UL secure Harding Cup victory at the expense of UCC

The University of Limerick secured their fifth RUSTLERS IUFU Harding Cup success with a 2-0 victory over University College Cork in the UCD Bowl.

Ed O’Dwyer and Adam Foley’s goals produced their first victory since 2008 in the competition exclusive to first-year University students.

O’Dwyer, who was voted the Player of the Tournament and certainly one of the standouts in the final, opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time. Finian Brady fed the ball into the attacking midfielder who struck a left footed effort past Vondra Vjeko in the Cork goal from 20 yards out.

The effects of the previous two days showed on UCC with their best chances from Gordon Walker and Ben Palmer being comfortably controlled by Limerick keeper Sean McCormack.

Adam Foley came off the bench at half-time having joined up with the squad that morning and his freshness was telling when he burst in behind after O’Dwyer’s pass and rounded Vjeko to double Limerick’s advantage midway through the second half.

UL should have extended their lead further late on with Brady denied by Vjeko and Foley slicing a shot horribly wide with the goal at his mercy. They would not be left to rue those opportunities and saw out the closing stages to lift the cup.

Earlier in the day, Trinity College Dublin won the Spillane Cup against DCU in the AUL. Segun Bolungun scored in normal time and extra time in the 2-1 victory.

University College Cork 0-2 University of Limerick (O’Dwyer 44’, Foley 64’)

UL: McCormack, Cremins, Moloney, Quaid, Murray (Foley HT), Noonan, Loughnane, O’Dwyer, Whittle (Coughlan 78), Brady (Keane 88), Hanrahan (Leonard HT).

UCC: Vjeko, Wiseman, Palmer (O’Callaghan 74), Hurley, Eusepi-Harris, Walker, Scott, Nzewi, Lynes (Crowley 49), White (Egan 82), Carroll.

Referee: Richard Glynn (Dublin).