Late Dempsey point earns promotion for Trinity in dramatic Trench Cup final
Trench Cup final: Trinity College, Dublin 3-19 (3-2-15) Mary Immaculate College, Limerick 2-21 (2-6-9) (after extra-time)
Trinity College secured their promotion to Sigerson Cup football for 2027 in the most dramatic of circumstances at DCU this afternoon, poaching victory through a late Darragh Dempsey point after being reeled in with a Colm Costello two-pointer at the end of normal time, then a goal from the same player that seemed to set up a penalty shootout after 20 minutes of extra-time.No-one could have foreseen a close finish of that nature when Trinity led by 10 points (2-11 to 1-4) at half-time on a day when the ground was soft – increasingly so as heavy rain descended on the Glasnevin venue – but there was no significant wind advantage.Tom McCarroll and Ciarán Flanagan lorded matters at midfield, Ciarán Lennon led the line well for the Dublin college and Ryan O’Dwyer nailed a pair of two-pointers to establish Trinity’s dominance, with only a delightfully creative flicked goal from Costello keeping Mary I remotely in touch. McCarroll found the top corner and Longford wing back Pádraig Boyle palmed in another Trinity goal to make sure the midfield dominance was converted into a meaningful lead.The introduction of Mayo senior star Bob Tuohy proved transformative however, as Mary I gradually got a foothold around the middle on the back of his graft and power.For the first 20 minutes it was a case of stemming the tide, with Lennon and Dempsey picking off neat scores to preserve the lead and leave nine points between the sides going into the final stretch.Aidan Cunningham and Costello went on a remarkable run of shooting to finish however, landing five orange flags with some outstanding strikes to force overtime.A black card for Mary I captain Colm Mulroy and a third goal, neatly finished by Luke Casserly, put Trinity back on the front foot, but another 1-1 from Costello, who gave Pádraic Joyce plenty of food for thought with an outstanding all-round display, opened the door for a shootout, albeit for just 30 seconds when Dempsey confirmed Trinity’s third Trench Cup and their first since 2012.
Scorers for Trinity College: R O’Dywer (0-6, 1tpf, 1tp, one free), C Lennon (0-5, three frees), P Boyle (1-1), D Dempsey (0-4), T McCarroll (1-0), L Casserly (1-0), C Smith (0-1), J Burke (0-1), C Flanagan (0-1).
Scorers for Mary I: C Costello (2-6, 2tp), A Cunningham (0-6, 3tp), D Culligan (0-4, 1tp, one mark), C McCarthy (0-3), B Tuohy (0-1), A Beirne (0-1).
TRINITY COLLEGE (Dublin clubs unless stated): S O’Mullane (Athgarvan, Kildare); Luke Casserly (St. Molaise Gaels, Sligo), T Hughes (Glencar-Manorhamilton, Leitrim), M McGrath (St. Brigid’s); P Boyle (Ballymore, Longford), C Leonard (Mullinalaghta, Longford), C Cunningham (Templeogue Synge St.); C Flanagan (Maynooth, Kildare), T McCarroll (Carryduff, Down); J Burke (Na Fianna), R O’Dywer (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), R McErlean (Naomh Bríd, Antrim); D Dempsey (Kilmacud Crokes), C Smith (Bective, Meath), C Lennon (Clann na nGael, Roscommon).
Subs: T Neville (Naomh Mearnóg) for McErlean (47), E Rogers (Bredagh, Down) for Smith (54), L Fenton (Ballinteer St. John’s) for Neville (59-FT, temp), J McBreen (Lavey, Cavan) for Burke (72).
MARY I (Mayo Clubs unless stated): S O’Connell (Fr. Casey’s, Limerick); G McManamon (Breaffy), B Coen (Corofin, Galway), D Slattery (Claremorris); S Cunningham (Castlebar Mitchels), D Kilcommins (Annaghdown, Galway), F O’Reilly (Castlebar Mitchels); C Mulroy (Castlebar Mitchels), E Cahill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Clare); A Cunningham (Breaffy), D Keane (Lissycasey, Clare), S Conneely (Clifden, Galway); C McCarthy (Valley Rovers, Cork), D Culligan (Lissycasey, Clare), C Costello (Dunmore MacHales, Galway).
Subs: B Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels) for Keane (h-t), A Beirne (Claremorris) for Conneely (43), P Deane (Breaffy) for A Cunningham (67), J Lavin (Breaffy) for O’Reilly (70), R Heffernan (Kilbrin, Cork) for Kilcommins (72).
Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).
