History made as UCD FC claims four-in-a-row Harding Cup title

29 January 2026

_{UCD FC with their four-in-a-row Harding Cup title Credit: Sportsfile}

UCD Football Club claims a record-breaking fourth consecutive Irish Universities Football Union (IUFU) Harding Cup title following 3–2 victory over University College Cork.

The win marks the first time since the competition was established in 1970 by the late Dr Tony O’Neill that a team has secured four Harding Cup titles in a row.

Held at Belfield, the final began with UCC taking an early lead just four minutes in. UCD responded positively, settling into the game and asserting greater control across midfield and in attack.

That pressure paid off when Kevin Sweeney brought the sides level.

Momentum swung firmly in UCD’s favour soon after, with captain Hugh Smith firing UCD ahead to make it 2-1, and then adding a second goal just before the break to give the Students a commanding 3–1 advantage heading into the second half.

On the restart, UCD managed the game with composure, limiting UCC’s opportunities and maintaining control throughout.

Although UCC pulled a goal back in the closing minutes, the comeback attempt it proved to be little more than a consolation as UCD saw out the closing moments to secure their fourth consecutive Harding Cup.

The Harding Cup is an intervarsity men’s football competition organised by the Irish Universities Football Union (IUFU) and traditionally contested by first-year and developing squads.

• UCD: Karl Andrade; Eoin Maher, Eoin Sheeran, Eoin Cunningham, Sam Neville; Leo Healy, Jack O’Flaherty; Dino Costin, Eoghan Murphy, Kevin Sweeney; Hugh Smith.
  • Subs: Liam Burke, Aidan Kane, Alex Dunne, Aidan Colleran, Coleman King.
• UCC striker Ogbene and usher the ball safely back to goalkeeper Karl Andrade. UCC: Rob Barry; Eoin Howell, Sam Bailey, Evan Lynch, Oisin Twohig; Ben O’Connell, Noah Sowinski; Jayden Adair-Bell, Brian O’Mahony, Dara Walsh; Denzel Ogbene.
  • Subs: Finn Bond-Smith, Javier Seirano, Sean Nolan, Jack Brady, Daniel McCarthy.

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from UCD Sport)

To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie