UL victorious over DCU in Division 1 Hurling League Final:
University of Limerick 0-25 Dublin City University 0-15
By Tom Clancy at Maguires Field, UL
The University of Limerick coasted to victory in the Division 1 Hurling League final on Thursday, making home advantage count against a less-experienced DCU outfit.
The winners had ten to spare as many of their star men contributed healthy in attack, while their defence was firm and robust in denying the Dublin University.
The game however, came at a cost for Brian Ryan, who may be without Cathal O’Neill. The 2024 Young Hurler of the Year nominee was carried off late in the contest, owing to a severe looking hamstring issue picked up in the 56th minute.
The Crecora-Mainster star was absolutely flying at that point. He had scored four points and had been at the heart of plenty of attacking sequences for UL.
Beaten by cross-city rivals Mary Immaculate College in the 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup, the XV for this game suggests that UL mean business in the new year. Captained by another Limerick man, Ballybrown’s Colin Coughlan, they appear to have a plethora of options in their panel
For DCU, they never got close to winning this – trailing seven at the interval – they may be happy that they prevented any goal openings at their end, but in truth, they weren’t able for the speed and touch displayed by the victors.
A late, late flurry of scores from sub Cillan Dunne, of Laois, was their high point. They had matched their opponents in the middle third of this contest. However, the impressive Jack Leahy, Cork, Gearoid O’Connor, Tipperary, and Aidan O’Connor, Limerick held the aces in attack.
Both sides had been wasteful in the opening period but UL were able to find both Jack Leahy and Paddy O’Donovan in attack as their management demanded a high work rate from their forward unit.
The scores did dry up after reaching ten points within 18 minutes, but by then, they looked near certain winners.
Cathal Beirne and Joe Flanagan kept DCU some bit in touch but they did need a green flag at some point to cut the gap.
UL kicked on again after half-time, with Adam English landing the score of the evening from the sideline. There was contributions too from subs Séan Rynne and Maidhc Fitzpatrick. The celebrations were perhaps overshadowed by the concern for O’Neill who is likely to be a big loss in early 2025 for both University of Limerick and Limerick.
Scorers for University of Limerick: Gearoid O’Connor (0-7, 0-4f); Jack Leahy, Cathal O’Neill (0-4 each); Adam English, Aidan O’Connor (0-3 each); Cathal O’Meara, Diarmuid Hanniffy, Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Sean Rynne (0-1 each).
Scorers for Dublin City University: Cillian Dunne (0-5, 3f); Cathal Beirne, Joe Flanagan (0-1f, 0-1 ’65) (0-3 each); Cian Boran (0-2); Billy Reid, James Carroll (0-1 each).
University of Limerick (Limerick unless stated): Cian Broderick (Clarecastle, Clare); Evan O’Leary (Ahane), John Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare), Aaron Morgan (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary); Michael Corcoran (Silvermines, Tipperary), Colin Coughlan (Capt) (Ballybrown), Colm O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare); Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork), Adam English (Doon); Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister), Seán O’Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway); Jack Leahy (Dungourney, Cork), Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), Paddy O’Donovan (Effin). Subs: Diarmuid Hanniffy (Oranmore Maree, Galway) for O’Hanlon, Maidhc Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch, Tipperary) for Morgan (both half-time); Killian Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny) for Corcoran (44); Ian Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny) for O’Donovan (50) Seán Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare) for O’Neill (inj – 54).
Dublin City University (Kilkenny unless stated): Cian Byrne (St. Mary’s/Rosslare, Wexford); Padraig Lennon (Carrickshock), Darragh Keogh (Cloughbawn, Wexford), Ivan Bolger (Graiguenamanagh); Paddy Langton (Young Irelands), Paraic Moylan (Capt) (Dicksboro), Billy Reid (Glenmore); Seán Gallagher (Naomh Barróg, Dublin), Dan O’Meara (Maynooth, Kildare); Cathal Beirne (Glenmore), Joe Flanagan (Naomh Barróg, Dublin), Conor Kehoe (St. Mullins, Carlow); Sam Byrne (Black & Whites), Cian Boran (Naas, Kildare), Daragh Carley (Glynn Barntown, Wexford).Subs: C Dunne (Clough Ballacola, Laois), James Carroll (Dicksboro) for Flanagan (41); Bill Hughes (Bennettsbridge) for Bolger (54).
Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Cork)