Heartbreak for DKIT as second half goals see them defeated in Trench Cup Final

Trench Cup Final 2023

DKIT 0-9 TUS Midlands (Athlone) 2-11

Two rapid fire goals midway through the second half proved decisive as DKIT missed out on Trench Cup glory in Waterford to TUS Midlands in a final they were pretty much always chasing in.

Eamon McEneaney's troops soaked up plenty of early pressure, before battling back to leave the two colleges all square at half time, 0-6 apiece.

However, despite a decent start after the restart, a well worked goal finished by Brian Cooney followed by a penalty converted by Brandon Kelly saw the Athlone based college build up a six point lead they never relinquished.

DKIT never backed down and threw everything they had at their opponents, but they were never able to make a sizable dent on the deficit. Yet the final margin of eight points does flatter TUS Midlands to some degree. They now make the jump to Sigerson Cup Football in 2024.

The tie was a slow burner, with both sides wasting early chances before Matthew Whittaker got his team off the mark on seven minutes. But only after Shane Gartlan denied him a goal from close range.

A further Whitaker effort increased their lead, before DKIT finally got on the board after three missed opportunities, courtesy of a free from Jay Hughes. The Dreadnots forward was in flying from placed balls and finished the final with five to his name.

The Dundalk College might’ve been behind for most of the 60 minutes plus of football, yet they still seemed capable of rattling the net with every venture forward.

The long ball in towards the square was a vital weapon, but sadly it never led to a green a flag, despite Conal McCaul and Patrick Johnson coming close.

Cormac Delaney, Brian Cooney and Kieran Culclough all pointed for the men in black to keep their side in front, before a late flurry of scores from Cathal Fleming and Jay Hughes helped restore clarity going into the half time break.

After trading points early on, TUS Midlands hit the back of the net twice in the space of 60 seconds or so to create the largest deficit so far.

It all started with a superb ball in towards the square from Cathal Flynn on 38 minutes. It bounced perfectly into the path of Cooney, who took no prisoners as he blasted the ball home past Gartland.

Soon after DKIT conceded another three pointer; this time via a penalty which was finely converted by Brandon Kelly. Out of nowhere, the men from the East were six down and had a mountain to climb.

The Midlanders went back into their shell from here, letting DKIT have as much of the ball as they wanted. A brace of frees from Hughes managed to bring the gap back to four, but this was as good as it got for McEnaney’s team.

The final few scores came from John Donellan’s team to enhance their lead to eight, while any hopes for a comeback were dashed as DKIT finished the contest with 13 men after late black cards for captain Gary Mohan and Conal McCaul. 

DKIT: Shane Gartlan, Shane Hanratty, Eoin Clarke, Ger Browne; Shane Slevin, Lee Rice, Liam Stafford; Jack McEvoy, Kieran Doyle; Cathal Fleming (0-1), Tom Grey (0-1), Conal McCaul; Jay Hughes (0-5 frees), Gary Mohan (0-1), Patrick Johnson (0-1). Subs: Robbie Quigley for Stafford (50), Hughie Corcoran for Grey (55), Gareth Byrnes for Doyle (56).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)