The Sigerson Cup final is one of the peaks of University GAA. With UCD looking to reach a happier ending than last year’s final defeat, Daire Lydon walks us through the big game.
This year's Sigerson Cup Final was an all Dublin affair. On a bitterly cold winter evening, Mayo played host to the contest for the biggest prize in varsity GAA. Despite the best efforts of storm Éowyn, the game was played under lights in arctic temperatures in Connacht GAA’s Centre of Excellence, a state of the art facility in Knock, County Mayo. This highly anticipated ‘Battle of the Liffey’ saw UCD go head-to-head with Dublin City University (DCU), with the winners taking home the coveted Sigerson Cup, marking the culmination of months of hard work from everyone involved.
UCD have been the most successful team in the competition by a long distance, with 34 Sigerson Cup titles, 10 more than any other team in the competition. The tournament has a knockout format, with a backdoor system much like the All Ireland Football Championship. Having previously defeated DCU in the early stages of the tournament, the ghosts of the past would rise up and haunt UCD, rewriting the script on the biggest stage of the competition.
UCD were hoping to make amends for last year's final when they were narrowly defeated by Munster Technological University (MTU), in Tralee. UCD had a tricky road to the final this year, coming up trumps against University College Cork, MTU and co-finalists DCU, before beating Dublin rivals Technological University Dublin (TUD) on penalties 5-4 in the semi-final.
Littered with inter-county talent, UCD got off to a very promising start in the final when one such star, Ryan O’Toole from Monaghan, netted a stunning goal from 15 metres to put UCD in front. As with most finals, the first half was a cagey affair, with neither side able to pull away.
The game was end to end, with both sides going at it hammer and tongs.
Some good teamwork from UCD resulted in scores from play from Luke Breathnach and Theo Clancy, alongside a free from Roscommon man Daire Cregg. This left the sides even at the break with the score UCD 1-3 to 6 points for DCU. It was clear however that UCD were not performing to the same level as they had previously in the competition, missing some scoring opportunities that you would expect them to take given their track record this season to date.
The second half did not go UCD’s way as the Northsiders began to sink their teeth into the Befield team with a barrage of scores to all but bury UCD. There was plenty of hunger left in UCD however and they fought tooth and nail to stay in the contest. Callum Bolton drilled in a low finish in response.
The all Skerries Harps midfield for DCU began to impose themselves on the game with Ethan Dunne demonstrating shades of Brian Fenton with his outstanding fielding and contribution of 1-2, earning him the Man of The Match award.
DCU captain Ciaran Caulfield was outstanding from half back, scoring two points and he would also have had a goal if it wasn't for UCDs unyielding defensive efforts to deny an almost certain score. There was no denying it now however that UCD were under the cosh.
UCD showed great spirit and determination however and threw everything at it with Aaron Lynch making a nuisance of himself for DCU defenders with a series of linkup plays resulting in another free kick for Daire Cregg. Lynch's relentless energy was rewarded in the first minute of added time when a long ball he played in met with a clean strike from Darragh McElearney and ended up in the back of the DCU net. Unfortunately it was too little too late for UCD and the game finished with a four point victory for DCU.
As Jarlath Burns presented the Sigerson Cup to DCU, their 6th time winning the title, it marked the end of an exciting season for all involved.
The quest for UCD’s 35th Sigerson cup continues, but participating in two finals in a row is a great achievement for the college and testament to the hard work and dedication of the panel and coaching staff behind the scenes.
On their road to the final UCD defeated MTU, the side they lost to in the final last year and DCU, the team they would inevitably lose to in the final, which speaks to the ability of the team and how it could have gone either way. Ultimately it wasn’t to be for John Divilly’s men, but you can bet your bottom dollar they will be knocking on the door again next year.
Scorers for DCU: Ethan Dunne 1-2, Tom Prior 0-3, Darragh Swords 0-3 (0-1 free), Luke Marren (0-2 frees), Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan 0-1, Conor Heffernan 0-1, Niall Dolan 0-1, Ciarán Caulfield 0-1, Lorcan O’Dell 0-1, Greg McEneaney 0-1.
Scorers for UCD: Callum Bolton 1-2, Ryan O’Toole 1-0, Darragh McElearney 1-0, Daire Cregg (0-2 frees), Theo Clancy 0-1, Luke Breathnach 0-1.
DCU: Eoin McGuinness; Bryan Masterson, Luke Glennon, Alex Gavin; Eoghan O'Connor-Flanagan, Ronan Gallagher, Ciarán Caulfield; Ethan Dunne, Conor Heffernan; Niall Dolan, Conor Dolan, Greg McEneaney; Tom Prior, Ryan Donohoe, Luke Marren.
SUBS: Lorcan O'Dell for C Dolan (34), Darragh Swords for Donohoe (36), Johnny McGroddy for N Dolan (50), Jack Tumulty for Marren (55).
UCD: Killian Roche; Malachy Stone, Darragh McElearney, Theo Clancy; Charlie McMorrow, Charlie Drumm, Ryan O'Toole; Callum Bolton, Peter Duffy; Mark McNally, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Egan; Daire Cregg, Ben O'Carroll, Aaron Lynch.
SUBS: Sam Callinan for McNally (half-time), Paul Honeyman for O’Carroll (44), Diarmuid Moriarty for McMorrow (44), Senan Forker for Egan (48), Liam Costello for Duffy (57).
Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).