UL lose to injury time UCD goal in Collinwood Cup final

It was a second final defeat in four years for the Limerick University who are yet to win the competition.

The University of Limerick’s wait for a maiden Collingwood Cup continues after they were beaten 3-2 by UCD in Thursday afternoon’s final in Larne.

Twice Limerick fell behind but battled back on both occasions before becoming undone by a 92nd-minute goal by Ronan Cowhey from a brilliant header.

It was a cruel defeat for UL who also lost late on in 2019 with UCD retaining their crown and moving within one of 50 while UL’s search for a first title will continue into 2024.

While the contest was slow to get going, the game burst into life in the 63rd minute with all but the winner following in the next five minutes of play.

The first half saw the sides feel each other out as the champions approached the contest in cautious terms against a spirited UL side.

However, UCD broke the deadlock when Ciaran Behan fired home from 25 yards. UL’s response came just a couple of minutes later as defender Tom Carney headed home from a Joey Rushe corner.

Behan had UCD back in front immediately after but as he did in the semi-final, Adam Foley found the net with a scrambled finish from a long UL throw in.

Both sides sought the winner in the remaining twenty minutes but the game looked destined for extra-time before Cowhey dashed UL’s hopes.

UCD: Lorcan Healy; Sean Carmody, Michael Gallagher, Jack Keaney, Shane McCreery; Rossa McAllister, Dara Keane, Donal Higgins; Billy Griffin, Danu Kinsella Bishop, Ciaran Behan.
Subs: Ronan Cowhey (for Griffin 57). Not used: Gearoid Mulligan, Ryan Bowden, Matthew Scott, Gavin McConville, Danny Norris, Ben Callan

University of Limerick: Josh Coady; Cullen McCabe, Conor Whittle, Tom Carney, Joey Rushe; Darren Butler, Eoin Redmond; Tom Kidd, David McCarthy, Conor Butler; Adam Foley.
Subs: Leon Daly (for McCarthy 25), Ciaran Jennings (for C Butler 63), Cillian Duffy for Kidd 74), Dean Hegarty (for McCabe 74). Not used: Ewan O’Brien, Theo Joyce, Oleg Vrysoc

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