game of the year saw UCD comfortably dismiss the home side, NUI Galway and a number of new players were “blooded” in the contest. UCD’s second match of the day would prove to be their toughest to date as they were held to a five-a-piece draw with the heavily favoured Dublin Bay Prawns.

In November, UCD Lacrosse travelled to Cork for the second game day of the season. UCD Captain Aidan Marshall (D) led the boys to their first shut out of the season, as a combined Trinity College Dublin/Queens University Belfast could not match one of UCD’s seven goals. Earlier in the day, UCD were able to power by Dublin Lacrosse for a much coveted 7-5 victory, thanks to a strong presence in midfield by Andy Sloane and Chris O’Reilly.

The team was really beginning to gel as a unit just in time for the third game day, in February. In a much anticipated re-match against the Dublin Bay Prawns, UCD were able to hold on to a 6-5 victory against a side boasting a number of Irish international players. Cillian Murphy led the offensive charge, partnering with fellow UCD attackman Dexter Blanc to seal victory.

March’s game day in Belfast brought the UCD Men one step closer to retaining the championship. With the notable absence of American exchange student David Goscinak, the UCD men were still able to hang on to their second shutout of the season, writing off NUI Galway 8-0. Conor O’Brien, in his first year between the sticks, produced a fine performance that will certainly seal his place as goalie of the year ahead of Dublin Bay Prawns keeper Kevin Quinn.

UCD are looking forward to hosting the final gameday of the year on 02 April at the GAA pitches near Roebuck Castle. A victory over Dublin Lacrosse would ensure UCD’s second championship on the trot and UCD Captain Aidan Marshall is cautiously optimistic. Marshall is in his final year at UCD and says, “this is the finest team I’ve played with. If we are ever going to do it, it’s going to be this year.”

It’s not just about the league, though. UCD will compete in tournaments in Amsterdam and Durham before the season is out. On top of that, the boys will be looking for their third consecutive trophy at the annual Dublinfest Lacrosse Tournament held in North County Dublin. Veteran defender Keith Kane has been a part of the last two championship teams and can’t wait to try for the “threepeat”. “Having been involved with the winning sides of the past, I’m really looking forward to this tournament. It’s great competing against and beating teams from all over Europe.”

Many of the UCD players are using these tournaments as well as others this spring in the Czech Republic, Germany, Holland and Britain as practice for Irish National Team trials later this year. UCD Coach Sean Bodie thinks a number of his players will be representing Ireland at the European Championships 2012 in Prague, “We certainly have a number of players that will be considered for roster places. We have a pedigree of sorts. UCD have always had representatives on the National Team since UCD Lacrosse was founded in 2006 and we’re known for producing fundamentally sound, intelligent players and we hope to continue that trend.” Bodie cited a number of former UCD players that will be representing Ireland this summer at the World Indoor Lacrosse championships.

So with what looks to be shaping up as another successful year for UCD Men’s Lacrosse, what’s next? Bodie sees the future for the men’s side as bright, “Well, if we can manage to win the league we will be honoured to participate in the European Club Championships over the summer – but that is yet to be decided. On a more personal level, I would be delighted to see a number of our guys make the National Team and we’re all working really hard to ensure they’re prepared come trials in October.”

UCD Men’s Lacrosse play on Saturday 02 April at the GAA fields at Roebuck Castle – come support your team!

Keith Kane

We must thank Sean Bodie, Kevin Quinn and Katelin Billups for their continued support and coaching over the past few months, and of course all the players for their efforts. I will reiterate to the players that now is the time for the Final Push. Just 2 games now stand between us and the title… Train hard… Play hard… And bring back the silverware to its rightful owner

Keith Kane

The girls team began by facing a mixed team of Dublin and Trinity which boasted several Irish internationals amongst their ranks. The girls performed admirably and it was a credit to the coaching staff and leaders in the team that so many ‘rookies’ were amongst the starting line-up and more featured during the game. They were also lucky enough to take part in a clinic which was run by Ireland Lacrosse’ Women’s director Julie Clarke, and was a resounding success amongst the newer players and experienced alike.

The mens team togged out firstly against a Galway side still searching for their first victory over UCD. Despite their best efforts, the quality of our mens team and our strength in depth proved too much for Galway. Some notable performances from our new Americans was enough to see us run out comfortable winners in the end.

The second game saw us face the newly formed Dublin Prawns, who proved to be far tougher opponents than the earlier fixture. Winning 5-2, the Prawns produced a spirited comeback to level the game at 5-5. Sadly there was to be no extra goal for UCD and the game ended in a draw. Sitting pretty in 2nd place with one win and one draw, the mens team continues to gain momentum coming into the Cork gameday on November 13th.

A big thanks must go to all the players who turned out from all the teams involved, and especially to all our ‘rookies’ who took part in their first competitive game day. We also wish to thank our captains Rachel and Aidan for the leadership on and off the field, and of course our coaches Katelin Billups, Kevin Quinn and Sean Bodie who continue to be vital to the success of the teams and the club. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and look forward to seeing you in Cork on November 13th!

Keith Kane

Contacts

General info: ucdlax@gmail.com

Men’s Captain: Aidan Marshall
Women’s Captain: Rachel Blake
Men’s Coach: Sean Bodie
Women’s Coach: Katelin Billups

Training

UCD Lacrosse training starts on Thursday, 16 September and from then onwards takes place every Monday and Thursday as follows:

* Mondays 4.45-6pm
* Thursdays 8.30-10pm

All training sessions take place on the artificial 11-a-side (Prestige) pitch located behind the enclosed 5-a-side soccer pitches near the UCD Sports Centre.

All you need is runners or turf shoes and shorts, the rest of the kit we will provide.