Maynooth University claim Collingwood Cup title
Maynooth University captain Dean O'Shea and University of Galway captain, Luke O'Gorman with the match officials prior to the Collingwood Cup Final.
Maynooth University claimed the Collingwood Cup title following an impressive victory over University of Galway in the final, at the Mardyke in Cork on Wednesday afternoon.
The Kildare University defeated UCD and UL on their way to the final and they started brighter against their Galway opponents. Maynooth University took the lead in the sixth minute, following a spectacular strike from long-range by Aaron Doran. Doran picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a half-volley to the back of the Galway net from 20 yards out.
Eoin Hayes almost doubled the victors lead in the 10th minute; however, his glancing header just went over James Egan’s bar in the University of Galway’s goal.
Donnacha McNamara had a good chance to level matters in the 13th minute, but his close-range effort was smartly saved by Andrew Stuart Trainor in the Maynooth goal.
The Galway men, played with the wind in the first half and Dave Daly’s side were very direct with their play, in the opening half.
In the 24th minute, Matthew O’Hara came close for Maynooth when his left-footed effort hit the post.
Maynooth University dominated for the remainder of the half and were unlucky only to be one up at the break, with O’Hara causing serious problems for the University of Galway defence.
Maynooth started the second half like they finished the first, and dominated the opening exchanges of the second period. O’Hara and Doran linked up well, before O’Hara saw his strike saved by Egan, in the 50th minute.
Conditions were extremely difficult in the second half, as the wind and rain picked up.
University of Galway had a penalty claim waved away in the 58th minute, after they claimed Liam Murray’s shot was handled in the box by a Maynooth player.
Backed by a large following, Kevin Kitterick almost levelled matters for the men in maroon and white, after his header from close-range just went over the bar, following a brilliant cross by Milo O’Malley.
Patrick Montgomery had a huge opportunity to seal the victory for Maynooth in the 85th minute, however his effort was incredibly blocked by Oisin Coyne.
Maynooth hung on, however, for a deserved victory, to claim their second ever Collingwood Cup title.
Doran and O’Hara were exceptional for the winners throughout, while Maree Oranmore FC player, Murray was best on the day for the runners-up.
University of Galway: James Egan, Luke O’Gorman, Milo O’Malley, Liam Murray, James Turkington, Oisin Coyne, Steven Healy, Kevin Kitterick, Colm Whelan, Donnacha McNamara, David Tarmey.
Subs: Ger O’Riordan for Whelan (59 mins), Eoin McSweeney for McNamara (59 mins), Ross Ward for Kitterick (84 mins), Brian Tolan for Coyne (87 mins).
Maynooth University: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Osaze Irhue, Dean O’Shea, Jonathan Kehir, Sean McHale, Sultan Adeneken, Matthew O’Hara, Luke Desmond, Darragh Murtagh, Aaron Doran, Lewis McKeon.
Subs: Patrick Montgomery for McKeown (62 mins), Michael Keys for Murtagh (75 mins), Taylor Mooney for O’Hara (91 mins).
