Dublin City University became Sigerson Cup Champions for the sixth time in the college’s history on Wednesday defeating University College Dublin in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
In what is always an historic day for players and families alike, the Sigerson Cup Final of 2025 will likely go down as the final adult game played under the “old” rules and if that is to be the case WHAT A SEND OFF.
The student of DCU and UCD alike took the long road up to Mayo potentially passing each over and back numerous times on the M4. For DCU it would have been a nervy bus journey. Having suffered a one-point loss to their rivals in the group stages of the competition, their track record suggested at the very least a tight affair. The journey home on the other hand, pure ectasy.
At half time, the scoreboard read 1-3 t 0-6 with Ryan O’Toole’s first half goal keeping UCD on even terms. At this point it was truly anybody’s guess for who may come out victorious at the full-time whistle. Man of the Match Ethan Dunne was in no such doubt and produced the definitive finish to the game winning move on the 38th minute. Taking in a pass from Gregg McEneaney the Dublin man, cut inside and buried a clinical finish past goalkeeper Killian Roche to put his side four points up.
Off course games are not won on singular moments and DCU had star performers all over the field. Leitrim’s Tom Prior can rightly feel aggrieved to just miss out on man of the match as he excelled scoring three from play in the big moments. While the collective full back line of Bryan Masterson, Luke Glennon and Alex Gavin also impressed, combining to keep the highly touted Roscommon star Daire Cregg scoreless from play. Despite the best efforts from Callum Bolten and Darragh McElearney who managed second half goals for UCD, you just got the sense it was DCU’s day as captain Ciaren Caulfield maundered up the field late one for an excellent point either side of the challenger’s goals. The score at full time read 1-16 to 3-6 in what was a marvellous DCU display.
Manager Sean Fox explained to the Irish Examiner post-match that without disrespecting were people are from “There are lads who will never get the opportunity again to play in such a big game” he said. “There are lads here who will leave college with a DCU degree and a DCU medal. What a fantastic start to life.”
Scorers for UCD: C. Bolton 1-2; R. O’Toole, D. McElearney 1-0 each, D. Cregg 0-2 frees, L. Breathnach, T. Clancy 0-1.
Scorers for DCU: E. Dunne 1-2; T. Prior 0-3, D. Swords 0-3 (1 free), L. Marren 0-2 frees, L. O’Dell, N. Dolan, C. Caulfield, C. Heffernan, E. O’Connor Flanagan, G. McEneaney 0-1 each.
UCD: K. Roche (Laois); M. Stone (Wicklow), D. McElearney (Monaghan), T. Clancy (Dublin); C. McMorrow (Dublin), C. Drumm (Dublin), R. O’Toole (Monaghan); C. Bolton (Kildare), P. Duffy (Dublin); C. Egan (Offaly), L. Breathnach (Dublin), M. McNally (Dublin); D. Cregg (Roscommon), B. O’Carroll (Roscommon), A. Lynch (Meath).
Subs: S. Callinan for McNally (30), D. Moriarty for O’Carroll, P. Honeyman for McMorrow (both 43), S. Forker for Egan (48), L. Costello for Duffy (57).
DCU: E. McGuinness (Longford); B. Masterson (Longford), L. Glennon (Roscommon), A. Gavin (Dublin); E. O’Connor-Flanagan (Dublin), R. Gallagher (Donegal), C. Caulfield (Meath); E. Dunne (Dublin), C. Heffernan (Laois); N. Dolan (Kildare), C. Dolan (Dublin), G. McEneaney (Dublin); T. Prior (Leitrim), R. Donohoe (Cavan), L. Marren (Sligo).
Subs: E. Ward for Glennon (12), L. O’Dell for Dolan (33), D. Swords for Donoghue (38),J. McGroddy for Dolan (49), J. Tumulty for Marren (54).
Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).
by