Despite a stern challenge from a determined Queen’s University Belfast (Queen’s) side, Trinity GAA’s first-year hurling team secured a place in the final of the Freshers Hurling Championship, producing an imperious second half performance to see off the home side. The promising young team, which boasted significant representation on this year’s Fitzgibbon cup panel, will look ahead to the final in the hope of securing a coveted league and championship double.
With Dublin senior Cian O’Sullivan rested ahead of his side’s meeting with Waterford at the weekend, and Dublin minor Mark O’Keefe missing through injury, the Trinity management team were faced with several enforced changes. However, their charges showed no sign of being fazed by the altered line up and raced into an early lead. Half forwards Eoin Kelly and Sean O’Connor impressed with early scores from significant distances, while Conor Foley, who was deputising for O’Sullivan at centre back, added to their lead when he split the posts with a mammoth 65-metre free.
Queen’s forced their way back into the game, capitalising on a brief period of dominance by adding two points to pull the game level. However Trinity quickly restored normal order in retaining control of the match. Centre forward Sean O’Connor continued to terrorise the Queen’s defence, latching onto a breaking ball and rattling the net for the game’s opening goal. Mark Corry and Ross Gorey then opened their accounts for the evening with well taken points, before wing forward, Eoin Kelly, moved in for his second personal point of the game. As the half time whistle blew, Trinity lead by 1-06 to 0-04.
Trinity exploded out of the blocks in the second half, with Kelly forcing a fine save from the Queen’s goalkeeper, before Corry slotted home a free to give the visitors a six-point lead. The home side battled hard and responded with a goal of their own. However O’Connor steadied the ship and converted a mammoth point to restore Trinity’s cushion.
Despite a frenzied drive for a late goal by Queen’s, Trinity remained calm in defence and controlled the remainder of the game. Cruising to a well-deserved victory, they outscored the home side by five points to two in the closing stages.
The win sets up a mouth-watering final against the Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT) in the University of Limerick next Tuesday. ITT have been the surprise packages of the championship so far, pulling off a huge upset by beating Ulster University Jordanstown (UUJ) in their respective semi-final.
With the unprecedented prospect of a league and championship double sure to capture the imagination, the club hope to run buses for supporters to what promises to be an historic occasion for all involved with Trinity GAA.
