NUIG Fresher footballers win Div 1 All Ireland title

NUIG ………………..2-13 DCU…………………………… 1-15

By Michael O Connor.

Champions, but only just as a skillful NUI Galway side were made work for the title against DCU Dochas Eireann in the All Ireland Fresher football final in a well appointed Tubberclair on Thursday.

DCU arrived at the Westmeath venue chasing their fourth straight title at this level but the Galway side just about deserved to win, with a brace of well taken goals from Ballinrobe native and Mayo starlet Tommy Conroy crucial in deciding the outcome. Indeed, DCU accounted for NUI Galway in the 2017 decider played in Abbottstown. The pressure was such on the eventual champions in the dying minutes that the referee brandished two black cards to the Finian Hanley managed Galway lads in the closing stages.

The strong wind at Tubberclair favoured the Capital side in the opening half but it was NUIG who had a dream start as Tommy Conroy found the net after less than half a minute with a powerful run down and shot past David O Hanlon in the DCU goal.

DCU and Laois star Mark Barry pointed a free, before Roscommon corner forward Cathal Heneghan pointed for NUIG. Indeed the Michael Glaveys clubman and former Dunmore Community School student was the star of the forward ranks all season for the champions. Three successive DCU scores, led by Donegal senior panellist Shane Gallen levelled the match before Heneghan restored NUIG’s advantage with a sweet side-step and strike.

As the game entered the final five minutes of the opening half Tommy Conroy added his second goal to give NUIG a three-point lead. The Neale player found himself on the end of a stunning crossfield pass from Heneghan and made no mistake with the finish. From the kick-out Heneghan added another point to put NUIG four clear and looking likely to hold a half time advantage, only for James Doran to land a point for DCU and then Mark Barry found the net on the stroke of half time to ensure parity on a score-line of 2-5 to 1-8.

Without question this was one of the better fresher football finals in recent years as both sides went for the win in the second half. James Doran gave DCU a short lived lead with an early point, but Gavin Durcan and Robert Walzer hit back for NUIG as the game remained tight from there to the finish.

Roscommon native Peter Gillooly pointed for DCU only for Walzer to once more land a massive free for NUIG from distance as the game entered the final quarter. Cathal Heneghan (0-2), Mark Barry and Robert Walzer all registered points as NUI Galway led 2-12 to 1-12 with five minutes left on the clock.

Bearna’s Sean McUidin put the western college four clear with less than four minutes of normal time on the clock.  DCU’s Darragh Kirwan registered reduced the deficit to three and twice DCU players were fouled in scoreable positions with the referee left with little choice but to show two black cards. Both were pointed to cup the gap to the minimum but despite 3 minutes of injury time, the Galway college held out for a famous win.eary effected the long whistle.

NUI GALWAY: Cian Lankford (Kilavullen, Cork), Dylan Buckley (Claregalway, Galway), Mark Barrett (Ballymore Eustace, Kildare), John Cooke (Crosserlough, Cavan), Gavin Burke (Corofin, Galway), Conor Campbell (Claregalway, Galway), Jack McSharry (Na Cealla Beaga, Donegal), Evan O’Brien (Ballinrobe, Mayo)(0-1), Gavin Durkan (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo)(0-1), Dean Brophy (St. Joseph’s, Laois), Robert Walzer (Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway)(0-3), Liam Burke (Ballinrobe, Mayo), Cathal Heneghan (Michael Glaveys, Roscommon)(0-6), David Kelly (Carbury, Kildare), Tommy Conroy (The Neale, Mayo) (2-1). SUBS: Lorcan Molloy (Menlough, Galway) for L Burke, Sean McUidlin (Bearna, Galway)(0-1) for O’Brien, Ryan Cunningham (Na Cealla Beaga, Donegal) for Kelly (50), Evan O’Brien (Ballinrobe, Mayo) for Durkan, James Sugrue (Renard, Kerry) for Walzer (59), Mattias Barrett (Naomh Anna Litir Mor, Galway for Buckley.

DCU DOCHAS EIREANN: David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna, Dublin), Daniel Corcoran (Geraldine’s, Louth), Matt Moran (Whitehall Colmcilles, Dublin),  Conor Doyle (Clontibret, Monaghan), Oran Doogan (Kildare, Donegal), Neil Matthews (Erin’s Isle, Dublin), PJ Masterson (Abbeylara, Longford), Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan, Laois), Darragh Kirwan (Naas, Kildare)(0-2), Joe Hagan (Dromard, Longford)(0-1), James Doran (Na Fianna, Dublin)(0-2), Lanty Molloy (Naomh Columba, Donegal), Oisin Gallen (Sean Mac Cumhaill, Donegal)(0-3), David Lacey (Na Fianna, Dublin), Mark Barry (O’Dempseys, Laois) (1-6) SUBS: Harry Ladd (Lucan Sarsfields, Dublin) for Molloy, Fiachra Potts (Na Fianna, Dublin) for Moran, Peter Gillooly (Roscommon Gaels, Roscommon)(0-1) for Lacey, Brian Diver (Letterkenny Gaels) for Hagan, Mikey Culhane (Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway) for Gallen, Alan Mulvany (Senchalstown, Meath) for Doyle.

Referee: Brian O’Leary (Wexford).

After the game Gerry Tully, Chairperson of third level GAA presented Dave Billings memorial cup to NUI Galway captain Evan O Brien from Ballinrobe.