DCU 0-10

UL 0-8

Kevin O’Brien reports from Portarlington

DCU ARE THE All-Ireland Freshers 1 football champions for the third year in-a-row after they narrowly defeated UL to lift Corn Daithi Billings.

DCU GAA / Twitter DCU GAA / Twitter / Twitter

Earlier on Wednesday, DCU also claimed their second successive All-Ireland Freshers 1 hurling crown, meaning they’ve done the Freshers double for two straight years.

Monaghan youngster David Garland posted seven points for the victors in a low-scoring but entertaining game.

Garland made his senior debut for Malachy O’Rourke’s Farney side during their Division 1 league campaign this year and he was the focal point of the DCU attack in Portarlington.

DCU lined out with Luke Towey – named at corner-forward – as a spare defender on the half-back line and they had a very deliberate running game from deep.

That benefited the free-taking of Garland, who slotted over two placed balls in the opening half as DCU led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

UL were the better side in the third quarter with centre-forward Ryan O’Donoghue and wing-backs Patrick Warren and Tadgh Corkery particularly impressive.

Warren, former Kerry minor star Brian Friel and Brian O’Malley, who won an All-Ireland intermediate title with Westport last year, all kicked scores as the Munster side moved into the lead by the 53rd minute.

UL wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the game as Garland, Jordan Morrissey and substitute Daniel Brennan hit the target down the stretch to win it for DCU.

Scorers for DCU: David Garland 0-7 (0-5f), Frank O’Reilly, Jordan Morrissey and Daniel Brennan 0-1 each.

Scorers for UL: Tadgh Corkery 0-2, Brian Friel (0-1f), Joe Dawson, Chrisóg Jones, Tom Hoare, Ryan O’Donoghue and Brian O’Malley 0-1 each.

DCU

1. Sam Burton

2. PJ Daly
3. Kieran Dwyer
4. Keith Murphy

5. Darragh Ryan
6. Mark Curran
7. Peader Mogan

17. Barry Gorman
9. Jordan Morrissey

10. Frank O’Reilly
11. Sean Bugler
12. Eoin Smith

13. Luke Towey
14. Luke Gilmartin
15. David Garland

Subs

19. Daniel Brennan for Gilmartin (42)
28. Ronan Doherty for O’Reilly (54)
22. James Holland for Gorman (60)
23. Shane Tierney for Towey (black-card, 63)

*Clubs and counties not provided

UL

1. Dylan O’Leary (Millstreet, Cork)

2. Peter Paul Sauerland (An Ghaeltacht, Kerry)
3. Niall O’Mahony (Na nGaeil, Kerry)
4. Michael Reidy (Ballymac, Kerry)

5. Patrick Warren (Gneeveguilla, Kerry)
6. Niall Collins (Listowel Emmetts, Kerry)
7. Tadgh Corkery (Cill Na Martra, Cork)

8. Joe Dawson (Louisburgh, Mayo)
9. Brian O’Malley (Westport, Mayo)

10. Adam O’Donoghue (Castleisland Desmonds, Kerry)
11. Ryan O’Donoghue (Beal an Mhuirthead, Mayo)
12. Macdarra Geraghty (Glenamaddy, Galway)

13. Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire, Cork)
14. Brian Friel (Rathmore, Kerry)
15. Brendan McKeown (Ballivor, Meath)

Subs

23. Tom Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry) for McKeown (37)
25. Colin Kelly (Clyda Rovers, Cork) for Geraghty (46)
21. Jonah Culligan (Ballyvaughan, Clare) for Dawson (52)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

The42 Podcasts / SoundCloud

Down’s Clarke recruited by AFL as part of plans to prioritise Ireland in search of players for Aussie Rules

‘He took on a sinking ship, the thing was in a state’ – Carlow’s rising to end 33-year promotion wait