Last-minute goal sees DCU triumph

DCU 3-7 Kildare 1-12

Philip McMahon's 72nd-minute goal stole the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup title from Kildare's grasp as DCU triumphed at a wet O'Moore Park tonight.

The Lilywhites led by 10 points following an Eamonn Callaghan goal with 25 minutes remaining, but failed to add to their tally as DCU went on to dominate in the closing stages.

Dublin's Dean Rock tallied up 1-3 for the students, who fielded just nine starters from the side which secured a Sigerson Cup semi-final berth with a victory over DIT in midweek.

DCU lorded possession in the opening 11 minutes, and held a 0-3 to 0-0 lead at this stage - a brace of points from Rock sandwiched a Cregg effort from play.

Kildare had just two attacks during this spell, but the 2011 O'Byrne Cup champions quickly woke up and hit DCU hard over the next 20 minutes.

The students were rocked by this Kildare onslaught as their three-point lead was turned into a six-point deficit by the 28th minute.

Captain Callaghan opened the Kildare account in the 14th minute, and further scores from Alan Smith, Caoimhin McDonnell (0-3), Shane Bergin and Ken Donnelly along with back-to-back efforts from Des Lawlor ensured a 0-9 to 0-3 lead for them.

DCU tried hard to fight back, but a goal-bound effort from James McCarthy in the 30th minute was kept out. The resulting '45' was converted by Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly to give the students their first score in 19 minutes.

DCU upped their game before the break but failed to add to their account, with substitute Seamus Hanafin converting an injury-time '45' to send Kildare into the dressing rooms with a 0-10 to 0-4 advantage.

Kildare found the net for the only time 10 minutes into the second half when Callaghan slotted past Hennelly with aplomb.

The goal sent Kildare into a 1-12 to 0-5 lead, but they failed to build on this as the students showed the greater hunger for the remainder of the game.

Rock fired home two goals in the closing quarter, while McMahon's goal in the second minute of injury-time capped off a fine comeback.

After the game Westmeath's Kieran Gavin received the cup for the victorious students, accepting it in memory of DCU stalwart Philip McKenna who passed away recently.

Kildare's Hugh McGrillen was honoured with the Bord na Mona man-of-the-match award.

DCU: R Hennelly (0-1, 0-1 '45'); L Bree, P McMahon (1-0), E Culligan; J McCarthy, J Cooper, C Cafferky; K Dooney, P Flynn (0-1); D Keenan, F O'Shea, C Cregg (0-1); J Brady, D Rock (2-3, 0-2f), A McFadden (0-1).

Subs used: E O'Gara for Dooney (half-time), N Collins for McCarthy (46 mins), C Kehoe for O'Gara (50), D Gavin for Cregg (57), G Gibson for Keenan (65), B Noone for Lawlor (72).