UCC and UCD to contest Irish Universities Harding Cup final
Harding Cup Round up
The Harding Cup Final will be a Dublin Cork affair after semi-final wins to-day means UCD will take on old rivals UCC to-morrow’s decider at Knocknacarra Astro (2.0).
By JOHN HUDSON
Both of the semi-finals proved to be hard fought encounters as these first year students strived to pick up their initial honours in an Irish University football competition.
The Cork side found the going tough in their semi-final against a UL outfit missing several players through overnight illness.
Eoghan O’Sullivan gave UCC a dream start with a second minute opener when he powered home past a helpless UL ‘keeper Josh Coady after a great run though the middle by full back Niall Lynch.
It was a bad goal to give away and UL took awhile to respond but when the chances did arrive to get back on terms before the break centre forward Leon Daly was unlucky with a couple of efforts.
The second half saw little in the line of goalmouth action with play mainly confined to plenty of midfield battles.
UCC did manage the game well with defenders Ross Cunningham and Sean Condron doing sterling work and a late own goal that was deflected past Coady by his centre back Tom Kelly sealed the Cork win.
The all Dublin derby saw UCD come out on top with a 2-1 defeat of Trinity College in another close affair where all three goals arrived in a hectic first half.
Danny Norris was prominent in all the early UCD pressure and his well delivered free on 25 minutes gave Darragh Reilly the chance to head home the opener at the far post.
Midfielder Reilly had earlier seen a similar effort hit the crossbar and go out of play.
Liam Kelly doubled the Belfield side's advantage ten minutes later after Norris had set up the chance.
UCD were well on top coming up to the break as Colin Hayes hit the post and Trinity keeper Alan King held Kelly’s stinging shot.
But a rather needless foul on winger Ranen McCormack gave Harry Smith the chance to get Trinity back into the game and he duly beat goalkeeper Nikolay Georgeiv from the resultant penalty kick.
Trinity fought hard after the break to equalise as the tempo of the game dropped and McCormack, Mario Creed and Conor Dalton were always to the fore but UCD kept their composure to see out the win.
The consolation competition for the defeated quarter finalist will see Maynooth University take on the hosts University of Galway in the Spillane Cup final at Knocknacarra (11.0).
Maynooth overcame DCU 3-1 while Galway had little trouble seeing off Ulster University 8-1 in semi final wins.
Results for Tuesday January 31
Irish Universities Harding Cup
(Semi Finals)
University of Limerick 0 UCC 2 (Eoghan O’Sullivan, Tom Kelly og).
Trinity College Dublin 1 (Harry Smith pen) UCD 2 (Darragh Reilly, Liam Kelly).
Irish Universities Spillane Cup
(Semi Finals)
DCU 1 (Cathal Dowd) Maynooth University 3 (Evan Gaffney, Mike Harrington, Oisin Smith).
Ulster University 1 (Matty Byrne) University of Galway 8 (Conall Mac Gabhann 2, Ronan Jennings 2, Liam McCormack 2, Eoin Coyne, Ben O’Malley).
Fixtures for Wednesday February 1
Irish Universities Harding Cup
(Final)
UCD v UCC
Knocknacarra Astro, Cappagh Road, Galway (2.0).
Irish Universities Spillane Cup
(Final)
Maynooth University v University of Galway
Knocknacarra Astro, Cappagh Road, Galway (11.0).
