Trinity’s athletes and alumni have recently shone across a diverse range of sports, achieving remarkable success and recognition on both national and international stages. From volleyball national team selections and triumphs on the golf course to rugby and football milestones, these standout performances highlight the depth of sporting talent nurtured at Trinity, with players making waves at European tournaments, historic golf events, elite rugby debuts, and even the global spectacle of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Trinity Women Volleyball's Grace Moloney and Lara McNichols competing at the Senior Women’s Small Countries Association
Trinity Women Volleyball's Grace Moloney and Lara McNichols will be competing as par of the Senior Irish Women’s National Team at the Senior Women’s Small Countries Association (SCA) event taking place at the Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin on 27 to 29 June and we wish them the very best of luck!
Trinity Volleyball Women's SSI Cup Final 2025 winning team including Grace Moloney and Lara McNichols.
Eoin Sullivan's one-shot win at the Boyd Quaich Memorial golf tournament
Eoin Sullivan with his Boyd Quaich Memorial golf trophy. Credit: Chris Reekie.
DU Golf's successes continue to go from strength to strength, from their victorious Colours match win against UCD where they won for the first time in 36 years (since 1989) for which they won 'Performance of the Year' award at the Trinity Sport Awards 2025 to Trinity student and DU Golf player Eoin Sullivan's recent one-shot win at the Boyd Quaich Memorial golf tournament, one of the most prestigious events on the international student golf calendar, at St Andrews. Eoin Sullivan and Samuel Gammell were both representing DU Golf at this prestigious tournament with Samuel finished joint seventh.
On the way to his victory, Eoin carded rounds of 72, 66, 70 and 69 for a nine-under total. After his win, Eoin shared, “I'm absolutely delighted to get the win at such a historic place like St Andrews. I’ve been playing some great golf recently and just so happy that it has paid off this week. A great week for Trinity Golf!"
Trinity Rugby alumni Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy playing for the British and Irish Lions
Exciting news as DUFC alumni Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy are both set to start this Saturday in their debuts for the British and Irish Lions in their clash against Western Force in Perth, Australia. Kick-off is at 11am (Irish Time) with the game being broadcast live on Sky Sports Ireland.
Andy Farrell has selected Dan Sheehan as captain for the fixture in what will be the Lion’s first fixture in Australia. The Ireland and Leinster hooker will be one of five Leinster players to start alongside Joe McCarthy, Josh van Der Flier, James Lowe and Gary Ringrose.
Sheehan has taken the news which huge pride stating “It’s obviously a massive honour. That phone call back home was something special, and they’re gutted that they can’t be here.” He continued “I don’t have to make it difficult, I just need to be myself and do what I usually do and that’s why I’m here in the first place.” Having captained Ireland in the Six Nations clash against Wales earlier this year, Dan will look to bring his leadership experience to the highly anticipated fixture on Saturday 28 June.
Trinity Global Business graduate and former Trinity Sport scholar Joe McCarthy, will look to carry momentum gained from Leinster’s United Rugby Championship title win to his Lions’ debut this Saturday. McCarthy and Sheehan, alongside two former DUFC alumni Ryan Baird and Thomas Clarkson, were part of Leinster’s dominant victory over South African side Bulls in Croke Park two weeks ago in what was Leinster’s first piece of silverware since 2021.
After Saturday’s game, McCarthy, Sheehan and their Lions teammates will complete eight more fixtures across Australia including three test matches against the Wallabies which will take place in Brisbane on 19 July, Melbourne on 26 July, and Sydney on 2 August.
Trinity alumni Dylan Connolly took on some of the world’s biggest teams in the FIFA Club World Cup
Trinity and Dublin University Association Football Club (DUAFC) alumni and former Trinity Sport Scholar Dylan Connolly is the only Irish footballer taking on some of the biggest teams at the FIFA Club World Cup. Dylan works as a physio and is an amateur player for New Zealand’s most successful club, Auckland City, who have been drawn in the same group as Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Benfica in the expanded 32-team competition which takes place in June and July 2025. Auckland City's first-stage matches have not got off to a great start with a 10-0 loss against Bayern Munich in Cincinnati on 15 June followed by a 6-0 loss against SL Benfica in Orlando a few days later on 20 June. Dylan remained on the subs' bench for both matches but soon he and his teams fortunes would change.
On 24 June, Auckland City were up against the world-famous Boca Juniors in Nashville with the team of part-times coming away with an "astonishing" 1-1 draw in "one the most remarkable results ... at this Club World Cup." The Auckland City goal was scored by a superb header from schoolteacher Christian Gray at 52 minutes. Dylan came off the subs' bench at 54 minutes and played for the remainder of the second half. Auckland City and Dylan's Club World Cup campaign has come to an end, but they will return home with their heads held high.
Dylan Connolly playing for DUAFC. Credit: Alex Connolly, The University Times.