The Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final certainly delivered on Wednesday night, as UCC and UL served up a nail-biter.
Live on TG4, the showdown needed extra-time to produce a winner.
But it was the Cork college that eventually won out, denying UL a first triumph in this competition.
Billy Morgan steers UCC to another Sigerson Cup title
At 78 years old, Lee-side legend Billy Morgan guided UCC to the title.
Remarkably, it is the fourth time he has managed the college to a win in this competition, having also won the crown twice as a player himself with the Cork outfit.
It is the latest addition to one of the great GAA CVs. Nemo Rangers man Morgan is the only person to have won All-Ireland titles with both club and county as a player and manager. Age is just a number.
"He's something else," man of the match Mark Cronin said of his manager to TG4 after the match. "You know when he goes into the room, there's an aura about him. Anything he says, fellas grip onto.
"You could see what it means to him tonight."
15 February 2023; Dylan Geaney of UCC celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup Final match between University of Limerick and University College Cork at WIT Sports Campus in Waterford. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The 'Skull and Crossbones' made a dream start to the game.
Cathail O'Mahony took a free off the ground. It didn't get the required elevation to sail over the bar, but his teammate Dylan Geaney rose high to get a fist on it and steer the ball into the top corner of the net.
We'll leave it up to you to decide whether O'Mahony spotted the goal-line wasn't sufficiently manned and intended his free to be a pass.
🏆 Sigerson Cup 🏆
4 nóiméad@ul_gaa 0-00@UCCSport 1-00
An chéad scór ná cúl ag Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh.
First score goes to UCC, dropped short and fisted in by Dylan Geaney.
BEO ar @TG4TV 📺@ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA#GAA #FirstClassRivals #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/YukNTES8pM— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 15, 2023
O'Mahony, Geaney and Mark Cronin all tagged on points to open a five-point advantage, but UL fought back with three in a row, and UCC's lead was cut to 1-5 to 0-6 at the half-way mark.
The Lee-siders kicked on after the restart, and looked in cruise control as they picked off a trio of points without reply to bring the gap back out to five.
But UL suddenly found their feet. In the difficult conditions, they used the wind to perfection to box UCC into their own half. It worked a treat, with the Castletroy college seizing control of the contest with seven scores without reply.
The Mardyke club eventually stopped the rot, with Dylan Geaney finding the much-needed score.
The sides were level entering injury-time, with Michael O'Gara nudging UCC ahead. But as UL desperately hunted a score, Cork man Darragh Cashman produced the goods to land a long-range point and force extra-time.
The monsoon-like conditions worsened upon the resumption of the game.
Has anyone ever played a Sigerson game in good conditions? ☔🌬️🥶
— Rory Grugan (@Grugs_91) February 15, 2023
Going the distance was familiar territory for UCC however, after they needed penalties to see off both Queens and St Mary's earlier in this year's campaign.
A shootout was not needed on this occasion, as UL could not find a late goal.
UCC prevailed 1-16 to 0-16 to claim their 24th title overall, as they remain second in the roll of honour behind UCD (34).
SEE ALSO: Two Sigerson-Winning Teammates, Two Cancer Survivors, One Love For GAA
