The UCD debate: Questioning the presence of UCD in the Dublin championship every time they collect a county title has become a well beaten docket, and yet, it remains a relevant issue, writes Gavin Cummiskey
The students edged past St Vincent's on Monday night thanks in part to the contributions of Paul Earls and Niall McNamee. Both now have two county medals for 2006 as their respective "home" clubs, St Patrick's and Rhode, won the Wicklow and Offaly titles.
It was a cruel twist of fate for the famous Marino club, who thus enter a 23rd year without any silverware at senior level. At least the performances of Ger Brennan and Dermot Connolly, despite a poor final, have given Dublin manager Paul Caffrey food for thought before next year's county panel is announced.
Yet no Dublin player will be involved in the Leinster club quarter-finals this Sunday. UCD travel to Páirc Tailteann to face Meath champions Wolfe Tones without Earls and McNamee who are ineligible having already played in the competition for St Patrick's and Rhode.
No rules have been broken but the current dual status does create an animosity towards UCD from within the Dublin clubs they beat en route to a seventh county title.
"Straight after the match my reaction was that the subs (McNamee and Mayo's Austin O'Malley) made the difference," said St Vincent's selector Shane O'Hanlon. "It is ironic that Niall McNamee played for Rhode in the Leinster championship on Sunday and then took a step back to play a county final on Monday night.
"It's a shame the actual team that won Dublin will not be playing in the Leinster championship but talking to our players the majority of them would like to see UCD continuing in Dublin next year. There is a determination to return and beat them."
A year ago the Leinster Council undertook a review of UCD's involvement in the championship after the leading Dublin hurling club captains threatened strike action.
The conclusion fell some way short of the provincial body recommending the university's withdrawal, although the hurlers opted out of the 2006 Dublin championship anyway.
"The review of UCD hurling concluded that while Dublin had no policy on the transfer of players from outside the county it would be disingenuous to be critical of UCD," said Leinster chairman Liam O'Neill, in a reference to the presence of non-Dublin players like Kieran McGeeney (Na Fianna) and the Gallagher cousins, Raymie and Rory (St Brigid's), "denying a young Dublin player a chance to play senior football."
The committee did suggest a wild-card entry into the Leinster championship, in the case of UCD winning the title, to ensure a Dublin player presence. This would probably apply to the beaten finalists. However, such a proposal required the rubberstamping of congress but it never even made the clár.
There was also the suggestion of inviting UCD directly into the provincial competition. A further recommendation removed the year's grace that allows a graduate play an extra season with the college.
But the Leinster Council have no intention of turning their back on UCD as they take partial credit for the current revival, which includes two football titles in five years.
"Ten years ago we got in contact with the then head of sport in the college Dr Tony O'Neill," added O'Neill. "The intention was to improve the GAA profile within the college. Then Dave Billings (the current GAA development officer) came in and did just that. We asked him to turn UCD around and we will not punish the college for that success.
"UCD also provides an opportunity for players from junior and intermediate clubs all around the country to play senior championship football."
Yet in Laois this year Ballyroan Gaels won the senior football championship but were deemed ineligible to play in the Leinster club championship as they are an amalgamation of Abbeyleix and Ballyroan intermediate sides. The runners-up, Arles-Killeen, will represent Laois instead. The same applies to all other amalgamated club sides.
UCD have avoided being bracketed under this censure.
