UL win Electric Ireland Higher Education Division One League title

Electric Ireland Higher Education Division One League Final

University of Limerick 2-20 (2-3-14) University of Galway 2-16 (2-3-8)

**By Tom Clancy at Maguires Field, UL

**The University of Limerick collected the Higher Education Division One Football title for the first time in their history, after holding off a late University of Galway surge to prevail on home soil at Maguires Field at the UL campus.

Despite playing the last 20-plus minutes a man less, due to a red card, UL were able to pick off key scores, as well as halting the Galway fight-back, after they had pulled to within just a point having trailed by as many as seven points.

Frank Irwin’s first point from play, right at the end, sealed the victory for David Power’s charges. Power was Tipperary manager in 2020, as they claimed an historic Munster Senior Football title.

The first half saw UL hold a 1-13 to 2-7 lead, after a strong finish to the half. The sides had been level five times, with goals from Eoin Colleran and Dara Hurley twice putting University of Galway ahead, but Brian McNamara had found the net for UL in between.

The scores from Jack McCabe, Irwin and a two-pointer from Conal Dawson propelled the hosts clear.

The opening score after the resumption was a fine goal from the impressive Seán Morohan – who surged through to score within 20 seconds. From here, it looked to be a UL stroll to victory, but the red card for Mayo’s Hugh O’Loughlin changed the tune.

UG dominated but couldn’t pick off the scores. Late two-pointers from Shane McGrath brought them to within one point but UL had been keeping their nose in-front thanks to McHale and Morohan.

Then, with just the minimum between them, McHale curled over a free for two before a first from play from Irwin sealed the result.

Scorers for University of Limerick: Frank Irwin 0-9 (6fs, 1 tpf), Seán Morohan 1-2, Conal Dawson 0-4 (1 tp), Cian McHale 0-3 (tpf, f), Brian McNamara 1-0, Paddy O’Driscoll, Jack McCabe 0-1 each.

Scorers for University of Galway: Shane McGrath 0-5 (2tp), Eoin Colleran 1-2, Dara Hurley 1-1, Cillian O Curraoin 0-3 (1 tpf), Mark McInerney 0-2 (1 ’45), Luc O’Connor 0-1.

University of Limerick: Tristian O’Callaghan (St. Breckan’s, Clare); Cillian Campbell (St. Barry’s, Roscommon), Thomas Ross (Curry, Sligo), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan, Tipperary); Paddy O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), Seán Morohan (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo), Charlie King (Ballina, Tipperary); Brian McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare), Hugh O’Loughlin (Kilmaine, Mayo); Conal Dawson (Westport, Mayo) Jack McCabe (Corofin, Galway), Cathal Brosnan (Currow, Kerry); Jack Melvin (Davitts, Mayo); Cian McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephenites, Mayo).

Subs: James Morris (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary) for O’Neill (20); David Buckley (Cork) for Melvin (39); Cathal Corless (Mayo) for Brosnan (46); Andrew Meade (Rathkeale, Limerick) for McCabe (61).

University of Galway: Cillian Walsh (Claregalway, Galway); Eoin Finnerty (St. James, Galway), Colm Moriarty (Annascaul, Kerry), Jack Folan (St. James’s, Galway); Conor Harley (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Brian Cogger (Corofin, Galway), Darragh Lowry (Moate, Westmeath); Canice Mulligan (St. Patrick’s, Sligo), Seán Hansberry (Menlough, Galway); Dara Hurley (Claremorris, Mayo), Tom O’Flaherty (Aghamore, Mayo), Shane McGrath (Dunmore MacHales, Galway); Eoin Colleran (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Cillian Ó Curraoin (Micheal Breathnach, Galway), Mark McInerney (Éire Óg, Ennis, Clare).

Subs: Rory Hester (Western Gales, Roscommon) for Hansberry (35); Luc O’Connor (Claregalway, Galway) for Harley (42); Jack Lonergan (Claregalway, Galway) for Lowry (45); Eanna Monaghan (Claregalway, Galway) for Hurley (47); Jack Nolan (St. James’, Galway) for McGrath (63).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).