Niall Hurley finished with 0-8 as UCD came away one point winners over UL
UCD 2-14 UL 1-16
UCD did enough over 60 minutes of end to end action to claim the Freshers football title after their 2-14 to 1-16 win over UL in Belfield this evening.
A fine individual performance from Niall Hurley who ended with a personal tally of 0-8 saw the Leinster university take home the league and secure their first title of the season ahead of the championship.
Despite the best efforts from UL who fought back time and time again, it wasn’t enough in the end to get them over the line.
Much like the first half, UCD started off the second half stronger as substitute Tom Doherty got his opening score in under a minute before a terrific solo goal from Michael McIvor left them five in front and leaving UL with work to do.
UL never panicked and soon reduced the gap back to a one score thanks to three brilliant scores from Hugh O’Loughlin, Darragh O’Connor and Robert Heneghan.
UCD started the brighter as Niall Hurley got the opening two scores after the first five minutes, but UL soon settled with Senan Guilfoyle sending over his side’s opening score from a free, before UCD took back their two-point advantage through Ben Hanafin.
It was certainly an open affair early on with both sides wanting to play expansive football, and they were level for the first time after 12 minutes played thanks to a lovely individual effort from Kerry’s Darragh O’Connor.
The next 10 minutes brought about a big change to proceedings as UL pounced to hit 1-1 in the space of 60 seconds as Senan Guilfoyle’s effort was brought down by keeper Ben McGarron before being fisted home by Brian Horgan, with Darragh O’Keeffe taking his chance to leave UL two in front.
However, UCD didn’t lie down and soon regained the lead as a free by Niall Hurley was soon followed up by a goal from James McCormack.
The Limerick side responded well to the goal as Daithi Hogan and O’Keeffe levelled after 25 minutes, before UCD began to take over with Michael McIvor getting his side’s first score in seven minutes with Max McGinnity and Niall Hurley adding to the scoreboard with frees to leave UCD in front approaching the first half interval.
UL finished the half stronger as back-to-back scores from Hugh O’Loughlin and Senan Guilfoyle brought them back into contention and gave them every chance to securing victory going into the second half.
Some of the scores on display from both sides were refreshing to watch as UL’S Mayo magician Senan Guilfoyle kicked two beautiful points in response to Niall Hurley’s fine effort for UCD after 42 minutes.
Hurley and O’Keeffe exchanged further scores, before Hurley once again extended the Dublin side’s lead to three.
The final 10 minutes only saw two scores thanks to Senan Guilfoyle and O’Keeffe bringing it back to a one-point game, but it wasn’t enough in the end as the Dublin side held out for the win.
Scorers:
UCD: Niall Hurley 0-8 (0-4 f), Michael McIvor 1-1, James McCormack 1-0, Max McGinnity 0-2 (0-1 f), Ben Hanafin, Conal O’Riain and Tom Doherty 0-1 each.
UL: Senan Guilfoyle 0-5 (0-1 f), Brian Horgan 1-0, Darragh O’Keeffe 0-4, Darragh O’Connor 0-3, Hugh O’Loughlin 0-2, Daithi Hogan (0-1 f) and Robert Heneghan 0-1 each.
Teams:
UCD: Ben McCarron (Carlow); Rian O’Callaghan (Sligo), Ruairi O’Toole (Longford), Niall Meehan (Monaghan); Oscar Donohoe (Dublin), David O’Rourke (Offaly) (C), Aodhan Curran (Westmeath); James McCormack (Dublin), Conal O’Riain (Dublin); Ben Hanafin (Kerry), Michael McIvor (Meath), Andrew Flynn (Longford); Cathal Walsh (Cork), Niall Hurley (Mayo), Max McGinnity (Monaghan).
Subs: Tom Doherty (Monaghan) for Flynn (HT), Paul O’Brien (Sligo) for Walsh (46), Ronan Mahon (Dublin) for Hanafin (58).
UL: Darragh Egan (Longford); Michael Kelly (Clare), Sean O’Connor (Kerry) (C), Thomas Ross (Sligo); Cian O’Connor (Kerry), Aaron O’Brien (Wicklow), Eoin McGreal (Mayo); Colm McHale (Mayo), Colm Geary (Cork); Hugh O’Loughlin (Mayo), Darragh O’Keeffe (Kerry), Brian Horgan (Cork); Darragh O’Connor (Kerry), Daithi Hogan (Tipperary), Senan Guilfoyle (Mayo).
Subs: Robert Heneghan (Roscommon) for Kelly (24).
Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)