UCD claimed the HE GAA Freshers 1 Football League final in style on Wednesday evening when they overcame UL by just the slimmest of margins in Billings Park, UCD.
In a thrilling sixty minutes of football that featured no fewer than thirty-three scores, it was the Dublin side who survived comeback after comeback to claim a 2-14 to 1-16 eventually.
While heading in at the break momentum looked to be swinging towards UL, UCD came racing back out of the traps in the second half, with Niall Hurley's total tally of eight points going a long way in seeing UCD head down the final ten-minute stretch with a three-point lead.
Despite their best efforts, last-ditch points from Senan Guilfoyle and Darragh O'Keefe proved just barely insufficient to force extra-time in Belfield.
27 November 2024; UCD captain David O'Rourke lifts the cup after victory in the HE GAA Freshers Football League Division 1 final match between UCD and UL at Billings Park in UCD, Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
UCD star compares himself to Brian Fenton after Freshers win
While it was UCD's talisman Niall Hurley who came away as the game's top-scorer, the man of the match award went to midfielder James McCormack for his 'Brian Fenton' like performance in the game.
The Templogue Synge Street man may have only scored a single goal, but his piercing runs through the middle of the park proved paramount to UCD's attacking ability.
Having been told that he was being compared to Brian Fenton, a buoyant McCormack wasn't short of any confidence, joking that both Fenton and outgoing Dublin great James McCarthy retired because he was coming through.
(Brian Fenton) and James McCarthy retired when they heard I was coming through. I can do the work of both of them hopefully anyway.
I just saw an opening (on goal) and I went for it, passed to Max but I wouldn't be much of a goal scorer so I was kind of hoping he wouldn't pass it back, but the keeper was off the line so I just thought I'd slap it in..and it went in so I was happy enough like.
I kept the celebrations tame because there was still fifty or sixty minutes left.
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Both the commentary team on hand and UCD Captain David O'Rouke also remarked on McCormack's likeness to Brian Fenton, with the latter remarking that 'He's the next Brian Fenton'.
Ultimately, McCormack's early goal would prove to be the defining factor in UCD's win, whether we'll see McCormack delivering defining moments in sky blue is yet to be seen - but one thing is certain, James McCormack is one to watch for the future.
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