O’Neill and Mooney fire DKIT to Trench Cup title 

Trinity had a late rally but it wasn't enough to reel in Dundalk.

DKIT will play in the Sigerson Cup next season after beating Trinity College Dublin at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. Pic:: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Trench Cup final: DKIT 0-16 TCD 0-13

The favourites tag lay lightly on the shoulders of DKIT as they captured the Trench Cup and have gained promotion to next season’s Sigerson cup after a three-point win over TCD at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence on Wednesday evening.

A game that started at a high tempo and was taken control of by DKIT at the end of the second half saw a tremendous late rally by TCD. The Dublin side will bemoan a number of missed chances when they needed a goal in the final ten minute to snatch a win or force extra time. 

The bitter cold and wind of Mayo that made national headlines with the demise of the University of Galway dome was present as the accurate Con Smith kicked the opening score before Stephen Mooney, who ended the game as top scorer for the champions, kicked the first of five points. 

Ben Kane added a second TCD point before DKIT stretched 0-4 to 0-2 ahead. Con Smith and Tom McCarroll levelled matters for TCD by the 20th minute. DKIT went three clear before Con Smith had the last score of the first half as the winners led (0-7-0-5) at the interval.

The appearance of Aaron O’ Neill was a pivotal moment in the game as his efforts were central to the improved showing of thee DKIT forwards. Tadgh McDonnell kicked the opening score of the second half as Mooney (2) increased their lead to five points. 

Aaron O’ Neill edged DKIT half a dozen scores clear before Lee Pearson and Jamie Murphy traded points. Aaron O’ Neill and Mooney left DKIT 0-13 to 0-8 ahead entering the final quarter.

TCD rallied well with a hat trick of points to narrow the gap to three. They had a number of close shaves looking for the life-saving goal with substitute Aaron Devanney going close with two efforts that went over the bar. 

DKIT were hanging on for dear life but a late late foray from defence ended with corner back Conor Clarke sealing the title with an injury time point and the title was winging its way back to Dundalk. 

Scorers for DKIT: S Mooney, (0-5), O McGorman (0-3), C Clarke (0-2), A O'Neill (0-2), T McDonnell (0-1), P Blessing (0-1), H Cocoran (0-1), J Murphy (0-1)

Scorers for TCD: C Smith (0-5), B Cane (0-3), A Devanney (0-2), L Casserly (0-1), L Pearson (0-1), T Carroll (0-1), 

DKIT: D O’ Shea (Leitrim), C Clarke (Louth), B Goss (Louth), T McDonnell (Louth)), F Brady (Louth), T Óg Duffy (Armagh), L Stafford (Meath), P Blessing (Armagh), C McKeown (Louth), R Duffy (Monaghan), O McGorman (Monaghan), A McKeown (Monaghan), H Corcoran (Meath), S Mooney (Monaghan), J Murphy (Meath). Subs: A O’ Neill (Armagh) for McKeown, DD Reilly (Louth) for Murphy, JJoe Hughes (Armagh) for Corcoran, H Butterly (Louth) for McKeown.

TCD: S O’ Mullane (Kildare), S Brazil (Meath), T Hughes (Leitrim), L Casserly (Sligo), J McBreen (Cavan), L Pearson (Offaly), R McSweeney (Galway), C Leonard (Longford), T McCarroll (Down), C Cunningham (Dublin), C Smith (Meath), A Coleman (Dublin), R McErlean (Antrim), A Treanor (Westmeath), B Kane (Dublin). Subs: A Devanney (Roscommon) for McSweeney, E Rodgers (Down) for McElrean, L Fenton (Dublin) for Treanor.

Referee: Liam Devanney (Mayo)