Philip McMahon's injury-time goal gave DCU a 3-7 to 1-12 win over Kildare at O'Moore Park.

This re-arranged final was played in wet and windy conditions at the Laois county grounds and under-strength Kildare led by ten points when captain Eamonn Callaghan fired to the net with just 25 minutes to go. But the students refused to roll over and they struck 3-2 without reply to take the silverware in dramatic circumstances.

Dublin youngster Dean Rock (2-3) registered a brace of three-pointers and there were scores from Anton McFadden and Paul Flynn, leaving the match in the balance with ten minutes remaining. Tony Kelly's side looked destined to hold on until full back McMahon's dramatic intervention in the 72nd minute.

DCU included nine starters from the side that had beaten DIT in their Sigerson Cup quarter-final in midweek and they started well with points from Rock (2) and Cathal Cregg. But the losers took control of the third quarter and led by 0-10 to 0-4 at the break thanks to a run of scores from Callaghan, Caoimhin McDonnell, Alan Smith, Ken Donnelly, Des Lawlor and substitute Seamus Hanafin.

DCU: R Hennelly (0-1); L Bree, P McMahon (1-0), E Culligan; J McCarthy, J Cooper, C Cafferky; K Dooney, P Flynn (0-1); D Keenan, F O'Shea, C Cregg (0-1); J Brady, D Rock (2-3), A McFadden (0-1). Subs: E O'Gara for Dooney (half time); N Collins for McCarthy (46); C Kehoe for O'Gara (50); D Gavin for Cregg (57); G Gibson for Keenan (65); B Noone for Lawlor (72).

Kildare: R Eyres; S Bergin (0-1), H McGrillen (0-1), D Barker; K Murnaghan, M Foley, K Ennis; C Feeney, P Dunne; C McDonnell (0-3), E Callaghan (1-1), T McCann; A Smith (0-1), K Donnelly (0-1), D Lawlor (0-2). Subs: S Hanafin (0-2) for McCann (33); J Kavanagh for McDonnell (57); A Dunne for Donnelly (68). Tweet

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