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Seven second-half points from Aisling Reynolds helped Trinity College to claim the Giles Cup as they beat Athlone IT in Saturday’s final at CIT.

With Trinity holding a 0-6 to 0-5 lead at half-time, the Dublin college scored seven of the first nine points after the resumption, Reynolds scoring six as she was impeccable from frees while sub Stacey Flood also pointed soon after her introduction.

The lead had stretched to 1-13 to 0-7 when Athlone got a lifeline as Kelly Boyce-Jordan was fouled for a penalty which Caoileann Byrne converted, and then Blathnaid Keogh’s excellent point gave the Westmeath side hope.

Unfortunately for them, they would only score one point while Trinity made the game safe. Flood’s second and yet another Reynolds free gave them breathing space and then Reynolds found Nicole Owens with a perfect pass, allowing the centre-forward to slot her shot to the net.

Seven minutes remained at that stage and while Athlone were able to mount attacks as they sought to salvage something from the game, they couldn’t find another goal.

The first half was a more even contest, with the lead changing hands on five different occasions. Sarah McCaffrey – sister of Dublin star Jack – was outstanding at midfield for Trinity, scoring two points while Caitriona Smith also made her presence felt on the scoreboard.

Byrne was Athlone’s scorer-in-chief with Aisling Kehoe on target too as they trailed by just a point at the break, but Trinity were the superior team in the second period.

Scorers for Trinity College: A Reynolds 0-7 (0-6f), N Owens 1-2, S McCaffrey, C Smith, S Flood 0-2 each, M Downey 0-1.
Scorers for Athlone IT: C Byrne 1-7 (1-0 penalty, 0-5f), A Kehoe, B Keogh 0-1 each.

TRINITY COLLEGE: A Byrne (Laois); R Coleman-Horgan (Kerry), A Giles (Westmeath), E Beirne (Roscommon); A McGovern (Cavan), M Peel (Meath), S O’Sullivan (Kerry); A Haberlin (Laois), S McCaffrey (Dublin); M Downey (Meath), A Reynolds (Longford), E Jones (Roscommon); C Smith (Cavan), N Owens (Dublin), R McDonnell (Dublin).
Subs: S Flood (Dublin) for Jones (39), A Finnerty (Galway) for McDonnell (50).

ATHLONE IT: R Timothy (Roscommon); K Ward (Cavan), K Henshaw (Westmeath), A Cosgrove (Longford); A Loughman (Laois), D Tierney (Kildare), G Hawdon (Meath); R Howley (Clare), L Kiernan (Westmeath); A Donnelly (Galway), A Kehoe (Laois), B Keogh (Meath); A Hynes (Galway), C Byrne (Roscommon), K Boyce-Jordan (Westmeath).
Subs: S Mannion (Offaly) for Hynes, D Murray (Offaly) for Donnelly (both 48), K Walsh (Westmeath) for Henshaw (51).

Referee: K Delahunty (Tipperary).