Trench Cup final heartbreak for Dundalk Institute as they lose out to MTU Kerry

MTU Kerry 3-12

Dundalk IT 2-10

It was Trench Cup final heartbreak for DkIT, with the Dundalk side losing out to a very slick and impressive MTU Kerry side in the decider last night.

On a day which saw the match finally go ahead, having been arranged and postponed twice, before eventually taking place in Ballyduff at 6pm, with one Kerry man in particular in sparkling form, as Keith Evans who was a deserving player of the match winner, MTU Kerry powered their way to victory over a gallant DkIT side, who still deserve credit for their refusal to throw in the towel, with two second half goals from Louth pannelist Peter McStravick keeping their Kerry counterparts honest.

While there can be no arguments over who deserved this victory, DkIT almost netting the opening green flag of the game with McStravick going close.

However, MTU soon got into their groove, and after Ryan O’Grady had spurned a goal chance after 14 minutes, the Kingdom raised their first green flag through Eoin Carroll, thanks to the excellent Keith Evans, who finished with 0-3 and contributing to a further 2-2 in the contest in a side where Kerry senior panellists Joey Nagle, Paudie O’Leary, and Armin Heinrich also impressed.

Despite the concession of that early goal, DkIT responded well thanks to scores from Shane Slevin and a wonderfully struck free in typical fashion from Jay Hughes got the Dundalk side on the board at least.

However, MTU Kerry looked menacing everytime they moved the ball through the hands, picking holes in that DkIT defence, and some fine interplay between Eddie Healy, and Donagh O’Sullivan saw the latter palm to the net for goal number two just before the break, as MTU Kerry led by 2-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Credit to DkIT’s keeper Shane Garland who also kept out a Ryan O’Grady penalty before the interval.

Second Half:

Early into the second half, and MTU seemed to have sealed victory when Keith Evans pointed, and later assisted Donagh O’Sullivan for another goal to make it 3-8 to 0-5.

Further scores from Evans, and O’Grady stretched that lead even further for MTU Kerry, who were backed by the wind for this second period.

However, despite these setbacks, including being reduced to 14 players, DKIT rallied with Peter McStravick goals, and some excellent shooting from the impressive Jamie Murphy keeping MTU Kerry on their toes.

McStravick’s second goal saw DKIT outscore their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1 in the finish, with his second major taken on the volley following a Cathal Fleming pass.

In a fixture which was moved from the MTU Campus, to Castleree, and eventually to Ballyduff, there can be no arguments about the deserving winners on the night, as well as player of the match which was Keith Evans, as MTU Kerry took home the Trench Cup for 2024.

DUNDALK IT: Shane Gartland (Monaghan); Chris O’Neill (Louth), Thomas Óg Duffy (Armagh), Gerry Browne (Louth); Thomas Rice (Louth), Seán Healy (Louth), Liam Stafford (0-1) (Meath); Peter McStravick (2-0) (Louth), Leonard Gray (Louth); Shane Slevin (0-1) (Monaghan), Tom Gray (0-1) (Louth), Cathal Fleming (Louth); Harry Butterly (0-1) (Louth), Jay Hughes (0-1) (Louth), Jamie Murphy (0-3, 1f) (Meath)

Subs: Seán Callahan (Louth) for T Rice, 27, Fionn Tipping (Louth) for C O’Neill, 36, Hughie Corcoran (0-2) (Meath) for H Butterly, 38, Jack McArdle (Louth) for T Gray, 40, Ciarán Shields (Dublin) for L Stafford, 47 Black Card: Shane Slevin, 36-46

MTU KERRY: Conor Melia (Offaly); Luke Chester (Austin Stacks), Joey Nagle (Austin Stacks), Seán Brosnan (Ardfert); Eddie Healy (0-1) (Listowel Emmets), Paudie O’Leary (Gneeveguilla), Evan Looney (Dr Crokes); Evan Boyle (0-1) (Ballyduff), Armin Heinrich (Austin Stacks); Keith Evans (0-3) (Keel), Donagh O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), Eoin Carroll (1-0) (Austin Stacks); Darragh O’Connor (2-1) (Kerins O’Rahillys), Ryan O’Grady (0-5, 3f) (Legion), Tommy Cronin (Kenmare Shamrocks)

Subs: Conor Horan (Austin Stacks) for D O’Sullivan, 44, Conor O’Sullivan (Kerins O’Rahillys) for E Looney (inj), 46, Emmet O’Shea (Fossa) for R O’Grady, 51, William Galvin (Reenard) for K Evans, 58, Sam McCarthy (Kerins O’Rahillys) for D O’Connor, 60+3