The History of Hurling at UCD

The History of Hurling at UCD

University College Dublin has a long and illustrious history in the game of hurling. The UCD Hurling Club was originally founded in 1900 with the motto ‘Comthrom Feinne’ and ‘Ad Astra’, Latin for ‘To the stars’. 
The club consisted mainly of students of University College in the Terrace and Cecilia St. Early in 1912 Professor Edwin Fitzgibbon, Professor of Philosophy at University College Cork, presented the Fitzgibbon cup for Third Level Intervarsity competition.

This cup is still played for with no less than 19 teams competing for the prestigious prize, the blue ribband of third level hurling.
The first competition was held at Jones’ Road (now Croke Park) in April of 1912. UCD defeated University College Galway in the first match and went on 
beat UCC by the narrow margin of 1-0 to 0-2.

Proud beginnings

The year 1917 was the Annus Mirabilis when Collegians representing Dublin, won the Leinster and All-Ireland Championships. The scoreline being Dublin (Collegians) 5-4 Tipperary (Boherlahan) 4-2.
A quote from a booklet describing some classic All-Ireland finals says: ‘1917-Phoenix like from the ashes of the heroes of 1916 arose a new national spirit which was to bring such rapid changes in another decade. University College Dublin took the national pastime to its bosom and in 1917 Dublin marked a new phase in Hurling history.’
Over 12,000 spectators saw a magnificent struggle at Croke Park on a bright Sunday in October 1917. Collegians had to beat Kilkenny in the Leinster Final on a scoreline of 5-1 to 4-0. Goalkeeper for the All-Ireland was none other than Tommy Daly (later Dr. Daly of Clare and Ireland teams). 

In the following year’s national issues were to the fore, however the Fitzgibbon Cup was won again in 1923, ‘24, ‘27, ‘32, and ‘33 but according to Paddy Purcell in the National Student “possibly the best set of hurlers in the country were unable to win the Dublin Championship.” This goal was finally achieved in 1934 with the college claiming the championship and league double.
During 1936, the great Tommy Daly died and in an obituary in the National Student Paddy Purcell wrote: “A light is extinguished from the lamps of Gaeldom; 
something is gone that can never be replaced, for Tommy Daly, from Tulla, is with them that rest and Ireland is the poorer for his passing. The GAA and his native Clare mourn one who was once to them a hero and a pillar of strength. We of UCD are deprived of one who was, to us, a landmark, a tradition, an inspiration.......With John Ryan and Con Stuart and Frank Burke he built up the Collegians, that wonder team that initiated a new era in hurling, and wrote a new name on the roll of All-Ireland champions.”

Winning ways

In the 1947 Fitzgibbon competition UCD was beaten in the first round by UCC, the ultimate winners, but in the Dublin championship they produced “one of the best hurling finals for years which saw a surprise defeat for many times champions Faughs” as the students won 6-12 to 4-9.
This was the highlight of this period coupled with Fitzgibbon victories in ‘37, ‘41, ‘44, ‘50, ‘51 and ‘52. UCD also competed in Shinty Internationals against Scottish opponents in the 1950 and ‘60s. 
The Dublin championship was won again in 1960 & ‘68 and the Fitzgibbon in ‘57, ‘59, ‘64 and ‘68.

The Hurling club continued to compete at intervarsity level and allowing for the growth in the number of higher level Institutions and the spread of resources from the traditional colleges.
The Fitzgibbon was won again in ‘75, ’78 and ‘79 as well as the Higher Education Leagues in Division 1 and 2, in 1979.

Epic 1993 final

The 80s was a quiet decade for the college with UCC dominating proceedings in the intervarsity competitions. In 1993 however this was all to change when UCD booked their place in the Fitzgibbon final against UCC, after defeating UL in a very lack lustre semi-final in Waterford.
On the Sunday morning of the 1993 final an extract from a piece by Kevin Cashman said that “UCD were a team stuck in third gear and were lambs to the slaughter against a very fancied UCC side bidding to regain their Fitzgibbon grasp.”

UCD however had different ideas with the team being captained by Jim Byrne of Wexford and included players of the calibre of Johnny Pilkington (Offaly), Brendan
Carroll (Tipperary), Andy Dunne (Laois), Eamonn Scanlon, Seamus Hughes (Wexford) and Dan O Neill (Kilkenny).
UCD pushed the match to extra time with a last ten minute brace of points. They emerged in extra time with Jim Byrne playing a captain’s role and leading by example scoring a marvelous 2-10 of UCD's tally for the day. The final score in a remarkable final was UCD 2-21 UCC 4-14. 
UCD had bridged a 14 year gap and hope was revitalised of new things to come as most of the team were around for the following year, however they failed to UL in waterlogged conditions in Galway.

The following year saw the Freshers’ team beat a fancied Waterford IT team in the All-Ireland Final. The team was captained by Brendan Bolger of Kilkenny.
This win was some consolation for UCD who had been defeated by Waterford in the Fitzgibbon final a few days before hand.

First hurling scholarships

The 1997/98 season saw a historic event for the UCD Hurling club with the awarding of the first ever Hurling Scholarships at UCD, kindly sponsored by Guinness.
These scholarships were awarded to:
•    Pat Fitzgerald (Waterford)
•    Hugh Flannery (Tipperary) 
•    Aodan de Paor (Dublin)

It was hoped that this would be the start of the revival of the Hurling Club in UCD.
It was intended to expand this program in the coming years and hopefully help return UCD to it’s rightful place in the Fitzgibbon Cup and Dublin Championship. 
In 1998 UCD recaptured the Dublin Under 21 Championship after a gap of 22 years defeating Ballyboden in a replay. The team captain was Kevin O' Donovan of Cork and Dave Hegarty of Clare was vice captain.
UCC defeated UCD in the 1999 Fitzgibbon Cup semi final.

The UCD Freshers, coached by the great Gary Mernagh of Thurles, were defeated in the All-Ireland final by GMIT after a wonderful campaign.
This team featured players who were to become iconic figures in UCD sports history:  Stephen Lucey of Limerick, Brendan Murphy of Offaly and Paddy O’Brien of Tipperary.

Making modern history

Modern history was made on Sunday October 7, 2000, when UCD won the Dublin Senior Hurling championship for the first time since 1968, defeating St. Vincent’s on a scoreline of 3-15 to 1-9. Kilmacud, O'Tooles, DIT and Crumlin were accounted for along the way. 

UCD went on to reach the Leinster Club final with victories over St. Mullins of Carlow and St. Annes of Wexford before falling to Graigue Ballycallan in the final.
We regained the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2001 with victories over UCG after extra time and a drawn game after extra time with old foes UCC. We defeated UCC in Nenagh on a scoreline of 2.10 TO 1-9.

Glory--glory--glory

UCD won the Dublin U21 championship of 2001 defeating DIT in the final following great victories over Finbarrs, Ballyboden and St. Vincent’s.
The team was captained by Brendan Murphy and Stephen Lucey. Richard Sweetnam was club chairman while Don Howlin and Colm Everard of Tipperary acted as selectors.

Annus Mirabilis

The year 1917 was the Annus Mirabilis when Collegians, representing Dublin, won the Leinster and All-Ireland Championships. The scoreline being Dublin (Collegians) 5-4 Tipperary (Boherlahan) 4-2.
A quote from a booklet describing some classic All-Ireland finals says: ‘1917-Phoenix like from the ashes of the heroes of 1916 arose a new national spirit which was to bring such rapid changes in another decade. University College Dublin took the national pastime to its bosom and in 1917 Dublin marked a new phase in Hurling history.’
Over 12,000 spectators saw a magnificent struggle at Croke Park on a bright Sunday in October 1917. Collegians had to beat Kilkenny in the Leinster Final on a scoreline of 5-1 to 4-0. Goalkeeper for the All-Ireland was none other than Tommy Daly (later Dr. Daly of Clare and Ireland teams). 

In the following year’s national issues were to the fore, however the Fitzgibbon Cup was won again in 1923, ‘24, ‘27, ‘32, and ‘33 but according to Paddy Purcell in the National Student “possibly the best set of hurlers in the country were unable to win the Dublin Championship.” This goal was finally achieved in 1934 with the college claiming the championship and league double.

Tommy Daly, RIP

During 1936, the great Tommy Daly died and in an obituary in the National Student Paddy Purcell wrote: “A light is extinguished from the lamps of Gaeldom; 
something is gone that can never be replaced, for Tommy Daly, from Tulla, is with them that rest and Ireland is the poorer for his passing. The GAA and his native Clare mourn one who was once to them a hero and a pillar of strength. We of UCD are deprived of one who was, to us, a landmark, a tradition, an inspiration.......With John Ryan and Con Stuart and Frank Burke he built up the Collegians, that wonder team that initiated a new era in hurling, and wrote a new name on the roll of All-Ireland champions.”

UCD 1958 Fitzgibbon Cup Winning Team

Winning Ways

In the 1947 Fitzgibbon competition UCD was beaten in the first round by UCC, the ultimate winners, but in the Dublin championship they produced “one of the best hurling finals for years which saw a surprise defeat for many times champions Faughs” as the students won 6-12 to 4-9.

This was the highlight of this period coupled with Fitzgibbon victories in ‘37, ‘41, ‘44, ‘50, ‘51 and ‘52. UCD also competed in Shinty Internationals against Scottish opponents in the 1950 and ‘60s. 
The Dublin championship was won again in 1960 & ‘68 and the Fitzgibbon in ‘57, ‘59, ‘64 and ‘68. The Hurling club continued to compete at intervarsity level and allowing for the growth in the number of higher level Institutions and the spread of resources from the traditional colleges. The Fitzgibbon was won again in ‘75, ’78 and ‘79 as well as the Higher Education Leagues in Division 1 and 2, in 1979.

1963 Fitzgibbon Cup Winners with Mick Darcy, Club President (pictured on far right).

Epic 1993 final

The 80s was a quiet decade for the college with UCC dominating proceedings in the intervarsity competitions. In 1993 however this was all to change when UCD booked their place in the Fitzgibbon final against UCC, after defeating UL in a very lack lustre semi-final in Waterford.
On the Sunday morning of the 1993 final an extract from a piece by Kevin Cashman said that “UCD were a team stuck in third gear and were lambs to the slaughter against a very fancied UCC side bidding to regain their Fitzgibbon grasp.”

UCD however had different ideas with the team being captained by Jim Byrne of Wexford and included players of the calibre of Johnny Pilkington (Offaly), Brendan
Carroll (Tipperary), Andy Dunne (Laois), Eamonn Scanlon, Seamus Hughes (Wexford) and Dan O Neill (Kilkenny).
UCD pushed the match to extra time with a last ten minute brace of points. They emerged in extra time with Jim Byrne playing a captain’s role and leading by example scoring a marvelous 2-10 of UCD's tally for the day. The final score in a remarkable final was UCD 2-21 UCC 4-14. UCD had bridged a 14 year gap and hope was revitalised of new things to come as most of the team were around for the following year, however they failed to UL in waterlogged conditions in Galway.

UCD's victorious 1993 Fitzgibbon Cup Team

The following year saw the Freshers’ team beat a fancied Waterford IT team in the All-Ireland Final. The team was captained by Brendan Bolger of Kilkenny.
This win was some consolation for UCD who had been defeated by Waterford in the Fitzgibbon final a few days before hand.

First hurling scholarships

The 1997/98 season saw a historic event for the UCD Hurling club with the awarding of the first ever Hurling Scholarships at UCD, kindly sponsored by Guinness.
These scholarships were awarded to:
•    Pat Fitzgerald (Waterford)
•    Hugh Flannery (Tipperary) 
•    Aodan de Paor (Dublin)

It was hoped that this would be the start of the revival of the Hurling Club in UCD.
It was intended to expand this program in the coming years and hopefully help return UCD to it’s rightful place in the Fitzgibbon Cup and Dublin Championship. 
In 1998 UCD recaptured the Dublin Under 21 Championship after a gap of 22 years defeating Ballyboden in a replay. The team captain was Kevin O' Donovan of Cork and Dave Hegarty of Clare was vice captain.
UCC defeated UCD in the 1999 Fitzgibbon Cup semi final. The UCD Freshers, coached by the great Gary Mernagh of Thurles, were defeated in the All-Ireland final by GMIT after a wonderful campaign. This team featured players who were to become iconic figures in UCD sports history:  Stephen Lucey of Limerick, Brendan Murphy of Offaly and Paddy O’Brien of Tipperary.

UCD teams and panels down through the years:

Dublin Championship winning panel 1961 Team: O'Hurley, J. Kinsella, T. Melody, L. Foyle, J. O'Keeffe, E. Carroll, B. McDonnell, N. Gallagher, S. Quinlivan, P Henchy,  M Carroll, D Nealon, P. Nealon, O. O'Neill, R Dowling. Subs: M. Duggan, N Hanrahan, S Williams, M. Kavanagh, M. Cody.
Ironically, this team also beat St. Vincents in the Final.

1968 Team: 1. Eamon O' Kennedy. 2. Willie Smith. 3. Jim Furlong (capt). 4. Matt Ryan. 5. Donal Kavanagh. 6. Pat Drennan. 7. Colm Muldoon. 8. Phil Dillon. 9. Willie Cronin. 10. Pat Kavanagh. 11. Gerry Quinlan. 12. Frank Smith. 13. Jack Ryan. 14. Tony Loughrane. 15. Pat O'Connor.
Note: Jimmy Rabbit played at left half back in the drawn final against Kilmacud Crokes.

2000 Dublin Championship Panel: Michael Lyons (Offaly), Brian Walton (Tipp) capt, Enda Fitzgerald (Tipp), Cathal Murphy (Offaly), Hugh Flannery (Tipp), Dave Hegarty (Clare), Colm Everard (Tipp), Rory Moore (Kilkenny), Dave O’Gorman (Waterford), Pat Fitzgerald (do), Jim Byrne (Wexford), Brendan Murphy (Offaly), Mick Gordon (Killkenny), Noel Murphy (Offaly), Paddy O’Brien (Tipp).
Subs for final: Mick Hogan (Kildare), John Berkery (Wicklow), Joe Kelleher (Limerick), StephenLucey (Limerick), Robbie Kirwan (Wexford), Paul Delaney (Kilkenny), Sean O’Neill (Limerick), Pat O’Meara (Tipp), Hugh Gannon (Kilkenny), John Rouse (Offaly), Tony Woodcock (Kilkenny), Aidan Mackey (Kilkenny), Enda Grimes (Offaly), Paul Ormond (Tipp), Conor O’Donovan (Galway), Gary Mernagh (Tipp), Joe Wynne (Offaly).

UCD 2001 Fitzgibbon Cup Squad: Matty White (Wex), Brian Walton (Tipp), Dave O’Connor (Wex), Robbie H. Kirwan (Wex), Hugh Flannery (Tipp), Dave Hegarty, Clare, (captain), Colm Everhard (Tipp), Steven Lucey (Limr), Gary Mernagh (Thurles), Pat Fitzgerald (Waterfors), Sean Og O’Neill (Lim), Redmond Barry (Wex), John Culkin (Galway), Alan Cork Barry (Kilk), Brendan ‘Scurry’ Murphy (Offaly). Subs: Paul Doheny (Kil), Tim Murphy (Kilk), Paddy O’Brien. 
Panel: Enda Fitzgerald (Tipp), Mick Bergin (Kilk), Aidan Power (Dub), John Berkery (Wicklow), Pat Julian (Tipp), James Burke (Meath), Brian Hogan (Kilk), Diarmuid Lyng (Wex), Ross O’Donovan (Limk), Tomas Lennon (Roscommon), Ruairi Quigley (Wex), Dave O Gorman (Water), Joey (Smut) Wynne, Hugh Gannon (Kilk).
Chairman: Richie Sweetman (Cork), Selectors: Jim Ryan, Sean Collum, Jim Langton. PRO: Don Howlin; Transport Manager: John Flood. GAA Officer: D. Billings.

2004 Panel: Matty White (Wex), David Prendergast (Kilkenny) Mick Fitzgerald (Captain, Cork), David O Connor (Wex), Colm Everard, Eamon Ryan, Diarnmuid Fitzgerald (All Tipp), Bryan Barry (Kil), Dr. Stephen Lucey (Limerick), Pa Morrissey (Bansha, Tipp), Tim Murphy (Kil), Red Barry (Wex), Andrew Smith (Gal), Brendan Murphy (Offaly), Brian Phelan (Kil).
Playing Subs: Alan Barry (Kil), Tommy Fitzgerald (Tipp), Paul Doheny (Kil). 
Rest of panel: Darragh Walton (Tippkenny), Brian Campion (Laois), David Carter (Kil), Eddie Campion (Kil), Colm Ryan (Tipp), Eamon Walsh (Waterford), Diarmuid Corcoran (Tipp), Eamon O Gorman (Kil), Enda Grimes (Offaly), Richie Sweetman, (Cork), David McGrath, (Tipp), Conor McNamara (Clare), Padraig Lyng (Kil), Sean Cummins (Kil), Joe O Connor (Wex), Bryan Buckley (Offaly), John O’Conn (Wex), Pat McIntyre (Offaly), Rob Kirwan (Wex), Brian Hogan (Kil), Niall Daly.
Management: Babs Keating, Tony Woodcock, John Murray and Dave Billings . 

2005 championship winning panel: Brian Campion, Dara Walton, Mick Fitzgerald, Eddie Campion, Bryan Buckley, Brian Hogan, Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Bryan Barry, John O Connor, Pa Morrissey, Stephen Lucey, Bryan Phelan, John Mc Carthy, Brendan Murphy, Tommy Fitzgerald, Matty White, Ronan Dowling, Pat Mcintyre, Adrian Fleming, Alan Barry, Eamon O Gorman, Colm Everard, Padraig Lyng, Sean Cummins, Redmond Barry, Richie Leahy, Rob Kirwan, Michael Doherty, Eamon Ryan, David Prendergast, Andrew Smith, Peter Kelly, Alan Tiernan, Brian Leen, Shane Kinsella, Donal Corkerty, Colm O Mealloid, Diarmuid Corcoran, Trevor Ryan.
Management; Babs Keating, Tony Woodcock, Dave Fogarty, Dave Billings.

Dublin Under 21 Championship 2001 winning panel: Matt White, Paraic Curtis, John Culkin, Hugh Gannon, Niall O Riordan, Ned Ryan, Colum Ryan, Dave O Gorman, Francis O Brien, Tony Woodcock, Alan Barry, Brendan Murphy, Aidan Mackey, Paul Doheny, David Carter. 
Panel: Ruairi Quigley, Mark Bourke, Enda Grimes, Conor O Shea, Joey Wynne, Steve Lucey. 
Players on panel: Enda Moran, Tim Murphy, R. Kirwan, R. Barry, R. Costello, K O Riordan, P. Morrissey, D. Hennessy, D. Ryan, P O Neill, J.P. Campion, A. Clogher, T. Lennon, P O Connor, S. Mc Donnell, G.Nolan, D.Lyng.

 

All Ireland Inter Champions 2002: Richie Sweetman, Conor O Shea, Hugh Gannon, Donnacha Ryan, Enda Grimes, Ross O Donovan (C), Pat Morrissey, Francis O Broin, Michael Sinnot, Tomas Lennon, Dotsy O Gorman, Shane Mc Carthy, Aidan Mackey, Dermot Lynge, Ruairi Quigley, David Carter, Michael Ryan (Cashel), Eoghan O Dwyer, Rob Kirwan, Peter O Neill, Colm Everard, Aidan Hall, Fintan Treacy, Alan Cunniffe.

Freshers All-Ireland panel 2002 with management team of Hugh Gannon, Fintan Treacy and Anthony Woodcock.
Team captain Brian Barry. Panel: Niall Kenny, Eamon Campion, Pat Mc Intyre, Joey Mernagh, Eddie Rockett, Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Philly Brennan, Brian Barry, Adrian Fleming, Steve Hiney, Daniel Kearney, Dara Walton, Padraig Lyng, Stephen Fee, Andrew Smith, Seamus Brennan, Barry Hogan, Colm O Giollagan, Peadar Gilmartin, Luke Treacy, Peadar Roche, Aidan Clery, Eoghan O Neill, Bren Barry, David Kennedy and Ross Sommers.

Rory Moore, one of the UCD greats of any era.

Paddy O Brien, UCD and Tipp, Dublin championship 2000, All Ireland 2001, Fitzgibbon 2001.