WATCH: UL cruise past NUIG in opening Gourmet Food Parlour O’Connor Cup tie

Defending champions UL had a comfortable 5-23 to 0-4 points win over NUIG in their Gourmet Food Parlour O’Connor Cup opener on pitch one on Wednesday afternoon.

Two Eimear Scally frees as well as points from Emma Needham and Grace Kelly had UL in a four point lead before NUIG pulled one back with an Olivia Divilly free to register their first score of the game.

UL’s direct running game was causing the problems for the Galway defence and Scally followed up with two more frees from almost identical positions.

The home side now had a healthy 5 point lead and added another five points to take total control of the game by 11 points to 1.

NUIG needed a goal and when Michaela Kearney was put through on goal it looked like they would finally get back into the game. It wasn’t to be however as the shot was straight at a grateful Caoimhe Moore in the UL goal.

Minutes later a point effort form Emma Neehdam dropped short and when the NUIG keeper failed to hang on to the dropping ball, Grace Kelly pounced on the mistake for a scappy goal that saw 13 between the sides.

UL took a 1-11 to 0-2 lead into the break and picked up where they left off in the second half a barrage of scores. Second half goals from Louise Ward, Shauna Howley, Laura Rogers and Eimear Scally saw the home side run out comfortable 34 point winners.

Next up, UL will face UCD knowing that a win will qualify them for the finals weekend while for NUIG it is very much back to the drawing board as the strive to stay alive in the competition.

Watch all the scores on the highlights video below.