Trench Cup

Trench Cup
Current season or competition: 2017 Trench Cup
Irish	Corn Uí Thrinsigh
Code	Gaelic Football, second tier
Founded	1976
Region	Third-Level Institutions (GAA)
Title holders	Dundalk Institute of Technology (2nd title)
First winner	National College of Physical Education, Limerick (now University of Limerick)
Most titles	Institute of Technology, Sligo, Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach (5 titles)
Sponsors	Independent.ie
Official website	Official Website

The Trench Cup is the second tier gaelic football championship trophy for Third Level Education Colleges, Institutes of Technology and Universities in Ireland and England (first tier is the Sigerson Cup and third tier is Corn na Mac Léinn). The Trench Cup Championship is administered by Comhairle Ard Oideachais, the Gaelic Athletic Association's Higher Education Council.

History

In 1975 moves were made by non-university colleges to set-up their own knock-out Gaelic Football Championship tournament as a consequence of being shut out of the Sigerson Cup Championship. The initiative came from St. Joseph's Training College, Belfast. The concept of the Trench Cup was proposed by Pat Blake, Comhairle Ard Oideachais Chairman (1978–1983), and Peter McGinnity (later a Fermanagh All-Star) as a knock-out competition for all higher education colleges not in the Sigerson Cup tournament. Pat Blake purchased a trophy costing £80 sterling at Tommy Lennon's Jewellers, Smithfield Market, Belfast.^[1] The trophy was named 'The Trench Cup' after Trench House, St Joseph's Training College, Belfast.^[2]

The competition first came into existence in the 1975/76 season. The inaugural final was played between St Joseph's T.C., Belfast and the National College of Physical Education, Limerick at Croke Park. NCPE became the inaugural champions.^[1] In the 1980s the Sigerson championship was opened up to allow an increasing number of Universities, Regional Technical Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education to participate on the basis of their league success. Subsequently, the Trench Cup became the second tier competition for the third-level institutions which were not in the Sigerson championship.

Dundalk Institute of Technology are the current Trench Cup champions, after defeating Waterford IT on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-08 at University Ulster on 20 February 2016. This was the Colleges first win. Both Coláiste Phádraig and Sligo IT share the record number of Trench Cup wins, standing at five, while Garda College have 3 wins. The highest winning margin ever is that of Thomond College, Limerick over Sligo RTC of 16 points in 1977, while the largest margin in the 21st century is that of Trinity College Dublin over Hope University, Liverpool of 10 points in 2012.

The joint highest individual points scorers in any Trench Cup final are D. Duggan of Garda College in 1993 [1-07, 10 points] and Seán O'Sullivan of Limerick IT in 1999 [2-06, 10 points]. The championship is currently sponsored by the independent.ie. The Trench Cup was previously sponsored by Irish Daily Mail [2012-2013], Ulster Bank [2007-2011], Datapac [2003-2006] and Bus Éireann [1998-2002].

Roll of Honour

2016-17 Finals Tournament^[3]

* British University Gaelic Football Division 1 Final

Colleges by Wins^[1]

Finalists who have not won the Trench Cup:

• Liverpool Hope University
• Liverpool John Moore's University
• Magee College, Derry (now UU Magee)

Trench Cup Champion Colleges

Captains of Winning Teams

Man of The Match Awardees

The accolade of Man of the Match or Tournament is a recent innovation (1998). In the case of the early years of the Trench Cup, the highest scoring member of the team is designated.

Finals Listed By Year^[68]

Other Higher Education GAA Competitions

• Ashbourne Cup
• Combined Universities GAA
• British University Gaelic Football Championship
• British University Hurling Championship
• Fitzgibbon Cup
• Hodges Figgis Trophy
• Sigerson Cup

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 The Cups That Cheered: A History of the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Gaelic Games, Dónal McAnallen, 2012, The Collins Press, Cork, p. 345
2. ↑ http://www.stmarys-belfast.ac.uk/general/history/trenchhouse.asp (Retrieved 28 April 2013)
3. ↑ http://www.gaa.ie/highereducation/fixtures-and-results/trench-cup/
4. 1 2 3 http://www.ucc.ie/students/socs/gfc/sigersonfacts.html (list viewed 11 March 2013)
5. ↑ Irish Times, 1 March 1976, p. 3
6. ↑ Irish Independent, 29 March 1977, p. 10; Irish Independent, 26 April 1977, p. 18
7. ↑ http://gaa.mycit.ie/club-history (last viewed 11 March 2013)
8. 1 2 3 Irish Press 16 April 1981, p. 16
9. 1 2 John O'Callaghan (2013) Plassey's Gaels: A History of the GAA at NIHE, NCPE, Thomond College and the University of Limerick, 1972—2012, pp 75 and 78
10. ↑ Personal Communication, John "Tommy-Joe" Farrell, UU Jordanstown GAA Hon Secretary 1981, Chairman of CAO 1987-89
11. ↑ Irish Independent 8 May 1985, p. 11
12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Match scores and names kindly provided by Joseph Moran, former DIT GAA Manager, personal communication; The Sligo Champion, 12 June 1987, Sport, p. viii, Trench Cup: Unlucky RTC go down in extra time, Dublin Institute of Technology 2-11 Sligo Regional Technical College 2-9
13. 1 2 http://www.ditgaa.ie/alumni.html (last viewed 11 March 2013)
14. ↑ Connacht Sentinnel 7 March 1989, p.15
15. ↑ Leitrim Observer, 31 March 1990, p. 16, GAA Club News - Drumreilly
16. 1 2 3 The Sligo Champion, 29 March 1991, Sport, p. x, Trench Cup glory for R.T.C., Sligo RTC 2-11 Dublin Institute of Technology 1-10 (score 1-8 each at end of normal time);
17. ↑ Name kindly provided by Tony Dunne via Athlone AIT; Jack Cooney went on to captain Westmeath and became selector with Páidí Ó Sé when Westmeath won Leinster Championship in 2004
18. 1 2 Name kindly provided by Garda College
19. 1 2 Damien Diver was Captain of DIT, but missed final because of influenza; http://www.ditgaa.ie/alumni.html (last viewed 11 March 2013)
20. ↑ Connaught Telegraph 6 March 1996, p. 11 and p. 22; Tuam Herald, 9 March 1996, p. 17
21. 1 2 Personal Communication, David Flynn, Sports Union Development Assistant Coleraine/Magee
22. 1 2 Personal Communication, name kindly provided by Lt Tom Tooher, Cadet School, Military College, DFTC
23. 1 2 Captain's name kindly provided by Tim O'Connor, Sports & Recreation Officer, IT Tallaght
24. ↑ Captain's name kindly provided by Tomás Fitzpatrick, GAA Officer, Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra
25. ↑ Meath Chronicle 20 March 2004, p. 41
26. 1 2 3 4 Donegal News, 4 March 2005, Sports, p. 8, LYIT win first Trench Cup
27. 1 2 http://www.gaa.tcdlife.ie/?q=node/56-Shane Gilleran captained the side in the final
28. 1 2 Captain's name kindly provided by Tomás Fitzpatrick, GAA Officer, Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra; Brian Kavanagh captained the team in the final as the 2006-07 Coláiste Phádraig Captain was unavailable for the final after he sustained a severe injury when playing for Laois against Louth in the National Football League the previous weekend - Irish Independent 5 March 2007; http://www.sportsfile.com/id/RP0034712/
29. 1 2 3 http://www.mic.ul.ie/sports/Pages/MICSportsWebsiteSportsAwards.aspx; http://friends.mic.ie/?page=Trenchcup2008 (last viewed 22 April 2013)
30. ↑ Anglo-Celt 5 March 2009, p. 32
31. 1 2 Kerryman 3 March 2010, p. 104;http://www.sportsfile.com/id/405549/(last viewed 11 March 2013); Kevin Hartnett was IT Tralee GAA Captain in 2009-10 but had to miss the Trench Cup finals due to fulfilling academic requirements of his college course (information provided by David O'Dea, GAA Officer, IT Tralee)
32. ↑ http://www.sportsfile.com/id/495256/ (last viewed 11 March 2013)
33. 1 2 http://www.ducac.tcdlife.ie/assets/pdf/2011-12/GAA%20Football/Trench%20Cup%20win%20-%202012%20correct.pdf (last viewed 11 March 2013)
34. ↑ http://www.itb.ie/NewsEvents/newsdetail.asp?Item=1634 (last viewed 11 March 2013)
35. ↑ http://louthgaa.ie/dkit-trench-cup-champions-2017/
36. 1 2 3 Irish Press, 1 March 1976, p. 12; Irish Press, 1 March, p. 14; Irish Independent, 1 March 1976, p. 10; Irish Times, 1 March 1976, p. 3
37. 1 2 Irish Times 2 April 1977, p. 3; Irish Independent, 2 April 1977, p. 16
38. 1 2 Irish Times 24 April 1978, p.3; Sunday Independent 23 April 1978, p. 28; Irish Independent, 26 April 1978, p. 10
39. 1 2 Irish Press 10 March 1980, p.13
40. 1 2 3 Irish Independent, 28 March 1983, p. 13, Trench Cup final, Polytechnic Belfast 1-6 Regional College, Cork 1-7
41. 1 2 3 4 Sunday Independent 6 May 1984, p. 28; Irish Independent 9 May 1984, p. 3; Irish Times 10 May 1984, p. 2
42. 1 2 Irish Press 09 May 1985, p. 18
43. 1 2 Sunday Independent 4 May 1986, p. 26; "The Sligo Champion, 9 May 1986, Sport, p. ix, RTC retain Trench Cup
44. 1 2 Irish Independent, 7 Mar 1988, p.14; Irish Press 7 Mar 1988, p. 15
45. 1 2 Connacht Sentinnel 7 March 1989, p. 15
46. 1 2 Irish Press 16 March 1992, p. 38
47. 1 2 Irish Press 22 March 1993, p. 68
48. 1 2 City Tribune, 8 March 1996, p. 24
49. 1 2 Irish Independent 10 March 1997, p. 28; Irish Times 10 March 1997, p. A2; Evening Herald, 19 March 1997, p 36, Late points see DIT clinch second Trench Cup in four years
50. ↑ Leitrim Observer, 12 March 1997, p. 17, GAA Club notes-St Michaels
51. 1 2 3 Kerryman 13 March 1998, p. 27; Irish Times 9 March 1998, p. A6
52. 1 2 Irish Independent 8 March 1999, p. 47; Irish Times 8 March 1999, p. A6; Limerick Leader 8 March 1999, p. 26; Kerryman 12 March 1999, p. 26 - this report recorded Seán O'Sullivan as "Man of the Tournament"; Irish Examiner, 8 March 1999, p. 25
53. 1 2 3 4 Irish Independent 28 February 2000, p. 30; Irish Independent 2 March 2000, p. 23
54. 1 2 Irish Independent 12 April 2001, p. 21; Irish Times, 12 April 2001, p. 25
55. 1 2 Sunday Independent 24 February 2002, p. 69 and p. 71
56. 1 2 Irish Independent 1 March 2004, p. 32
57. 1 2 Sunday Independent 26 February 2006, p. 55; The Sligo Champion, 1 March 2006, p. 11B, GAA newsround - Ballymote
58. 1 2 3 Sunday Independent 4 March 2007, p. 46
59. ↑ Name kindly provided by David O'Dea, GAA Officer, IT Tralee
60. 1 2 Irish Independent 1 March 2010, p. 53; http://www.ittralee.ie/en/InformationAbout/NewsandEvents/News/Archives/Archives2010/FullText,29988,en.html; http://www.ittraleegaa.com/newsitem12.html (last viewed 22 April 2013)
61. 1 2 3 Irish Independent 7 March 2011, p. 43
62. ↑ http://www.locallotto.ie/newsrec.asp?LL_ID=273&ID=10069; http://www.sportsmanager.ie/cake/gaa2/lucansarsfield/news/108699/ads.sportsmanager.ie/delivery/ck.php?n=af86e903&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE (last viewed 22 April 2013)
63. 1 2 http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=162879 (last viewed 11 March 2013); Irish Examiner 27 February 2012, by Cian O'Connell
64. 1 2 http://www.hoganstand.com/dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=186606; http://www.itb.ie/newsevents/newsdetail.asp?Item=1644 (last viewed 11 March 2013)
65. 1 2 Irish Examiner 25 February 2013, by Kevin Egan
66. 1 2 Sunday Independent 23 February 2014, Sport pg 15; Irish Independent 24 February 2014, Sport pg 34
67. 1 2 Irish Examiner, 20 February, 2017, McConville proud of players as Cup retained, Sports, page 11
68. ↑ Results from Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Press, Sunday Independent, Irish Examiner,Connacht Sentinel, Connacht Tribune, Connaught Telegraph, Donegal News, Kerryman, Limerick Leader, Munster Express, Nenagh Guardian, Southern Star, Ulster Herald
69. ↑ The Irish Times, 25 May 1979, p. 4; Irish Independent 23 May 1979, p. 17
70. ↑ Irish Independent, 30 May 1979; the Higher Education GAA Council decided that the Trench Cup final must be decided on or before the Sigerson weekend
71. ↑ Irish Times, 19 March 1982, p. 14; Irish Independent 24 March 1982, p. 14
72. ↑ Sunday Independent 13 May 1984, p. S26
73. ↑ The match had been due to be played on 25 April 1987 but was postponed at the request of the colleges due to holidays; Irish Press 24 April 1987, p. 22
74. ↑ NB: Irish Times, 7 Mar 1988, p.4 reported score as Thomond College 2-10 Athlone RTC 2-06
75. ↑ Sligo RTC were beaten by Galway RTC in a semi-final at Dundalk on 10 March 1990. However, following objections, a meeting of officers of the Higher Education GAA Board threw Galway RTC out of the competition on the grounds that two of their players were not properly registered and awarded the match to Sligo RTC to play in the final against Athlone IT, winners of the other semi-final over Carlow RTC. City Tribune, 6 March 1990, p. 20; Anglo-Celt, 22 March 1990, p.16, Athlone RTC described as being "narrowly beaten" by Sligo RTC in Trench Cup final
76. ↑ Irish Independent February, 1994, p. 28
77. ↑ Western People, 15 March 1995, p. 20
78. ↑ Irish Independent 4 March 1996, p. 26; Irish Times 4 March 1996, p. A4; Connaught Telegraph 6 March 1996, p. 11; Tuam Herald, 9 March 1996, p. 17
79. ↑ Connacht Tribune 14 March 2003, p. 6
80. ↑ Irish Times 10 March 2008, p. A11
81. ↑ Donegal News 2 March 2009, p. 29; Irish Independent 2 March 2009, p. Sport 14
82. ↑ Irish Independent 1 March 2010, p. 53
83. ↑ http://www.ittraleegaa.com/newsitem12.html (last viewed 13 March 2013)
84. ↑ Roscommon's Compton the scoring star as Garda College win Trench Cup against St Pat's,The 42", 22 February 2015, http://www.the42.ie/garda-college-trench-cup-1952144-Feb2015/
85. ↑ Garda College Football Team http://www.straphaelscu.ie/news/garda-college-football-team/
86. ↑ Trench Cup: Compton leads Garda College to Glory, Hoganstand.com, http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=232317
87. ↑ History for Dundalk IT as they win first ever Trench Cup, Talk of the Town, http://talkofthetown.ie/2016/02/20/history-for-dundalk-it-as-they-win-first-ever-trench-cup/
88. ↑ "Dundalk IT claim ‘massive’ first Trench success". Irish Examiner. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.