Holders UCD go down to UL

Harding Cup: It turned out to be a bad day for Dublin based sides as the Irish Universities Harding Cup got under way at UCC.

Holders UCD, bidding for a three in-a-row, were surprisingly knocked out by University of Limerick.

Jamesy McConigle did the damage, hitting a goal in each half to stun the Belfield side who saw Greg Sloggett and Brendan Martin fail to hit the target with a couple of late chances.

DCU went out to the hosts UCC on a 3-2 scoreline in an exciting tie after they had gone in front through Sean Pender’s early goal.

But two goals before tne break from Pierse O’Riordan and Dave Walsh put the home side well in command.

DCU then had a great chance to draw level on the hour but UCC ’keeper Charlie Bornemann saved brilliantly to keep out Alan O’Sullivan’s penalty kick.

Sean O’Mahony stretched the home sides advantage with a header on 68 minutes and as DCU pressed to get back into the game the resolute Cork defence stood firm.

Luke Kelly headed DCU’s second goal in the closing minutes but it was a case of too little too late.

The third Dublin based team to go out were Trinity College where second-half goals from Terry Byrne and Chris Reid gave NUI Galway a hard earned win after Trinity College faded after an impressive opening half.

Aymen Ben Mohammad claimed the Dubliner’s consolation score.

A shock looked on the cards when the fancied Maynooth University were pegged back by a gritty Cork second string – the UCC Academicals – with a goal from Ciaran McGettigan after Malachy Spratt had hit the Maynooth opener.

Despite having the majority of the chances throughout the game the Co Kildare boys were unable to break down the home resistance until substitute Sean Noble set up Sean Marsh to hit home the winner in the second period of extra time.