COLLINGWOOD CUP FIRST ROUND

IRISH UNIVERSITIES COLLINGWOOD CUP

First Round

TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN…. 1 UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK ….2

FIRST half goals from Conor Butler and David McCarthy proved just enough for University of Limerick to edge out Trinity College on a 2-1 scoreline in an intriguing Irish Universities first round tie at College Park.

By JOHN HUDSON

The win came as sweet revenge for Ian Sullivan’s Shannon siders who had suffered a 1-0 defeat at the historic Dublin venue in the same opening round fixture last year.

The result and the manner of the UL victory came somewhat of a shock as Trinity who have remained unbeaten so far this season in the Colleges and Universities Premier League including a fine 2-1 victory on their visit to Limerick.

UL were well up for this cup tie and had Trinity on the back foot from the very start piling on the pressure but failing to put a shot on target.

That changed on 20 minutes when Butler lurking on the edge of the Trinity box coolly met a poor clearance and arrowed a first-time volley way out of goalkeeper Lee Stacey’s reach for as good a goal as you would ever see.

Sullivan has steered this particular group of players since they tasted success in the first year Harding Cup some years ago and with many of them probably playing their last game in colleges and universities football a steely determination not to give up their last chance of a possible Collingwood Cup honours before graduating was evident throughout the whole side.

Trinity rode their luck at times after going behind and Adam Foley might have increased the UL advantage but after been put through by Darren Butler he lost control of the ball and Stacey was quick off his line to dive on the loose ball.

Later Trinity managed to scramble clear the danger when UL threatened to score again.

All the pressure paid off before half time and it was no surprise when UL finally grabbed a second goal with McCarthy running on to Foley’s left wing cross to steer the ball past Steacy.

A header from Darragh Timmons that went wide and Matt Harbourne’s long range effort that Joshua Coady dealt comfortably with was all that Trinity could offer in a one sided first half.

Manager Adrian Fitzpatrick must have had stern words at the break as Trinity produced a much improved second half performance.

They might have pulled a goal back when Coady missed a cross from the right and Jay Walsh saw his shot blocked on the line by Cullen McCabe.

A couple of scrambles in the UL six-yard box followed and could have seen Trinity get back on terms while later their best chance fell to Harry Smith but he put his header wide.

UL had few chances themselves to grab an insurance third goal although Tom Carney though he had done it only to see his towering header come off the post from a fine Gavin Dillon free.

Trinity did come up with a late goal with substitute Conor Dalton beating Coady from close range in time added on.

Unfortunately it was too little too late and it is UL who claim a quarter final place in the final stage of the three day competition hosted by Ulster University and supported by O’Neill’s Sportswear at the Jordanstown Sports Campus from February 13-15 with the final set for Larne FC Invar Park on the Wednesday at 4.0.

Trinity College Dublin: Lee Steacy; Ger Quaide, Dan Madaghjian, Darragh Timmons, Matt Harbourne; Mario Creed, Omar Abu Saadeh; Jem Campion, Jay Walsh, Namintan Awodola, Harry Smith. Subs: Patrick Johnson (for Creed ht), Dannu McEvoy (for Quaide 60), Leon Kerin (for Matt Harbourne 66), Conor Dalton (for Awodola 66), Adman Gonzales (for Campion 80). Not used: Ben Richardson, Fionn O’Loan.

University of Limerick: Joshua Coady; Cullen McCabe, Tom Carney, Conor Whittle, Gavin Dillon; Tom Kidd, Darren Butler, Eoin Redmond; David McCarthy, Adam Foley, Conor Butler. Subs: Oleg Wsolhan (for McCarthy 78), Cillian Duffy (for Dillon 78), Theo Doyle (for Foley 86), Ewan O’Brien (for D Butler 86). Not used: Leon Daly, Dean Hegarty, Ciaran Barry.