McPhillips delight at leading TU Dublin to Premier crown

EOIN McPhillips has spoken of his delight in captaining TU Dublin to their first ever Colleges and Universities Premier Division title this week.

The Ballyfermot man, who also represents the TU Dublin Tallaght campus, lifted the coveted prize along with co-skipper Dan McKenna after their side edged out University of Limerick 3-2 in the league final at Athlone Town Stadium.
After leading the side from midfield, McPhillips told The Echo, “I was vice captain, but for the last three games I’ve been captain.

“It was a great feeling, big time. I had lifted the Division One League trophy with Tallaght campus back in 2020 and I was captain of that team as well, so it was great to be captain of those two teams” he said.

TU Dublin looked to be coasting to victory against Limerick in the Premier Division decider after Rob Manley, Aaron Dobbs and Dan Dobbin all hit the target to propel the team 3-0 in front by the halftime break.

Two second-half penalties by Edmond O’Dwyer, however, propelled UL right back into contention, but with Lee Steacy on form between the posts, TU Dublin ran out winners.

For McPhillips, the win was more comfortable that what the final scoreline suggests.

“We got off to a fine start, but they basically got two penos, so it wasn’t from anything like bad play by us.

“I thought we dominated the game for 90 minutes, but they just got two lucky breaks and that’s how they got back into it. I didn’t feel they were really threatening from open play.”

TU Dublin will now be hoping to add to their Premier League title when they face off against Dundalk in the Cup Final back in Athlone next Tuesday and McPhillips is looking forward to the tie.

“We feel confident going into that match. We’re very confident in the team.

“With the squad that the lads have put together, with that strength and depth, we always feel we we’re going to win. It’s not cockiness, we’re just confident in ourselves” he stressed.