Dundalk IT comfortably assured spot in their Trench Cup group with win over Trinity College

DKIT comfortably assured top spot in their Trench Cup group with this emphatic win over Trinity College Dublin in the Dundalk Gaels pitch on Tuesday night.

With both sides already assured of a semi final place in this competition after securing two victories over Garda College and Mary Immaculate College Limerick in this group, top spot was up for grabs for the winners of this contest, as well as a possible home semi-final, subject to confirmation.

DKIT deservedly won out on a 15 point margin, in a game which saw them have as many as 10 different scorers, including four out of the starting six forwards.

One forward who stood out in particular was Monaghan’s Stephen Mooney, with the Cremartin clubman accounting for 0-9 of DKIT’s 0-23 points on the night, and having a hand in several other scores for his side on the night, finishing with 24 possessions.

Mooney, made a sweet connection with the ball from an acute angle to grab DKIT’s second score of the game, with the excellent Pierce Blessing having opened up the scoring inside 45 seconds.

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DKIT’s crisp combination play through the hands was a joy to watch at times and following a turnover in defence from the impressive Thomas Og Duffy, the lively Oisin McGorman set up Jamie Murphy for point number three for Eamon McEneaney’s side after 4 minutes.

Trinity who did struggle to penetrate a well-organised DKIT defence, did open their account thanks to a marvellous strike from Hugh Hamilton, who then turned provider for Bective’s Con Smith to leave just a point between the sides after 7 minutes.

DKIT were then left off the hook, as the visitors came close to scoring a goal. When a Conor Leonard effort for a point came back off the post, David Duggan was first to react inside the square, but the forward dragged his close range effort wide, much to the home side’s relief.

DKIT heeded this warning, and turned up the heat to grab eight out of the next nine points to take a 0-11 to 0-3 lead heading towards half time.

Again, the combination play through the hands from the Dundalk side was a standout feature, with players like Aaron O’Neill, Pierce Blessing, Thomas Og Duffy, and Tadgh McDonnell central to this.

That quartet were also key to DKIT winning 10 of Trinity’s 24 kickouts over the hour.

Aaron O’Neill who finished with 28 possessions, collected an Oisin McGorman pass to make it 0-4 to 0-2 from close range, moments after Trinity’s goal chance.

DKIT then came close to a goal of their own when Meath’s Jamie Murphy rattled the crossbar with a fizzing shot from inside the square. However, Murphy converted a 45 moments later for 0-5 to 0-2, before a free from Stephen Mooney stretched DKIT’s lead to four by the end of the first quarter.

Following a free from Ben Kane for Trinity, DKIT scored the next five points in a row, thanks to more slick combination play with moves that started with impressive ball winning exploits from the college.

Aaron O’Neill again treated those in attendance to that wand that is his right foot, with another terrific effort from play, before an impressive Conor Clarke turnover, saw O’Neill and Oisin McGorman combine for Stephen Mooney to grab another score to make it 0-8 to 0-3, as DKIT punished their opponents in the transition.

Following another move involving Tadgh McDonnell, Jamie Murphy, and Oisin McGorman, Mooney once again found the range.

Monaghan pair Mooney and Oisin McGorman combined for the latter to grab a point that his performance deserved to make it 0-10 to 0-3 in DKIT’s favour with 7 minutes left until the break.

Following another Thomas Og Duffy turnover, Tadgh McDonnell advanced forward to drill the ball over to leave eight between the sides.

Following another Ben Kane free for Trinity, Stephen Mooney grabbed his sixth point of the game just before the break to leave DKIT with a commanding lead at the break at 0-12 to 0-4, in a half where the home side amassed 0-12 from 18 shots at the posts.

Second Half:

That league final saw DKIT take a five point lead into the break, but they only managed one point in the entire second half of that defeat.

This time, DKIT continued to turn on the style, with eleven second half points, which saw Liam Stafford, Cormac McKeown, Thomas Og Duffy and sub Hughie Corcoran add their names to the ever growing scoresheet.

Alongside his Crossmaglen clubmates Pierce Blessing and Aaron O’Neill, Thomas Og Duffy’s point was one that his overall performance deserved, having finished with 29 possessions, driving the team on from centre half back.

The only thing missing from this win from a DKIT perspective was the fact that they did not grab a goal or two, in a game which Stephen Mooney denied by Trinity keeper Sean O’Mullane, while Cormac McKeown’s point was inches away from being a major, a score which his own performance also merited.

To their credit, Trinity refused to throw in the towel, with several subs having positive impacts. Moments after the restart, a superb block from DKIT’s Ben Goss Kieran managed to thwart Trinity sub Cillian French from close range.

Another sub who put his hand up for a starting place in their semi final was Emmet Rogers, who kicked two second half points in a lively cameo, while Con Smith’s free taking also put some respectability on the scoreboard.

However, DKIT confirmed their status as winners of this group, as Stephen Mooney continued to delight supporters with shooting of the highest quality from both feet. But arguably the score of the night came from the boot of Pierce Blessing, who fired over from 45 metres, a point which capped off an impressive showing from him, as DKIT look ahead to a Trench Cup semi final with hope.

Dundalk IT: Daire O’Shea; Conor Clarke, Ben Goss Kieran, Tadgh McDonnell (0-2); Fintan Brady, Thomas Og Duffy (0-1), Liam Stafford (0-1); Cormac McKeown (0-1), Pierce Blessing (0-2); Ryan Duffy, Aaron O’Neill (0-3), Adam McKeown; Oisin McGorman (0-1), Stephen Mooney (0-9) (3f), Jamie Murphy (0-2) (1f).

Subs: Hughie Corcoran (0-1) for McKeown (HT), Harry Butterly for McGorman (43), Caolan McCabe for McKeown (49), Craig Callanan for McDonnell (53), Daniel Ehichoya for Mooney (53).

Trinity College: Sean O’Mullane; Lee Pearson, Tom Hughes, Gearóid O’Brien; James McBreen, Aodhán Inglis, Ruairi McSweeney; Conor Leonard, Tom McCarroll; David Duggan, Con Smith (0-3) (1f), Cathal Gilligan; Hugh Hamilton (0-1), Liam Fenton, Ben Kane (0-2) (2f).

Subs: Cillian French for Inglis (HT), Emmet Rogers (0-2) for Fenton (37), Rory McErlean for Hamilton (44), Oliver MacNamara for Duggan (41), Rian Gallagher for Kane (48).

Referee: Enda Mallon (Co Armagh).