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UCC win the Dudley Cup at the Mardyke
UCC Rugby 29-28 Queens
It was a day never to be forgot by those who were at the Mardyke on Saturday. 120 folks attended the pre-match lunch that honoured the Munster Junior Cup wining team of 1975, the Munster Minor B League winning Bulldogs of 1985, the Jerry Walsh family led by Lea Walsh and family and the new sponsorship of the Moss Keane Scholarship.
In pre-match speeches the Ulster President complained about missing four players playing with Ulster but nothing was said about the 11 Ulster Academy players who started for Queens on the day. It certainly looked like an ominous task for UCC. Charlie was more positive in his speech.
And then it was rugby time. No more talk. UCC started strong and led by 14-7 at half-time through tries by Sam O'Sullivan and Daniel Squires. Dead-eye Daniel converted both scores. Two more second-half tries by Michael Cogan and Stephen O'Shaughnessy plus a conversion and penalty by Daniel Squires gave UCC a 29-21 lead with 12 minutes to play. Although Queens did score a seven-pointer with five minutes left on the clock there was no repeat of the type of comeback that Trinity performed in January at College Park. Smart play by UCC and ferocious tackling kept Queens in the right end of the field until the ref finally blew time.
And then the celebrations started. This writer is unwavering that it was a lifetime memory for everyone that was there. A gap of 24 years since UCC last won the Dudley Cup was closed. The cup is back in the "Real Capital City" again.
John Fitzgerald UCC Rugby PRO