Roche seals the deal for DCU

O'Byrne Cup Final - DCU 1-15 Louth 0-17:THE STUDENTS of DCU produced a late gallop to dethrone holders Louth at St Brigid's Park, Dowdallshill.

Four unanswered points in the final eight minutes from Wexford’s Shane Roche sealed victory for Niall Moyna’s side which should serve as a confidence-booster ahead of their Sigerson Cup semi-final against NUI Maynooth on Friday.

The winning score came deep into added-time when the corner forward tapped over a close-range free following a foul on himself.

There was controversy at the finish after referee Joe Curley blew the final whistle with the ball still in play. Under the new experimental rules the ball must be out of play before the game ends.

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 ONeill, 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).

Referee:Joe Curley (Meath).