Conor O’Carroll hat-trick inspires Trinity

A Conor O’Carroll hat-trick powered Trinity College Dublin to a second successive Ryan Cup title at the expense of Queen’s University Belfast at CIT on Saturday.

Originally scheduled for 1pm, the game, which was a repeat of the 2015 final, was moved back to 5pm so not to cut up the main pitch ahead of the Fitzgibbon decider.

The second-tier final was then delayed by a further hour as the main billing required two periods of extra-time before a verdict was reached.

Trinity, who had been forced to change pitches early in the second half of their semi-final contest, took this latest disruption in their stride and hit the first six scores of the game, with man-of-the-match Fionn Ó Riain Broin and Thomas Mitchell on target.

Their lead could have been greater but for a fine save from QUB ‘keeper Michael Keown to deny Donncha Butler.

Frees from Oisín MacManus had Queen’s off the mark, but O’Carroll’s first goal shortly before half-time helped Trinity into a 1-10 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

The Lisdowney native’s second major shortly after the change of ends stretched their advantage out to 13 points (2-11 to 0-4) and while MacManus kept the northerners account ticking over, a comeback never looked on the cards.

O’Carroll bagged his third major inside the closing minutes, with points from Ó Riain Broin and Colm O’Neill completing the comprehensive 3-16 to 0-7 rout.

In the Fergal Maher Cup decider, IT Sligo bagged four goals on their way to a 4-12 to 0-13 win over GMIT Letterfrack.

Jack Galvin of Cullion, Westmeath was the player of the match, while his club-mate Damien Golden captained the team.