There were emotional scenes at full time of the Sigerson Cup final on Wednesday night, as Ulster University won their first final in 16 years in Tralee.
UCD were the opponents - no easy task, with the Dublin college holding the record for the most titles in Sigerson Cup history, but a fast start set Ulster Uni on their way to victory.
Boasting both of Tyrone's dynamic Canavan brothers on their squad, Ulster University's two goals in quick succession little over ten minutes into the game set the tone for the evening. First Derry forward Niall Loughlin netted, before Tyrone man Oisin McCann scored from the resulting kick-out to change the complexion of the task ahead for UCD.
At one stage early in the second half, Ulster Uni went as far as 11 points ahead and, though UCD mounted an impressive fightback, they would ultimately win out by six points for their first Sigerson Cup title since 2008.
It was an emotional evening not only for the players on the pitch but also for the backroom staff who have toiled away over those 16 years to make this dream a reality.
'Mr Ulster University GAA' John 'Tommy Joe' Farrell was one such man and his tearful post-match interview best summed up the weight of the team's achievement.
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Tears flow as Ulster University claim famous Sigerson Cup triumph
President of GAA in Ulster University, 'Tommy Joe' was the star of the show in the aftermath of the college's Sigerson Cup triumph in Tralee on Wednesday evening.
Tears of joy for Tommy Joe!
See 'Mr Ulster University GAA' celebrate at the final whistle of tonight's @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup Final in Tralee.
Emotions ran high after @UlsterUniGAA won the Cup for the first time in 17 years after beating UCD. pic.twitter.com/APhQ411vJw— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) February 14, 2024
An immensely popular man at the university, John Farrell's work behind the scenes laid the groundwork for Ulster's success this week, and he said in a beautiful post-match interview that he could now "die a happy man":
If I die tonight, I'll die a happy man, I assure you of that! It's a good thing I took the blood pressure tablets this morning, I'll tell you.
There have been a lot of hard days, a lot of sad days, but I knew it would come. These are a good bunch of lads who want to be there. You could see it in the way they fought there, it was unbelievable.
This is our 50th anniversary, you dream of things like this. I said, 'boys, I'm dreaming.'
To win a Sigerson Cup in our 50th anniversary. We've done it - I asked them to do it I said, 'come back to our hotel tonight as Sigerson champions,' and they've done it.
All the doubters of us out there, and everybody talking about players that weren't here...those players, they're here, they won it.
It's a dream, that's all it is. It's something you dream of, you work hard, you've a great group of lads, you try to do your best for them, you give them everything they want. By that I mean we have good facilities, good management.
At the end of the day, the players and management, they lead it. It's great for me, but I wanted it for the university and for those lads there.
A poignant interview that sums up just how much the Sigerson Cup means to those not only on the field of play but those who work behind the scenes to make college GAA possible.
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