Mary Immaculate College 2-21
Trinity College 3-19
Eoin Horkan
DCU Sports Ground
It was heartbreak for the ten Mayo players involved with Mary Immaculate College on Wednesday evening as Trinity College Dublin edged a dramatic encounter by the narrowest of margins after extra time.
Trinity made the ideal start. Ryan O’Dwyer settled early nerves when he converted a two-point free inside the opening two minutes. However, Mary I responded swiftly and were ahead before the tenth minute. Ciaran McCarthy split the posts twice, sandwiching a score from Daire Culligan, as the Limerick side began to find their rhythm.
Midway through the half Trinity hit a purple patch. A point from Padraig Boyle was followed by the game’s first goal when Tom McCarroll finished clinically to the net. O’Dwyer added another two-pointer to stretch their advantage. Mary I needed a response and it arrived through Dunmore’s Colm Costello, who flicked to the net to keep his side in touch.
That goal provided only brief respite. Con Smith and Ciaran Lennon added further scores to leave four between the sides with ten minutes remaining in the half. Trinity continued to press their advantage, with Darragh Dempsey and Lennon (two) keeping the scoreboard ticking over. A major blow followed close to the interval when wing-back Boyle struck for a goal, quickly supplemented by a Jack Burke point, to send Trinity in leading by ten at the break.
Facing a significant deficit, Mary I required something special in the second period — and they very nearly produced it. Mayo senior Bob Tuohy was introduced from the bench as they sought to inject fresh impetus. An early two-pointer from Costello was backed up by another McCarthy effort as Mary I began to chip away at the lead. Trinity steadied themselves through Lennon and O’Dwyer, but the momentum was beginning to shift.
Even with a quarter of the half gone and nine points separating the sides, Mary I refused to yield. Costello reduced the gap before Breaffy’s Aidan Cunningham produced a remarkable exhibition of long-range shooting. Cunningham arrowed over a succession of two-pointers to ignite the crowd in St Clare’s and breathe real belief into the Limerick college’s challenge.
Just when it seemed Mary I had seized control, Trinity answered through Dempsey and O’Dwyer to maintain their cushion. As normal time ticked towards its conclusion, Costello struck another two-pointer, sending the Treaty city supports into raptures and the game into extra time
The additional period began in difficult circumstances for Mary I, who were reduced to 14 players. Trinity capitalised, with Roscommon’s Lennon opening the scoring. Yet Mary I continued to battle bravely and Claremorris man Adam Beirne brought the sides level following a goalmouth with a fine controlled effort after he was sprung from the bench
With the numerical advantage, Trinity pressed forward. Ciaran Flanagan edged them ahead before captain Luke Casserly of Sligo struck a superb goal to give the Dubliners the initiative at the interval in extra time.
Back to a full complement for the second period, Mary I mounted one final push. Costello, enjoying a superb individual display, rifled home his second goal to level this enthralling final again/ However, that proved to be Mary I’s final score. A late point from Dempsey ultimately sealed a one-point victory for Trinity after a contest that had swung dramatically throughout.
While defeat was bitter, there were plenty of positives for the Mary I panel — particularly from a Mayo perspective. With ten Mayo players involved and only one set to depart ahead of next year’s Trench Cup campaign, the foundations remain strong. On this evidence, the future looks promising for this talented group despite the narrowest of losses.
There will be two trench cup medals heading to Mayo with Ballina’s David Feeney and Westport's Ciaran Murphy part of the extended panel for the Dublin College.
Mary Immaculate College;Shane O’Connell; Gavyn McManamon, Beirne Coen, David Slattery; Shane Cunningham,Daithí Kilcommins Fionnan O’Reilly; Conor Mulroy, Evan Cahill, Aidan Cunningham(0-6 3 2pt), Darren Keane, Sean Conneely; Ciaran McCarthy (0-3), D Culligan(0- 4 2pt 1m), Colm Costello (2-6 2 2pt)
Subs: Bob Tuohy (0-1) for D Keane, Adam Beirne (0-1) for S Conneely,Pearse Deane for A Cunningham, Jude Lavin for F O’Reilly, Ronan Heffernan for D Kilcommins
Trinity College;Sean O’Mullane;Luke Casserly,Tom Hughes,Michael McGrath;Padraig Boyle(1-1),Conor Leonard,Conal Cunningham;Ciaran Flanagan(0-1),Tom McCarroll(1-0);James Burke(0-1),Ryan O’Dywer(0-6 1 2pf),Rory McErlean;Darragh Dempsey(0-4),Con Smith(0-1),Ciaran Lennon(0-5 3fs).
Subs: Tynam Neville for R McErlean,Emmet Rogers for C Smith,Liam Fenton for T Neville,James McBreen for J Burke
Referee Conor Durneen
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