Maynooth University claimed the Collingwood Cup for just the second time in their history with a Laois man the hero.
Aaron Doran was the match winner as his strike in the sixth minute proved the difference against University of Galway.
The Collingwood Cup is the highest grade of Third Level soccer competition in Ireland.
It has been a whirlwind start to 2025 for Portlaoise’s Doran who recently signed for Longford Town in the League of Ireland.
He started in their league opener against Bray Wanderers last weekend – losing 1-0.
It was the same scoreline in this game but Doran was on the winning side this time.
That coming a day after Doran had scored the winner in the semi final where Maynooth beat UCD 2-1.
This was a repeat of the 2014 final decider and the win saw Maynooth complete a league and cup double – something hardly seemed imaginable for the squad after they lost their opening two games of the season.
The only goal came after a neat interchange between captain Dean O’Shea and winger Lewis MeKeon.
The ball came to Doran who expertly controlled it away from his marker on the edge of the area before the talented number 10 expertly drilled it into the far bottom right corner.
Doran’s soccer career began at Portlaoise AFC before moving to St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin.
He played for Bohemians after that before spending once season with Wexford FC in the First Division.
Doran stepped away from the League of Ireland in 2024 to play for Maynooth in the Leinster Senior League before signing for Longford this season.
SEE ALSO – Portlaoise Bus Service set to launch this Sunday with 42 stops along two routes
