Garda College 41
Dublin City University 10

On Wednesday afternoon, last Garda College captured the Student Sport Ireland/IRFU Men’s Rugby Division 1 title after a dominant display against DCU in DCU Sport grounds.

Garda laid down the law within three minutes of the start with out half David Shannon crossing over for a try under the post which he converted also. A second try followed soon after as Jake Considine bull dozed his way past the DCU defence and when Shannon converted Garda held a commanding fourteen-point lead.

DCU began to express themselves and by moving the ball through the hands swiftly they drew penalties from Garda and Elliot Stone converted one of these to get the Dublin College off the mark.

With Garda College totally dominant in the scrum a push over onto DCU ball set up try number three with the touch down this time coming from Michael Holland as Garda moved 19-3 in front.

DCU were probing for a try of their own and when the kick off from the previous Garda score was clutched from the sky by Ian Molloy it set up a phase that would ultimately see Jack Willougby crossing the line for a home try that was converted by Elliot Stone. That score left Garda College in front 19-10 at the break.

Garda College seemed rattled by the late onslaught in the first half by DCU but the men in blue were totally dominant in the second half three tries, two conversions and a penalty in the second forty minutes to seal victory. Garda second half tries came from Rob O’Donovan, Denis Kelly and out half David Shannon.

Eoin Hogan (IRFU) and Ronan Keaskin (Student Sport Ireland) presented the cup after the game to the winners and Garda College will now be hotly fancied to follow up this success in the Brendan Johnston Cup after Christmas.