Dundalk IT advance to Trench Cup final with win over TUS Midlands

Dundalk IT advance to the Trench Cup final for the third year in a row with this victory over TUS Midlands in Athlone on Thursday evening.

The Dundalk college were full value for this win, with all bar one of their 0-18 tally coming in open play, as they put together some delightful passages of play, in a game where 10 players managed to get their names on the scoresheet.

DKIT’s wonderful movement of the ball through the hands was once again a joy to watch, and they were almost off to the dream start when a flowing move involving the excellent Oisin McGorman and Hughie Corcoran, saw Monaghan native Ryan Duffy’s strike from the angle hit the frame of the goal, with TUS keeper Shane Ryan beaten all ends up.

TUS Midlands did open the scoring thanks to a long range effort from Padraig Pearses club player Conor Ryan, one of five he would contribute over the hour.

However, DKIT soon found their shooting boots, with two fine strikes from Monaghan’s Stephen Mooney putting them ahead in quick succession.

A fine fetch from a TUS kickout by Louth under 20 player Cormac McKeown led to Hughie Corcoran firing over splendidly from range, before a free from the same player, following a foul on Fintan Brady, gave DKIT a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 8^th minute.

However, DKIT were guilty of conceding cheap free kicks and advances marks, with Sligo’s Caelan Hunt closing the gap to two points with a mark for 0-4 to 0-2, as TUS Midlands aimed to kick the ball long into the inside line at every turn.

Oisin McGorman spun his marker, before firing over with his left foot, which left DKIT 0-5 to 0-2 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.

Another Caelan Hunt free kept TUS Midlands in touch, but DKIT landed back-to-back scores through half backs Fintan Brady and Liam Stafford with more flowing moves through the hands, as DKIT punished their opponents on the turnover, with Stafford’s point beginning with a tenacious turnover from centre half Thomas Og Duffy, who once again shun like a beacon, finishing with 33 possessions over the hour.

Another Hunt mark still left TUS Midlands in with a shout, with the scoreline reading 0-7 to 0-4 in DKIT’s favour after 20 minutes.

Despite Stephen Mooney striking again for the Dundalk college, in fairness to TUS Midlands, they remained hard to shake off, and more delightful shooting from Conor Ryan and Caelan Hunt, left just two between the sides with four minutes left until the break.

Hughie Corcoran treated those in attendance to some deft foot passes from the right hand side into the scoring zone for team mates to profit. The Meath man was involved in several scores for his colleagues, including a booming strike from range by Pierce Blessing, which left the Dundalk side ahead by 0-9 to 0-6 at the break, in a half where the Dundalk men had 13 shots at the posts.

Second Half:

Despite their dominance, three points is always a dangerous lead, and you could still feel a sense that another score or two could give TUS Midlands huge oxygen.

However, DKIT got off to the ideal start, when half time sub John Joe Hughes fired over the bar with his first touch, almost straight from the throw up, in a move involving Oisin McGorman and Thomas Og Duffy.

Two consecutive scores from McGorman left DKIT 0-12 to 0-6 ahead, 6 minutes into the second half.

Conor Ryan’s right boot would not have looked out of place on the rugby field at the Six Nations, as another free from him cleared the crossbar by some distance to leave five between the sides.

DKIT were also guilty of some poor decision making in the final third, taking low percentage shots from long range, but points from Adam McKeown and Thomas Og Duffy did stretch their lead out to seven by the end of the third quarter.

As TUS Midlands continued to kick long into the square, and go for broke as they chased the game, DKIT found space on the break, as Ryan Duffy fisted over the bar following a move which began when sub DD Reilly collected a Daire O’Shea kickout. Reilly combined with John Joe Hughes with the latter finding Duffy who pointed.

DKIT keeper O’Shea also deserves plaudits for his assertiveness in catching the high ball that was kicked into his goal mouth.

DKIT struck the post again through DD Reilly, another player who impressed following his introduction.

Despite the best efforts of Conor Ryan from frees, DKIT sealed the deal and their place in the Trench Cup final, with two late scores from Stephen Mooney bringing his tally out to 0-6 for the day, as DKIT set up a Trench Cup final with Trinity College next week.

Dundalk IT: Daire O’Shea; Tadgh McDonnell, Ben Goss Kieran, Bobby Butterly; Fintan Brady (0-1), Thomas Og Duffy (0-1), Liam Stafford (0-1); Cormac McKeown, Pierce Blessing (0-1); Ryan Duffy (0-1), Oisin McGorman (0-3), Adam McKeown (0-1); Hughie Corcoran (0-2) (1f), Stephen Mooney (0-6), Jamie Murphy.

Subs: John Joe Hughes (0-1) for Murphy (HT), Darragh Murray for Butterly (50), DD Reilly for Corcoran (55), Craig Callanan for McKeown (55), Aaron Kennedy for Brady (60).

TUS Midlands: Shane Ryan; Jamie Behan, Ben Reddin, Ronan Fitzpatrick; Jimmy Hyland, Patrick Doherty, Tan Greene; Conor Ryan (0-5) (4f), Sean McAllister; Cian Nolan, Kyle Nolan, Paul Keane; Caelan Hunt (0-4) (2f) (2 marks), Kyle Mullins, Thomas Cronin.

Subs: Shane Griffin for Kyle Nolan (37), Skye Lynch for Cronin (45), Padraig Martyn for Cian Nolan (52), Colin Riordan for McAllister (55).

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Co Roscommon).