Super second half powers DCU past UCD in Sigerson Cup decider

"I am delighted this is probably the last adult game under the new rules and we have a Sigerson Cup going back to DCU," said manager Seán Fox. 

CHAMPIONS: DCU players celebrate with the Sigerson Cup after the Dublin side won the competition for the sixth time. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Sigerson Cup final: UCD 3-6 DCU 1-16 

This is it. For several, the biggest game of their sporting careers. When the moment came, DCU seized it. An awesome second half saw them overcome UCD and secure their sixth Sigerson Cup.

Leitrim forward Tom Prior landed three points from play and was just beaten out to Man of the Match by an immense showing from Dublin midfielder Ethan Dunne. His joy afterwards was still endless. Club-mate Paul Moran was also in the squad. They are the first Sigerson Cup winners from Ballinamore.

“I was chatting to Ryan Donohoe during the week, we went to school together,” Prior explained.

“He said this is probably the biggest game we will ever get to play in. Special days. It gives you a lot of confidence going in with Leitrim. We can hold our own at this level. We are probably struggling a bit with Leitrim at the minute but it’s just about building again.” They shut down a star-studded UCD forward line, limiting the starting front six to a single point from play. A late punched goal by Darragh McElearney after an Aaron Lynch hopeful ball resulted in a closer scoreline than the reality of the contest.

It unfolded in front of a modest crowd in Bekan. The Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence was announced as the 2025 host early last year. Since then, Storm Éowyn destroyed the multi-million Air Dome. All the pitches at the facility were undamaged and long cleared of debris. DKIT triumphed in the Trench Cup decider which took place on the front pitch as a curtain raiser. The Sigerson decider played out directly beside where the canvas once hovered.

John Divilly’s UCD arrived looking to avenge their 2024 final defeat. They had already defeated DCU this year, however Seán Fox’s side went on to dethrone reigning champions Ulster University in the semi-final. At half-time, they were tied 1-3 to 0-6 in a complete arm-wrestle.

“We had a long year,” said Prior.

“We got to the league final; we played every game possible in the Sigerson. We knew we had the resilience behind us. We probably don’t have the star names that a Jordanstown or UCD have so we knew we just had to outwork them.” UCD captain Daire Cregg struck first with a well-taken free. They then hit several wides and short shots before the turnaround. Roscommon star Ben O’Carroll started beside his intercounty club-mate and was involved in a flashpoint with his marker Luke Glennon early on. Eventually, club-mates Cregg and Glennon were both booked by referee Sean Hurson. That is the outlandishness of this competition. Glennon was spoken to again soon after and immediately replaced.

Two superb solo efforts from Ethan Dunne and Greg McEneaney as well as a Luke Marren free handed DCU the ascendancy. The one true moment of class in the entire half came thanks to the excellent Luke Breathnach who sent Ryan O’Toole free for a goal.

Callum Bolton landed a point to start the second half before DCU took over. Dunne’s goal made it 1-5 to 1-9 and there was no let-up thereafter. They hit six of the next seven scores, squeezing Killian Roche’s kickout and getting an enormous punch from their bench. Bolton managed another goal during that spell though it failed to halt the UCD panic. They were overwhelmed.

“Sigerson football is so honest,” said DCU manager Seán Fox post-match.

“It is so fast, they aren’t quite all intercounty footballers, some of them are. But the pace you saw tonight is incredible. The referee encouraged it. It is just a pure form of the game. I am delighted this is probably the last adult game under the new rules and we have a Sigerson Cup going back to DCU.” They pulled from everywhere. From Dublin prospect Greg McEneaney, who opted out last year yet made himself available for 2025, to Longford goalkeeper Eoin McGuinness and Leitrim star Prior.

“I said it in the dressing room beforehand. Look around. There are lads who will never get the opportunity again to play in such a big game. No disrespect to where they are born or where they are from. Tom might play in a Connacht final; it’d be great if he won one.

“But an All-Ireland final is unlikely. There are lads here who will leave college with a DCU degree and a DCU medal. What a fantastic start to life.” 

Scorers for UCD: C. Bolton 1-2; R. O’Toole, D. McElearney 1-0 each, D. Cregg 0-2 frees, L. Breathnach, T. Clancy 0-1.

Scorers for DCU: E. Dunne 1-2; T. Prior 0-3, D. Swords 0-3 (1 free), L. Marren 0-2 frees, L. O’Dell, N. Dolan, C. Caulfield, C. Heffernan, E. O’Connor Flanagan, G. McEneaney 0-1 each.

UCD: K. Roche (Laois); M. Stone (Wicklow), D. McElearney (Monaghan), T. Clancy (Dublin); C. McMorrow (Dublin), C. Drumm (Dublin), R. O’Toole (Monaghan); C. Bolton (Kildare), P. Duffy (Dublin); C. Egan (Offaly), L. Breathnach (Dublin), M. McNally (Dublin); D. Cregg (Roscommon), B. O’Carroll (Roscommon), A. Lynch (Meath).

Subs: S. Callinan for McNally (30), D. Moriarty for O’Carroll, P. Honeyman for McMorrow (both 43), S. Forker for Egan (48), L. Costello for Duffy (57).

DCU: E. McGuinness (Longford); B. Masterson (Longford), L. Glennon (Roscommon), A. Gavin (Dublin); E. O’Connor-Flanagan (Dublin), R. Gallagher (Donegal), C. Caulfield (Meath); E. Dunne (Dublin), C. Heffernan (Laois); N. Dolan (Kildare), C. Dolan (Dublin), G. McEneaney (Dublin); T. Prior (Leitrim), R. Donohoe (Cavan), L. Marren (Sligo).

Subs: E. Ward for Glennon (12), L. O’Dell for Dolan (33), D. Swords for Donoghue (38),J. McGroddy for Dolan (49), J. Tumulty for Marren (54).

Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).