Maynooth have retained the Collingwood Cup and also denied UL what would have been an historic treble of intervarsity titles after their triumphs in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups last week.
Second half goals from Taylor McCarthy and a superb free kick from Taylor Mooney was enough to see Maynooth reclaim the silverware against the hosts, who saw two players sent off late on.
With both sides having played two games in two days, the opening stages of the game were cagey as they eased their way into the game.
🔥 WHAT A GOAL!
An unbelievable free-kick from @Munisoccerclub to take a two goal lead in the Collingwood Cup final.
Coverage in association with Campion Insurance.
📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/sWRgbhJLyW@IUFUofficial pic.twitter.com/gfcmKSZyjc
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UL looked to make the most of home advantage in Jackman Park and their first opportunities came via long throw-ins and set pieces, but Maynooth goalkeeper Andrew Stuart Trainor dealt with their efforts with ease.
He was soon called into action however as the first real chance of note came in the 20th minute when Fintan O’Kelly launched a long ball forward towards Leon Daly.
The mercurial winger found himself in acres of space and after spotting the keeper off his line he attempted an audacious chipped effort that required a fine fingertip save from Trainor.
Maynooth heeded that wake up call and came close to taking the lead moments later with Finn Cowper Grey delivering an inviting cross to the UL penalty area only to see Harry O’Connor send his effort over the bar.
Just three minutes later Cowper Grey again sent the ball in to the UL area this time Alex Sheerin sent a glancing header just wide of the upright.
The first half continued to be a physical affair with Limerick’s centre back pairing of Alex Cuddy and Tom Kelly called upon to snuff out Maynooth’s advances into the danger zone.
Limerick’s attacking chances were limited however Daniel O’Dwyer was proving to be a nuisance for his markers but the sides went into the break level.
Maynooth started the second half on the front foot with Taylor McCarthy attempting a spectacular bicycle kick inside the opening minute.
Sheerin was next to come close as they ramped up the pressure and his 52nd minute effort had Josh Coady beaten in the UL goal but was denied by the upright.
UL’s luck ran out on the stroke of the hour as they failed to clear their lines with Jonathan Kehir heading the attempted clearance towards goal where another flick from the head of McCarthy saw the deadlock broken.
The home side stayed in the fight but nine minutes from time their dreams of a second Collingwood title were dashed with Taylor Mooney scoring a superb free kick to all but end the tie.
Tempers flared in the closing stages with Leon Daly and Dean Hegarty both dismissed for UL after picking up second bookings.
Meanwhile in the Farquhar Cup final, UCD retained the cup with a convincing 7-0 drubbing of the University of Galway thanks to a trio of braces scored by Stephen Mohan, Mikey Raggett and Killian Cailloce with Louis Dignam rounding out the scoring.
J Coady; C Carew, A Cuddy, T Kelly, J Rushe; F O’Kelly, M Jones, I O’Sullivan, D Holden; L Daly, D O’Dwyer.
D Doyle, D Hegarty, D O’Leary, J Ahern, D Moloney, J Healy, L Ryan.
A Stuart Trainor; F Cowper Grey, D O’Shea, F Dikcius, O Irkue; J Kehir, T McCarthy, H O’Connor; T Mooney, D Murtagh, A Sheerin.
T O’Dowd, P Montgomery, W Smith, M Chan, C Barry Mulvey, M O’Hara, K Clements.
Mark Kennedy.
