Terenure Collidge, Lakelands yesterday hosted the Fraser McMullen Trophy Final and Collidge successfully defended their All-Ireland crown against Old Belvedere. UCD U21A 17 OLD BELVEDERE 11

Playing with a stiff breeze a penalty for Liam Bourke opened the scoring for Collidge after 10 minutes (3-0) and this was added to 15 minutes later with a well-worked try from Jordan Coughlan converted by Liam Bourke. 10-0.

The Belvo attacks were continuously repulsed by a resolute Collidge defence in which David Quirke, Alan O’Connor and Mark McGroarty were outstanding.

Approaching half-time, and with Collidge winger Barry Daly yellow-carded, Steve Crosbie converted a penalty for Belvo. Half-time UCD 10 Old Belvedere 3.

As expected the Belvo intensity increased at the start of the second half but repeatedly their play was disrupted by the tenacious tackling from in particular Eoin Joyce and Adam Clarkin. A penalty awarded to Belvo from half-way was converted by Crosbie 10-6. The now-solid Collidge scrum provided an excellent platform for incisive runs from Stephen Murphy, and Conal Doherty and it was from such a scrum 20 meters out that scrum-half Jamie Glynn sold a delightful dummy and went in under the posts ... Bourkey converted 17-6.

Paddy Dix, who had switched wings, was causing all sorts of problems for the Belvo defence and was also outstanding in defence particularly when Collidge again were reduced to 14 when influential captain Emmet McMahon was binned.

With time running out Belvo centre James Kearns knifed through to touch down under the posts. 17-11. The decision of Crosbie to quickly drop-kick the conversion was probably ill-advised as he was wide of the posts.

With just 4 minutes remaining Jamie Glynn was also binned as Collidge held out for a memorable win. The trophy and medals were presented to Emmet McMahon and his players by IRFU President Mr John Hussey.