Trinity will host the Collingwood Cup in February 2020, in what will be the 100th time the football cup competition has been held.
Founded in 1914, the Collingwood Cup is the oldest surviving all-Ireland intervarsity football competition, and features 11 teams from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is organised by the Irish Universities Football Union.
In an email statement to The University Times, Dublin University Association Football Club (DUAFC) vice-captain Rory Nairns confirmed that Trinity will host the Collingwood Cup next year. Nairns said that “all games will be played at Trinity venues”, and that multiple pitches will be used across “campus, Santry and the Iveagh Grounds”.
In January 2019, DUAFC exited the Collingwood Cup in controversial circumstances. Towards the end of a match against Maynooth University, 13 out of 18 floodlights on the pitch suddenly went dark, and Maynooth scored a 92nd-minute equaliser amid the confusion. Despite the unusual circumstances, the referee allowed the point to stand, and Maynooth went onto win the game on penalties. DUAFC initially sought to appeal for a replay from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), but eventually decided against it after seeking legal advice.
DUAFC last won the Collingwood Cup 40 years ago in 1979, and have only won the competition outright one other time, in 1967. In 2015, DUAFC made it to the final of the competition, which was held at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway, under the guidance of club manager Adrian Fitzpatrick.
In October 2016, citing frustrations towards the Department of Sport and poor facilities, both Fitzpatrick and the captain at the time, Ciaran McGahon, resigned. Fitzpatrick was a highly qualified coach – in possession of a rare Uefa Pro Coaching License – and his resignation sparked a period of decline for DUAFC. Fitpatrick was succeeded by Adam Firych, who was sacked by the club after an eight-match losing streak.
Last year, DUAFC finished eighth in its league, after their bright start in the autumn was followed by a tailing off after Christmas.
University College Cork (UCC) won the 2019 Collingwood Cup, continuing a pattern of alternating wins between University College Dublin (UCD) and UCC that began in 2015. Overall, UCD have won the Collingwood Cup more times than any other team.
