DCU became the first third level college to lift the O'Byrne Cup when they scored a controversial one-point victory over holders Louth at Dowdallshill yesterday.

DCU 1-15
Louth 0-17

While the students' victory was sweet revenge for last year's final loss to the same opposition, it was somewhat overshadowed by Meath referee Joe Curley's decision to blow for full-time while the ball was still in play. His Westmeath counterpart Sean Carroll made a similar mistake on Saturday which cost Longford victory over Limerick in the National League.

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick was among those who remonstrated with the referee afterwards and confirmed that he would be lodging an appeal.

DCU made 12 changes from the side that won their way through to the Sigerson Cup semi-final in midweek and they were slow to find their feet. But they eventually settled to their task and took the lead for the first time when Offaly's William Mulhall scored the only goal.

The sides were level at half-time before DCU went three points clear on the restart thanks mainly to the efforts of Michael Lyng and Donie Shine in attack. With Brian White in unerring form from placed balls, however, the Wee County appeared to have done enough when they outscored their opponents by 0-8 to 0-1 to lead by 0-17 to 1-11 entering the final quarter.

But four late frees from Wexford's Shane Roche saw the O'Byrne Cup come to the Glasnevin university for the first time.

DCU - M Boyle; S Shortall, P McMahon, N Collins; H Gill, B Cullen (0-1), P Howard; R Cullivan, C Rafferty; B Sheridan (0-1), M Lyng (0-1), P Byrne (0-1); S Roche (0-6, three frees), D Shine (0-4, two frees), W Mulhall (1-1). Subs: E Culligan for Shortall (27 mins), K Nolan for Howard (half-time), P Andrews for Mulhall (40); K Gavin for Byrne (53), C Dunleavy for Rafferty (67).

Louth - N Gallagher; P Rath, D Finnegan, R Greene; A Hoey, M Fanning (0-1), S Fitzpatrick (0-1); S O'Neill, B White (0-5, two 45s, two frees); A Reid, M Brennan (0-3), D Crilly; C Judge (0-2, frees), S Lennon (0-3), JP Rooney. Subs: D Byrne (0-1) for Hoey (23); D Clarke (0-1, free) for Reid (45); L Shevlin for Greene (60).

Ref: Joe Curley (Meath). Tweet

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