Juniors land Leinster Football title

Leinster Junior Championship Final
DCU 4-11
UCD 3-8

(Report by Gavin Cawley)

DCU won the final of the Junior Leinster Championship after an entertaining display of football in Clares on Wednesday evening. The team managed by Dublin Senior Footballer, Dean Rock got off to a great start, as they sped into a 5-1 point lead as Sean Brady and Niall Clerkin were causing problems for the UCD defence. UCD did come back into the match over the course of the opening half and only trailed by point as the half entered the final five minutes, until DCU reclaimed a 4 point advantage when Clerkin found the back of the UCD net with a rasping effort. However, UCD did respond with with goal of their own before the break to leave score at the interval 1-7 – 1-6 .

Captain, James Galligan really led by explain in the second half as he opened DCU’s account with the first score of the second half but UCD responded almost immediately with goal of their own. Again, DCU put this game away with two further goals, both from the boot of Clerkin. UCD did regroup but couldn’t cut the gap enough as DCU held on for a convincing win. DCU go on to the All Ireland Semi Final now, where they will face Ulster opposition.

 

O’Connor Cup team set for journey to IT Tralee

The O’Connor Cup team under the guidance of Stephen Maxwell booked their place in the Semi Final of the competition last night with a comprehensive win 3-16 to 1-8 over Queens. This added to last weeks win against Maynooth sees the girls into a Semi Final against UL which will take place in IT Tralee on March 11th.

The game was a tight and tense affair for most of the first half but it was Sarah Rowe’s goal in the opening exchanges that was the difference at half time, as DCU registered points from the ever industrious Leah Caffrey and two each from Sarah Rowe and Michelle Farrell.

DCU opened the second half well and notched some good points from Aishling Sheridan, Lorraine O’Shea, Niamh Rickard and Kate Fitzgibbon, but to their credit Queens continued to battle well and slotted a good goal to leave the score at 1-11 to 1-7 at the 40 minute mark. However, this was as good as it got for the northerners as DCU exerted control of proceedings for the final twenty minutes, as they landed goals from Michelle Farrell, who was excellent throughout and Emma Colgan, who prospered when introduced. DCU ran out winners in the end 3-18 to 1-11.

DCU have shown good progress over the three games and will be hoping to continue this upward curve as they face UL in two weeks, in what is sure to be a tough encounter. The sides are no strangers to each other having met in last years final and also in this years League semi final, with the wins at one a piece, it will be interesting to see who makes the final.

Fresher Hurlers reach final with tight win over WIT

A second battling display in a week has seen the Fresher A Hurlers reach the Championship Final, which is down for decision next Wednesday against Cork IT. A never say die attitude was present throughout the game and despite having the better of the opening exchanges and grabbing an early lead, it was DCU who were chasing WIT on the scoreboard for most of the encounter.

DCU started brightly and registered the opening two scores of the game, with Aaron Maddock scoring the opener from distance and while WIT got on the scoreboard with a pointed free, a finely taken goal by Liam Fahey helped to open up a handsome lead for DCU. An unfortunate injury to Aaron Murphy, who has just scored a fine point, unsettled DCU a little for a few minutes mid way through the first half as WIT gained a foothold on the game and got some fine scores and they managed to hold a lead 1-7 to 1-3 after 23 minutes. DCU managed to regain record some scores towards the end of the half as Eoghan Conroy and Gary Tynan slotted points over, but WIT held a three point lead.

DCU started the second half with renewed intensity and the teams and the sides were level by the 42nd minute as Harry O’Connor and Cathal Doran found their range. The teams went point for point over the course of the next 15 minutes as neither side was yielding any ground and the free taking of WIT’s Padraig Hayes and DCU’s Gary Tynan was prominent with neither individual registering a wide.

As the game entered the final minutes a number of DCU players stepped up to the mark across the middle third of the pitch, as Sean Quinn, Martin Kelly and Conor Delaney played telling roles. Two scores on the bounce in the final minutes from Eoghan Conroy and Harry O’Connor managed to give DCU the victory on a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-14. The team will now face Cork IT on Wednesday at 14:00 at a venue TBC.

Moynihan Cup side win first ever Championship encounter

Moynihan Cup
Round 1
DCU      7-7
Queens 1-4

DCU got off to a flying start in their first ever Moynihan Cup game for DCU, with a comprehensive victory over Queens 7-7 to 1-4. The girls who have been training exceptionally hard and diligently got off to a fast start when Ciara Byrne found the back of the Queens net, which started a period of dominance in the early moments of the first half. Aine McPartland also got 1-2 in the opening half while the defence kept Queens at arms length as they only managed one score in the half which was a last minute goal which gave them some hope of pulling off the win at the score read at the break DCU 3-2 Queen’s 1-0.

DCU got the first couple of scores at the start of the second half which really killed off the challenge of Queens as DCU dominated every sector of the period and along with getting game time for quite number of the panel .The next outing for this side in the Moynihan Cup is a meeting with Mary I on Thursday in Limerick.

Fresher B’s advance to final

The Fresher B Football side will face a second Cork outfit when they match up with Cork IT in the final of the Fresher B Championship, which is down for decision on Thursday March 3rd. The team advanced to the final following what was a surprisingly one sided semi final victory over UCC.

The foundations of the comprehensive victory were laid in the 22nd minute as DCU rattled two goals in the space of a minute, as Sligo’s Brian McGowan finished expertly to the bottom corner of the net, which was closely followed by DCU turning over a short UCC kick out from good forward work rate before Donal Timoney blasted to the net. This quick fire blitz effectively ended the game as a contest, as DCU tagged three more points before half time and entered the break ahead by 2-10 to 0-3.

UCC opened the second half more brightly but were constantly met with resistance by Sean Conroy and Alan Dunne in the DCU full back line. DCU continued their push forward, as DCU managed to push on and register three more goals before the final quarter to end the game as a contest. UCC to their credit battled on til the finish but it was hard for them to make headway with the performances of Peter Hanley around the middle in particular.

Management team of Joe McBrearty, Michael McConalogue & Sigerson forward David Mannix will have been pleased with the application of the players in this encounter but there will be no complacency as they are aware of the strong threat which Cork IT pose following their own comprehensive win over DKIT, as side who powerfully defeated DCU in the league, on route to the final.

DCU have to much for hosts UUJ in Sigerson Semi

(Report courtesy of independent.ie)

DCU led from start to finish and managed to keep UUJ at bay, dropping bodies back to restrict the supply into the home side’s dangerous forward line. UUJ felt aggrieved over a few decisions by referee Padraig Hughes in the last quarter, but they only had themselves to blame after hitting nine wides, seven in the first half. They also dropped half a dozen balls into the goalkeeper’s hands. They couldn’t penetrate a well-drilled DCU defence and coughed up too much possession, danger man Paddy McBrearty being starved of the ball for long spells.

DCU led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time, having scored the first three points through Ultan Harney, David Mannix and Carey inside six minutes. Fine long-range scores from Tyrone’s Richie Donnelly and Monaghan’s Kieran Hughes brought UUJ to within 0-4 to 0-2 behind.

However, a defensive lapse by Donnelly allowed Carey to net the only goal. The Tyrone midfielder lost possession inside his own ’45 and Enda Smith burst forward and fed Carey who buried the ball low from close range. McBrearty kicked three frees in the opening half for UUJ, but the home side gave the ball away far too cheaply in a costly third quarter.

Carey punished their ill-discipline with unerring accuracy. DCU led by 1-11 to 0-8 midway through the second half, following two superb points inside 60 seconds from Davy Byrne and Stephen Attride.

Byrne cut across the ball for a fine long-range score and Attride nailed a superb point from the wing which looked set to break Jordanstown’s resistance. However, the home side mounted a spirited comeback and had their best spell in the last 10 minutes with four points in a row. Monaghan’s Kieran Hughes nailed two superb long-range scores into the wind, with Ryan McHugh also getting forward for a well-worked point and McBrearty landing a free. Richie Donnelly, anxious to atone for his earlier mistake, had a fine second half. However, with just two points between the teams, referee Padraig Hughes spotted an off-the-ball foul by Ricky Johnston, allowing Carey to halt UUJ’s momentum with a vital free.

 

Scorers – UUJ: P McBrearty 0-5 (4f), K Hughes 0-4, R Donnelly 0-2, S Heavron, R McHugh 0-1 each. DCU: S Carey 1-8 (7f), E Smith 0-2 (1f), S Attride, D Mannix, D Byrne, U Harney 0-1 each.

UUJ – S Fox (Tyrone); R Johnston (Antrim), R McNamee (Tyrone), K Clarke (Cavan); R McHugh (Donegal), R Brennan (Tyrone), S Sheridan (Armagh); N McKeever (Antrim), R Donnelly (Tyrone); C Grugan (Tyrone), R McAnespie (Monaghan), M Argue (Cavan); P McBrearty (Donegal), K Hughes (Monaghan), C O’Boyle (Derry). Subs: E Regan (Mayo) for O’Boyle (40), G McKinless (Derry) for Grugan (43), S Heavron for Argue (48), P Hughes (Armagh) for Johnston (58).

DCU – P O’Donnell (Donegal); K Daly (Westmeath), K Feeley (Kildare), J Smyth (Dublin); S Attride (Laois), C Moynagh (Cavan), C Begley (Laois); S O’Brien (Tipperary), E Smith (Roscommon); D O’Connor (Mayo), M Quinn (Longford), D Byrne (Dublin); D Mannix (Kerry), U Harney (Roscommon), S Carey (Monaghan). Subs: C McGraynor (Wicklow) for Mannix (35), S Carthy (Dublin) for Smith (45), D Ward (Monaghan) for Byrne (51), S McCoey (Armagh) for O’Connor (BC, 54), C McGonagle (Donegal)  for Harney (59), R Connor (Longford) for Harney (60).

Ref – P Hughes (Armagh).

Sigerson Final ends in victory for UCD

(Report courtesy of independent.ie)

The south Dublin college were the better side throughout and triumphed despite Dublin stars Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey limping off with minor injuries, and losing Kildare forward Niall Kelly to a black card in the first half.

UCD were a point up when McCaffrey went off with a hamstring injury three minutes from the end but he paid tribute to the late Dave Billings, a UCD stalwart as he accepted the Sigerson Cup from GAA President Aogan Farrell.

“We didn’t use the memory of Dave as motivation at any one point during the year, but he was kind of with us all the way. He always preached about how the Sigerson Cup was about the friendships we’d make, but winning this isn’t half bad either.”

UCD started brightly and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 18 minutes, Heslin scoring two frees and a point and Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy scoring the first of his two points, before Mannion limped out of the game.

2015 champions DCU were behind for most of the game and only scored one point from play, a spectacular score from the wing from Stephen Attride in the sixth minute.

They did lead at the break, though, having had their best spell scoring 1-1 in injury-time.

Tipperary midfielder Stephen O’Brien scored a 30th minute goal and Shane Carey nailed a free to put them 1-2 to 0-5 ahead. UCD reeled off four unanswered points in the third quarter, including three Heslin frees, to go 0-8 to 1-2 ahead after 44 minutes.

Then DCU were awarded a penalty against the run of play. Conor McHugh went on a good run down the left and passed inside to fellow sub Conor McGraynor, who swivelled and was upended in the square.

Conor Moynagh stepped up and buried the penalty in the 52nd minute to draw the holders level at 2-2 to 0-8.

DCU dropped two points balls into the goalkeeper’s hands and UCD made them pay with Heslin converting a sweet point from the left after 56 minutes.

UCD picked up their second black card when McCarthy went late on, but having used all six subs it meant they finished the game with 14 men.

McCaffrey’s replacement, Stephen Coen, scored a left-footed point from a tight angle in the first minute of stoppage time to clinch it for UCD.

 

Scorers for UCD – J Heslin 0-6 (4f), C McCarthy 0-2, P Mannion 0-1 (f), S Coen 0-1

Scorers for DCU – S O’Brien 1-0, C Moynagh 1-0 (pen), S Carey 0-1 (f), S Attride 0-1

UCD: E Keogh (Laois); R Wylie (Monaghan), D Hyland (Kildare), D Byrne (Dublin), C Mullaly (Dublin), M Fitzsimons (Dublin), J McCaffrey (Dublin); L Casey (Tipperary), R McDaid (Dublin); C McCarthy (Monaghan), J Heslin (Westmeath), C Basquel (Dublin); E Lowry (Laois), P Mannion (Dublin), N Kelly (Kildare)

Subs: T Hayes (Cavan) for Mannion (17), J McEntee (Meath) for Kelly (BC, 29), S Coen (Mayo) for McEntee (43), J Barry (Kerry) for Lowry (53), S O’Dea (Limerick) for McCaffrey (57), T Moolick for Casey (58)

DCU: P O’Donnell (Donegal); K Daly (Westmeath), K Feeley (Kildare), J Smith (Dublin); S Attride (Laois), C Moynagh (Cavan), D Byrne (Dublin); S O’Brien (Tipperary), M Quinn (Longford); D O’Connor (Mayo), E Smith (Roscommon), C Begley (Laois); R Connor (Longford), R Lyons (Fermanagh), S Carey (Monaghan)

Subs: S Carthy (Dublin) for Quinn (HT), C McGraynor (Wicklow) for Connor (HT),

D Ward (Monaghan) for Daly (44), C McHugh (Dublin) for Carey (47), C Breheny (Sligo) for Lyons (47), C McNally (Armagh) for Smith (59)

REFEREE: David Coldrick (Meath)

Timoney runs riot for Fresher B Footballers

DCU made it two wins from two at Fresher level against UCD in three days, as the Fresher B team won out on a scoreline of 4-16 to 2-09. The scoreline suggests a comfortable encounter for the North Dublin outfit, but it was only in the second half when DCU started to exert their dominance.

UCd has the majority of the play in the opening half as they led after the opening quarter and DCU only managed to stay in touch following a fine goal by Donal Timoney combined with his point scoring ability. UCD were managing to stay ahead before Timoney rattled his second and left DCU ahead by three points at the interval, 2-6 to 1-6.

DCU powered forward in the second half at every opportunity with Alan Dunne and Sean Conroy particularly effective. DCU continued to land scores in the second half Micheal McWalters and Brian MCGowan landed good scores to assist the free scoring Timoney.

Manager Joe McBrearty will be happy with the fluidity of the performance and will look forward to the visit of UCC to St. Clares on Tuesday and will hope to manage a similar result.

Fresher A Hurlers snap victory in the Mardyke

DCU Fresher A Hurlers secured a spot in the Championship semi final with a hard earned extra time victory over UCC in the Mardyke on Thursday on a scoreline of 2-22 to 2-20. The result was a repeat of the league semi final where DCU won against a UCC outfit that contained a number of fine hurlers. This win has set DCU up for a semi final clash with WIT, who also won after extra time beating St. Pats.

DCU started the game slowly as UCC registered the first two scores of the game, but it wasn’t long before DCU settled and notched scores from the impressive Gary Tynan, who finished with 0-12 and from the industrious stick of Rian McBride. DCU had opened up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead before UCC slotted a goal against the run of play, but DCU battled back admirably and made sure to lead at half time by a single point, 0-10 to 1-6.

The second half produced a fine see sawing game with the lead changing hands a number of times, with UCC again starting more brightly and they went three ahead before DCU got into the groove and landed scores from Eoghan Conroy and the accurate Tynan, before Harry O’Connor netted to give DCU the lead. The game ebbed and swayed and DCU were buoyed by a number of fine performances in the backs, creating a launch pad for the forwards but it was UCC who held the lead as the final whistle approached before sub Matthew Joyce landed an equiliser to send the game to extra time, as the game finished level at 1-16 a piece.

DCU didn’t start sluggishly this time however and they landed a goal from another sub Donncha O’Connor and further pointed frees to open up a four point lead, but this was quickly ruled out following a fortunate goal for the hosts, again the teams were level as the game entered the second period of extra time. The game was tight and tense but it was again another DCU introduction Sean Hickey who slotted a fine point to put DCU ahead, before Tynan landed the insurance point, as DCU won out 2-22 to 2-20.

The game leave DCU with a week until their semi final, against a slick WIT team, which will cause Eoin Roche and his management team plenty of headaches.

All Ireland Fresher A Football Champions

DCU landed the All Ireland Fresher A Football Championship for the first time since 2013 today in Croke Park with a thrilling victory over a never say die UCD side.

The game was a great affair and showcased the quality football that is played at third level, with end to end football and there was no sign of the blanket defence in a game which ebbed and flowed for the hour. It was UCD who settled the better and they registered two points quickly before DCU managed to settle the nerves when Meath’s Ronan Jones travelled forward and latched onto the end of a fine move and netted for DCU to put the team ahead by a point, this was followed by a Brian Reape free and a fine score from distance by Ronan Jones. In a game that moved from end to end, David Shannon in the DCU pulled off a fine save and kept DCU ahead. UCD then registered a number of points and then they added a further goal to go 1-4 to 1-3 ahead after 23 minutes. The final few minutes of the half  were dominated by DCU, as Brian Reape added another and Matthew Ruane got a fine score, as the Mayo contingent showed well for the North Dublin outfit. The teams went in at half time with DCU leading on a scoreline of 1-6 to 1-4.

The second half started with both team registering fine points and a the 40th minute the sides were level at 1-7 each, but it was then that the game exploded into life and scores started to come thick and fast and from all angles. Brian Reape scored a cracking goal, which was quickly followed by a David Brady point, which opened up a four point lead, but UCD replied with scores from Con O’Callaghan and Darragh Lafferty to leave just two points between the sides with twelve minutes left.

The introduction at this stage of Cavan’s Pierce Smith led to an upsurge in DCU’s fortunes as he landed two fine points almost immediately and Shehroz Akram got a great point as he powered through the centre. Then Rory Feely, who was a nuisance throughout, scored a fantastic goal and this left DCU ahead by eight points. It was to the credit of UCD that they certainly did not give up and they launched a tremendous comeback which fell just short, as Darragh Lafferty, Barry McGinn and Stephen Quirke attacked for the Southsiders. UCD scored 2-1 in the closing minutes and into extra time but they came up a point short, as the game finished 3-11 to 3-10.

It was a superb team and panel performance, with the full back line excelling throughout in their man marking duties, Conor Morrison, Daniel O’Neill and Daniel Gallagher all outstanding, while Cian McManus (Fermanagh) gave a serious display which was full of industry and skill. It was a fantastic achievement for Brendan Gillen and his management team of Josh Warde, Ray Wheatley, Michael McConalogue & Joe McBrearty, double champions following the league victory over UUJ in December. It was a disappointing result for UCD, as DCU’s Barry Kerr lifted the Corn Daithi Billings, but Dave will have been pleased by the attitude shown by the UCD troops though out.