A historic achievement was matched by a performance for the ages as Trinity Men's Gaelic football first team triumphed in the Trench Cup Final played in challenging conditions on a terrifically lively afternoon at the DCU Sports Grounds on 11 February.
The second division of men’s collegiate Gaelic football in Ireland, the Trench throws stiff competition and a demanding schedule at its competitors. Led by team captain Luke Casserly, the squad had come into the final against Mary Immaculate on the back of an excellent win over SETU Carlow in the semi, replicating the path to the final in 2025. Such ended in heartbreak, with the men in red and black losing a tightly contested final to Dundalk IT despite a late surge, the memories of which surely fuelled the squad through another wintery campaign.
With support on the sideline including Provost Dr Linda Doyle, a cagey few opening minutes were soon shaken off with centre-forward and Trinity Sport Scholar Ryan O’Dwyer popping over a free from just outside the 45 to put two points on the board. After a blistering second quarter, the scoreline read 2-11 to 1-04 in favour of Trinity at half-time, with goals coming courtesy of Player of the Match Tom McCarroll, and Pádraig Boyle.
A brace of wides at the reopening of play may have unsettled the team, however, and Mary I began slowly but surely to eke out a comeback, outscoring Trinity by three points to one in the third quarter. With ten minutes left to play, Trinity were still an objectively comfortable six points up, but as the heavens opened Mary I were coming more and more into their own and a sense of inevitably-encroaching doom was hanging over the Trinity encampment. This was matched by Mary I’s on-pitch exhibition, as they looked far more comfortable in the closing minutes of normal time, scrapping out five unanswered points to cut the lead to one. This second half dominance by the Westerners was matched by the scoreline, as with the final play of normal time, sixty-three minutes and fifty seconds on the clock, Mary I slung over an astounding two-pointer from the sideline to level the game once more, 2-16 to 1-19, and force the match to extra time.
A vicious battle ensued through extra time as the rain lessened off. A microcosm of normal time, Trinity looked more comfortable through the first half, with some exceptionally visionary football leading to a well-worked goal from Casserly. At half-time, then, Trinity were four points up, but once again Mary I returned to the pitch like men possessed. Six minutes after play restarting, the game was once again level as the Limerick men took first a point, then the generally outstanding Trinity full-back line faltered under a difficult high ball and the fifth goal of the match dribbled past Seán Mullane of Trinity between the sticks, and the scoreline read 3-18 to 2-21.
Yet Trinity’s assurance under duress came true again, when it was needed most. In the dying minutes, Conor Leonard gained possession around midfield, and what followed was a remarkably mature passage of play. Trinity played keep football for over two minutes, working the ball consistently within the Mary I half, desperate for a way through. Ultimately, it was Darragh Dempsey who found a window of opportunity, and never looked in doubt as he scored the final point of the match, putting Trinity one up.
Ninety seconds later, euphoria broke out along the sidelines as the final, final whistle rang out, Trinity’s 36-man squad beside themselves as the Trench Cup was reclaimed for the first time since 2012. The team was joined in their celebrations by the Provost Dr Linda Doyle (shown right) who said, "Trinity Gaels kept us waiting until the very last minue for victory - a huge well done! It was a brilliant game, both teams fought hard. Commiserations to Mary Immaculate College." The win will see the Trinity Gaels compete in the Sigerson Cup in 2027.
With emotions running high, Player of the Match was firstly awarded to Tom McCarroll, a well-deserved awarding after an immense performance. Casserly’s speech during the trophy presentation included a nod to Neil O’Driscoll, GAA Development Officer at Trinity Sport, whose industrial amounts of work undertaken on a daily basis for the advancement of Gaelic games in the College “didn’t go unnoticed” by the team, and was instrumental in their success.
Also credited were manager Don Holmes and his panel of Shane Smith, Adam Bates, and Keith D’Arcy, as well as stalwart volunteer Liam Cribbin. The greatest thanks, of course, was due to the men lining out on the pitch, Casserly quipping that they “never make it easy” on themselves to get the job done.
It's been a successful season to date for Trinity GAA, with the Ladies’ Gaelic footballers first team winning the Division 5 League Final in December and the camogie team reaching the final of the Fr. Meaghair Trophy at the start of February. With high ambitions to see all four codes of Gaelic games competing in the top flights of inter-collegiate competition, the Club and their fortunes over the next few seasons are one to watch in Trinity.
Trinity College Dublin: Seán O’Mullane (Athgarvan, Kildare), Luke Casserly (St. Molaise Gaels, Sligo; scored 1-0), Tom Hughes (Glencar-Manorhamilton, Leitrim), Michael McGrath (St. Brigid’s, Dublin), Conal Cunningham (Templeogue Synge St., Dublin), Connor Leonard (Mullinalaghta, Longford), Padraig Boyle (Ballymore, Longford; scored 1-1), Ciaran Flanagan (Maynooth, Kildare; scored 0-1), Tom McCarroll (Carryduff, Down; scored 1-0), Rory McErlean, Ryan O’Dywer (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), Dublin; scored 0-6), Jack Burke (Na Fianna, Dublin; scored 0-1), Darragh Dempsey (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin; scored 0-4), Con Smith (Bective, Meath; scored 0-1), Ciaran Lennon (Clann na nGael, Roscommon; scored 0-5).
Further information
Irish Examiner: Late Dempsey point earns promotion for Trinity in dramatic Trench Cup final