Eoghan Cormican saw Conor McGraynor score late on to take the Sigerson Cup for DCU.
DCU 1-14 UCC 2-10
DCU’s Conor McGraynor kicked the defining score in this mammoth Sigerson Cup final, Niall Moyna’s side edging out the home outfit after 80 minutes of entertaining fare.
Luke Connolly had an opportunity to level matters at the death, but his effort drifted wide of the post.
The contest appeared to be slipping from UCC in extra-time, DCU's greater strength-in-depth beginning to tell. Subs Mickey Quinn and Aaron McCoy exerted significant influence when introduced.
David Culhane revived the Cork University's effort with a superb goal in the second period. Donie Smith levelled, before McGraynor popped up with the winner.
DCU goalkeeper Tadhg Lowe forced extra-time with the last kick of the hour, converting a free on the 45-metre line.
Niall Moyna’s side had seen their scoreboard advantage wiped out when Alan O’Donovan, set-up by Luke Connolly, goaled on 58 minutes.
It moved UCC 1-8 to 1-7 ahead and the result should have been sown up when Cox was handed possession 30-metres out as the clock spilled into time added on. You’d have put your house on the corner-forward, but he dragged his effort wide of the mark.
DCU’s last-ditch raid ended in the free which Lowe coolly slotted.
Tied at six points apiece, the 2012 champions appeared to have made the decisive burst when Enda Smith goaled on 41 minutes.
They failed to push on and UCC clawed their way back into proceedings through Luke Connolly and Gary O’Sullivan.
Both sides were guilty of some deplorable kicking, DCU finishing normal time with 10 wides. UCC fared little better in this department – Geaney, Connolly and Kiely missing a raft of scoreable opportunities.
UCC started the brighter, but were frustrated by a succession of poor wides – Tomás Clancy and Brian Driscoll off target with their efforts, Shane Keane landing his kick into the arms of DCU ‘keeper Tadhg Lowe.
Conor Cox had Billy Morgan’s outfit off the mark after six minutes, Donal Wrynn and Conor McHugh (free) replying for the visitors.
Centre-forward Wrynn was desperately unlucky not to find the net, blasting his shot inches the wrong side of the crossbar.
With Brian O’Driscoll, Tomás Clancy and Padraig O’Connor working hard in defence, UCC slowly got to grips with a DCU forward unit determined to test their opponents under the high ball.
Clancy, Conor Cox and Shaun Keane returned UCC in front, David Culhane and Fergal McNamara delivering crunching tackles to break down successive DCU attacks.
A mistake by Conor Dorman allowed Enda Smith raise the white flag and the sides were level at the break 0-5 apiece), Louth’s Eoin O’Connor finishing a fine individual burst.
Scorers for UCC: A O’Donovan (1-1); C Cox (0-3, 0-1 free); D Culhane (1-0) T Clancy, C Dorman, G O’Sullivan, L Connolly (0-1 ’45), K Davis, S Keane (0-1 each).
Scorers for DCU: E Smith (1-2); C McHugh (0-2 frees), T Lowe (0-2 frees), C McGraynor, D Smith, E O’Connor (0-2 each); D Wrynn, E O’Connor, C Boyle, S O’Brien (0-1 each).
UCC: M Martin (Nemo Rangers); F McNamara (Austin Stacks), J McGuire (Listowel Emmets), P O’Connor (Legion); C Dorman (Bishopstown), D Culhane (Ballylongford), T Clancy (Fermoy); S Kiely (Ballincollig), G O’Sullivan (Listry); S Keane (Legion), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers), B O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCathraigh); D Harrington (Adrigole), P Geaney (Dingle), C Cox (Listowel (Emmets).
Subs: A O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers) for O’Driscoll (28 mins), E Ó Conchúir for (An Gaeltacht) for O’Sullivan (50), K Davis (O’Donovan Rossa) for Keane (54), S White (Clonakilty) for O’Donovan (bc 58), J Davis (Douglas) for McNamara (70), T Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds) for Connolly (78), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers) for Geaney (80).
DCU: T Lowe (Roscommon); C Begley (Laois), C Boyle (Monaghan), C Moynagh (Cavan); J Smith (Dublin), C Daly (Roscommon), S O’Brien (Tipperary); D Ward (Monaghan), C McGraynor (Wicklow), E O’Connor (Louth); D O’Connor (Mayo), C Meredith (Laois), E Smith (Roscommon).
Subs: D Smith (Roscommon) for McHugh (HT), M Quinn (Longford) for Ward (HT), S Carey (Monaghan) for Meredith (54 mins), B Donnelly (Louth) for Wrynn (54), S McCoy (Armagh) for E Smith (58), C Meredith (Laois) for Carey (61, bc), N Murphy (Sligo) for O’Connor (69), C Mulally (Armagh) for E Smith (76).
Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).