03 January 2012

Manager Diarmuid McNally got an early Christmas present when holders UCD  received a bye into the semi finals of this seasons Harding Cup.

With only seven universities entered it was a welcome lucky break for the holders who will now prepare to bid for a third successive victory in the Irish Universities major competition for First Year Students. 

UCD started their recent run of victories in the Harding Cup by capturing the trophy two years ago in Galway with a comfortable win over the University of Limerick. While last year they managed to overcome the hosts NUI Maynooth 1-0 to retain the cup for a second year. 

This seasons’ competition will be hosted by UCC from February 10 -12 with the final set for Cork’s Mardyke Arena on Sunday February 12.

UCD are set to face the winners of the University of Limerick and Dublin University (Trinity College) quarter final tie in their semi final clash on Saturday February 11.

Unfortunately the no show by the four Northern Universities- Belfast’s Queens plus the Universities of Ulster at Jordanstown, Coleraine and Magee has reduced the entries to seven and as a result no decision on the format of the Harding Plate has yet been made.

IRISH UNIVERSITIES HARDING CUP DRAW

Friday February 10 2012

Quarter Finals

DCU v UCC; University of Limerick v Dublin University; NUI Maynooth v NUI Galway; bye UCD.

Saturday February 11 2012

Semi Finals

University of Limerick or Dublin University v UCD; DCU or UCC v NUI Maynooth or NUI Galway.

Sunday February 12 2012

Harding Cup Final.

UCD Capture 2011 Harding Cup

An 87^th minute goal from Niall Hanley was enough to see UCD retain the Harding Cup in a hard fought victory over hosts NUI Maynooth. Trinity College Dublin beat NUI Galway in the Plate Final with a goal from Lee Moran.

For photos from the games click here

Results:

Harding Cup

Final

NUI Maynooth 0 vs University College Dublin 1 view match report

Semi Finals

NUI Maynooth 1 vs University College Cork 0 view match report

University College Dublin 5 vs Mary Immaculate College 2 view match report

Quarter Finals

Trinity College Dublin 1 vs University College Cork 3 view match report

University College Dublin 2 vs University of Limerick 0 view match report

Dublin City University 1 vs NUI Maynooth 2 view match report

Round One

NUI Galway 0 vs University College Dublin 1 view match report

St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra 3 vs University of Limerick 5 view match report

Harding Plate

Plate Final

Trinity College Dublin 1 vs NUI Galway 0 view match report

Plate Semi Finals

Dublin City University 2 vs NUI Galway 4 view match report

Trinity College Dublin 2 vs University of Limerick 0 view match report

Plate Quarter Finals

NUI Galway 3 vs St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra 0 view match report

The 2011 Harding Cup will take place at NUI Maynooth from February 10-13 2011

Holders UCD will play 2010 Plate winners NUI Galway in a repeat of last years first round game which UCD won 4-2.

The draw is as follows:

Harding Cup 2011 at NUI Maynooth

Feb 10th         Preliminary Round

(A)       NUIG  v.  UCD ( Pitch 1 North Campus) 2pm

(B)       St Pats  v.  UL   (South Campus) 2pm

Feb 11th         Quarter finals

(C)       Winner (A)  v.  Winner (B) (Maynooth town FC) 2pm

(D)       UUJ  v.  Mary I (Pitch 2 North Campus) 11am

(E)       TCD  v.  UCC (Pitch 2 North Campus) 2pm

(F)       DCU  v.  NUI Maynooth (Pitch 1 North Campus) 11am

Feb 12th         Semi-finals

(G)       Winner (C)  v.  Winner (D) (Pitch 2 North Campus) 2pm

(H)       Winner  (E) v.   Winner (F) (Pitch 1 North Campus) 2pm

Feb 13^th          Final

Winner (H)  v.  Winner (I)(Pitch 1 North Campus) 2pm

Harding Cup Plate Competition

Feb 11^th          Quarter final

(I)  Loser (A)  v.  Loser (B) (South Campus) 11am

Feb 12^th          Round Robin (RR1)

(RR1)  Loser (C)  v.  Loser (E)    11:00 am  (Maynooth Town FC)

            Loser (C)  v.  Loser (F)      1:00 pm  (Maynooth Town FC)

            Loser (E)   v. Loser (F)      3:00 pm  (Maynooth Town FC)

Feb 12^th          Semi Final

(J)        Winner (I)  v.  Loser (D)    (South Campus) 11am

Feb 13^th          Final

Winner (RR1)  v.  Winner (J) (Pitch 2 North campus) 11am 

HARDING CUP DRAW 2010

University of Limerick, beaten finalists last year, are set to face local rivals Mary Immaculate College in the Irish Universities Harding Cup quarter-finals at NUI Galway early next month.

UL were edged out in last seasons final on their home ground by the University of Ulster Jordanstown after extra having captured the trophy the previous year in Coleraine.

The draw for the opening cup competition of the Irish Universities calendar, which is confined to first year students only, has produced several mouthwatering ties.

Holders Jordanstown will begin their bid to hang on to the trophy by taking on UCC while hosts NUI Galway and UCD are again drawn together with the Belfield side keen to reverse last seasons surprise opening round 1-0 defeat by the Westerners.

The games are scheduled to go ahead in the NUI Galway Sportsground at Dangan from February 4 to 6 and it is hoped to arrange the decider for Terryland Park on Sunday, February 7.

Irish Universities

Harding Cup Draw

Thursday, February 4

First Round: NUI Maynooth v Dublin University; DCU v UU Coleraine.

Friday, February 5

Quarter-finals: (A) NUI Maynooth or Dublin University v DCU or UU Coleraine; (B) University of Limerick v Mary Immaculate College; (C) NUI Galway v UCD; (D) UU Jordanstown v UCC.

Saturday, February 6

Semi Finals: A v B; C v D

Sunday, February 7

Final: A or B v C or D

Games scheduled for NUI Galway Sportsground, Dangan with the final at Terryland Park (subject to confirmation).

The Harding Memorial Trophy (giving it its full title) – the brainchild of the late Dr Tony O,Neill (former secretary of the IUFU) was first played for in the 1969/70 season, when it was presented by ALBERT W. (Bert) HARDING, who always showed a great interest in football in universities especially for first year students. Mr Harding was Chairman of UCD AFC from 1970 – 1975. The IUFU established the Harding Plate competition in 1975 for those teams failing to reach the semi-finals.