Hodges Figgis Trophy Explained

All-Ireland Higher Education Gaelic Football Championship
Irish:Trófaí Hodges Figgis
Code:Gaelic Football
Founded:1976
Abolished:1983/84
Trophy:Hodges Figgis Trophy
Teams:Sigerson Cup Winner v Trench Cup Winner
Firstwin:National College of Physical Education, Limerick (now University of Limerick)
Title Holders:Northern Ireland Polytechnic (now University of Ulster Jordanstown)
Most Titles:N.C.P.E./Thomond College Limerick (now University of Limerick)
Mostordinal:3

The Hodges Figgis Trophy was presented to the winner of the All-Ireland Higher Education Senior Gaelic football Championship. The annual match was played between the Sigerson Cup champion and the Trench Cup Champion.[1]

History

The Hodges Figgis Trophy was presented in 1976 to the Comhairle Ard Oideachais (CAO) Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, the Higher Education Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association, by Mr Allen Figgis of the Dublin-based book retailing chain Hodges Figgis.[2] The trophy was a silver replica of an open book, measuring 14 inches by 8 inches, mounted on a wooden base.[1] The trophy was competed for between the winners of the Sigerson Cup and the Trench Cup and marked the culmination of the CAO's programme of Gaelic football championships within Third-Level institutions. It was widely seen among students as a battle between the universities (Sigerson Cup) and the non-university third-level institutions (Trench Cup). The Trench Cup was inaugurated in the 1975–76 season to cater for the third-level colleges which did not compete in the Sigerson Cup championship, inaugurated in 1911. The inaugural Hodges Figgis Cup match took place at Croke Park, Dublin in April 1976 between St Patrick's College, Maynooth (now NUI Maynooth), who beat University College Dublin in the Sigerson Cup final, and the National College of Physical Education, Limerick, who beat Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra in the inaugural Trench Cup final. Both teams were star-studded with county GAA players. N.C.P.E. Limerick became the inaugural Hodges Figgis Trophy winners.[3] In 1983 Northern Ireland Polytechnic (now University of Ulster Jordanstown) won their match against University College Galway to lift the Hodges Figgis Trophy. The valuable trophy was lost. With no trophy to play for, the Sigerson v Trench Cup winners series ceased. In 1978 the Hodges Figgis chain of bookshops, long owned by the Figgis family, was acquired for £210,000 by the U.K. bookselling company, Pentos.[4]

Roll of honour

YearWinnersCupScoreFinalistsCupScoreWhere PlayedDateRefereeCounty
1983Northern Ireland PolytechnicTrenchUniversity College Galway (UCG)SigersonCroke Park, Dublin
1982Thomond College[5] Trench0-09Queen's University BelfastSigerson0-06Parnell Park, Dublin30 March 1982M FordeDublin
1981University College Galway (UCG)[6] Sigerson1-13Sligo RTCTrench0-06Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon3 May 1981
1980Northern Ireland Polytechnic[7] Trench 2-11University College Galway (UCG)Sigerson1-06Croke Park, Dublin6 April 1980K GreeneDublin
1979University College Dublin (UCD) v Cork RTC26 May-6 June 1979?
1978University College Dublin (UCD)SigersonSt Joseph's TC BelfastTrenchKnockbridge, County Louth4 May 1978
1977Thomond College, Limerick[8] Trench1-12University College Dublin (UCD)Sigerson1-02Durrow, County Laois26 April 1977M. MeallyKilkenny
1976National College of Physical Education[9] Trench2-16St Patrick's College, MaynoothSigerson0-05Croke Park, Dublin11 April 1976M. MeallyKilkenny

Team sheets

YearWinning TeamFinalist Team
1983Northern Ireland Polytechnic: Eugene Young (Derry), Aidan Browne (Down), Colm Harney (Armagh), D. Durkin, Dominic O'Hanlon (Down), Dominic Corrigan (Fermanagh), Anthony McArdle (Armagh)University College Galway: James Reidy (Mayo), Seán Twomey, Peter Forde (Mayo), T. McWalter, Jimmy Egan, Tomás Tierney (Galway), Hugh Heskin, Richie Lee (Galway), Michael Brennan, Pádraic "Dandy" Kelly, Brian O'Donnell (Galway), Tommy Carr (Tipperary), Anthony Finnerty, M. Clarke, Páraic Duffy (Mayo)
1982Thomond College, Limerick: Tommy Doonan (Cavan), Michael McBrearty (Donegal), Brian Ladden (Kerry), Mick Loughnane (Clare), Enda Timoney (Monaghan), Mark Kavanagh (0-01, Laois), Éamonn Quigley (Dublin), Pat Roe (Laois), Tommy Sheehy (Kerry), Pat Critchley (0-01, Laois), Pauric Gallagher (0-04, Donegal), Jimmy Keogh (Dublin), Paul Marron (0-02, Offaly), Séamus Meehan (Donegal), Mick O'Donovan (0-01, Cork), Sub: Brian Looney (Kerry) for Enda Timoney, Aengus Murphy (Galway) for Séamus Meehan [Other panel members: Frank Walsh (Dublin), Declan O'Leary (Cork), Paul Marron (Offaly), Larry Lynam (Offaly), Mick Doyle (Cork), Kevin O'Brien (Cork), Donncha McNeillis (Donegal), Séamus Reilly (Cavan), Eugene O'Riordan (Cork)]Queen's University Belfast: Paddy Mahon (Down), Joe Ferran (Armagh), Seán Gordon (Armagh), B. Downey (Antrim), Donagh O'Kane(Down), Séamus Boyd (Antrim), L. Keegan, John McAleenan (Down), Seán McAuley (0-02, Antrim), Dermot Dowling (Armagh), Joey Donnelly (Armagh), Aidan Short (Armagh), Brian McErlain (Derry), Éamon Larkin (0-02, Down), Dónal Armstrong (0-01, Antrim), Subs: Seán Leonard (0-01, Fermanagh) for Brian McErlain, Brendan Rafferty for Joey Donnelly
1981University College Galway: Gay McManus (0-05, Galway), B. O'Connell (0-04), Pádraic Mitchell (1-00, Galway), Michael "Micksey" Clarke (0-02, Westmeath), T.J. Kilgallon (0-01, Mayo), Anthony Finnerty (Mayo), Kieran O'Malley (0-01, Mayo), Ritchie Lee (Galway), Séamus McHugh (Galway), Seán Forde (Galway), Des Bergin (Kildare), Pádraig "Oxie" Moran (Galway)Sligo RTC: S. Duignan (0-04), Gerry Smith (0-01), Mick McHugh (0-01), Shane Durkin (Sligo), Sean Clarke (Sligo), Jim Watters
1980Northern Ireland Polytechnic:[10] Pat Doonan (Down), Eamonn McMorrow (Fermanagh), Michael McNally (Cavan), L. McCreesh, James McCartan (Down), Mick Sands (Down), S. Gallagher, Eugene Young (Derry), James Devlin (0-01, Tyrone), J. Gunn, P. Walsh (0-03), Martin McCann (0-04, Down), P.J. O'Hare (1-00, Antrim), Kevin McCabe (1-02, Tyrone), Séamus Fearon (Down), Subs: G. Skelton (Tyrone) for Séamus Fearon, H. McGuirk (0-01, Armagh) for P.J. O'HareUniversity College Galway: Gay Mitchell (Galway), Joe Kelly (Galway), C. McCutchen, Seán Liskin (Mayo), J. Costelloe (Mayo), Pádraig Monaghan (Mayo), Séamus McHugh (Galway), Richie Lee (0-02, Galway), T.J. Kilgallon (Mayo), Pádraic Mitchell (Galway), Gay McManus (1-01, Galway), Pat O'Brien (0-01, Mayo), Michael "Micksey" Clarke (0-01, Westmeath), Seán Forde (0-01, Galway), P. O'Riordan, Sub: Tom McHugh (Galway) for Michael "Micksey" Clarke
1979U.C.D. v Cork RTC
1978U.C.D.: Paddy O'Donoghue (Kildare), Mick Carty (Wexford), Pat O'Neill (Dublin), Michael Hickey (Dublin), Gerry McCaul (Dublin), Jackie Walsh (Kerry), Gerry McEntee (Meath), Capt., Mick Hickey (Dublin), Mick Fennelly (Kildare), Vincent O'Connor (Kerry). Mickey "Ned" O'Sullivan (Kerry)St. Joseph's Training College, Belfast: Liam Austin (Down), Willie McKenna (Tyrone), Peter McGinnity (Fermanagh), Dessie McKenna (Tyrone), Barry Campbell (Tyrone), Phil McElwee, P. Kane, Jim McGuinness (Antrim), Sean McGourity (Antrim), Micky Darragh (Antrim), Dan Morgan, Peter Trainer (Armagh), Phil McElwee
1977Thomond College: Brian Murtagh (Westmeath), Michael Houston (Donegal), Seán O'Shea (Longford), Eddie Mahon (Meath), Martin Connolly (Mayo), Brian Talty (Galway), Denis O'Boyle (1-00, Mayo), Tony Harkin (Donegal), Michael Spillane (0-02, Kerry), Jimmy Dunne (0-02, Offaly), Richie Bell (0-01, Mayo), Gerry Dillon (0-02, Kerry), Michael Kilcoyne (Westmeath), Pat Spillane (0-04, Kerry), Capt., Johnny O'Connell (0-01, Kerry), Sub: Declan Smyth (Galway) for Michael KilcoyneU.C.D.: Ivan Heffernan (Mayo), Dave Billings (Dublin), Bernie Jennings (Mayo), Seán Hunt (Roscommon), P.J. O'Halloran (Meath), Mick Carthy (Wexford), Pat O'Neill (Dublin), Gerry McEntee (Meath), Ogie Moran (Kerry), A. King (Cavan), Tony McManus (Roscommon), J.P. Kean (1-01, Mayo), M. Flannery (Mayo), Ger Griffin (Kerry), Tommy Murphy (0-01, Wicklow)
1976N.C.P.E.: Tony Owens (Cork), Michael Houston (Donegal), Liam Fardy (Wexford), Eddie Mahon (Meath), Joe Mulligan (Offaly), Hugo Clerkin (Monaghan), Michael Spillane (Kerry), Brian Mullins (1-02, Dublin), Capt., Fran Ryder (Dublin), Declan Smyth (0-03, Galway), Richie Bell (0-03, Mayo), Pat Spillane (1-01, Kerry), Jimmy Dunne (0-01, Offaly), Brian Talty (0-02, Galway), John Tobin (0-04, Galway), Sub: Ger Dillon (Kerry) for John Tobin [Other panel members: Brian Murtagh (Westmeath), Tony Harkin (Donegal), Larry McCarthy (Cork), Martin Connolly (Mayo), Mick Caulfield (Wexford), Dick Dunne (Laois)] S.P.C., Maynooth: Jack Fitzgerald (Cork), Anthony "Tony" O'Keeffe (Kerry), Dan O'Mahony (Mayo), Capt., Tom Barden (Longford), Liam Kelly (Kerry), Michael McElvaney (Longford), John Clarke (Westmeath), Eamon Whelan (Laois), Patrick Henry (Sligo), Declan Brennan (0-01, Sligo), Martin Nugent (0-01, Offaly), Patrick "Paddy" McGovern (0-01, Cavan), Patrick "Pat" Donnellan (Galway), John McParland (0-01, Down), Peter Burke (0-01, Longford) – Sub: Seán McKeown (Kildare) for Paddy McGovern [Other panel members: L. White (Galway) S. O'Mahony (Sligo), Mick Marren (Sligo), Seán Hegarty (Armagh), F. Murray (Longford)]

Winning captains

YearPlayerCollegeCounty
1983Anthony McArdle[11] Northern Ireland PolytechnicArmagh
1982Thomond College, Limerick
1981Gay McManus[12] University College GalwayGalway
1980Kevin McCabeNorthern Ireland PolytechnicTyrone
1979
1978Gerry McEntee[13] [14] University College DublinMeath
1977Pat Spillane[15] Thomond College, LimerickKerry
1976Brian Mullins[16] National College of Physical EducationDublin

Notes and References

  1. The Cups That Cheered: A History of the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Championships, Dónal McAnallen, 2012, The Collins Press, Cork
  2. The Irish Times, 7 April 1976, p. 4
  3. The Irish Independent, 12 April 1976, p. 8
  4. The Irish Times, 28 July 1978, p. 12; Irish Press, 14 June 1979, p. 9
  5. Irish Independent, 24 March 1982, p. 14; The Irish Times, 31 March 1982, p. 4; Irish Press, 31 March 1982, p. 18; Irish Independent, 31 March 1982, p. 17
  6. The Irish Times, 4 May 1981, p. 3 (reported result as UCG 1-13 Sligo RTC 0-06, with scorers); The Irish Press, 6 May 1981, p. 15 (reported result as UCG 1-13 Sligo RTC 0-06); Irish Independent, 6 May 1981, p. 13 (reported result as UCG 1-12 Sligo RTC 0-06); Connacht Tribune, 8 May 1981, p. 16 & 18 (reported result as UCG 1-13 Sligo RTC 0-08)
  7. The Irish Times, 7 April 1980, p. 3
  8. Irish Independent, 27 April 1977, p. 14; Irish Press, 27 April 1977, p. 16
  9. Irish Independent, 12 April 1976, p. 8; The Irish Times, 12 April 1976, p. 3
  10. Irish Independent, 2 April 1980, p. 14
  11. Personal Communication, John "Tommy-Joe" Farrell, UU Jordanstown GAA Hon Secretary 1981, Chairman of CAO 1987-89
  12. [Sigerson Cup]
  13. [Sigerson Cup]
  14. Irish Independent, 3 May 1978, p. 16
  15. Irish Independent, 29 March 1977, p. 10; Irish Independent, 26 April 1977, p. 18
  16. Irish Independent, 7 April 1976, p. 13

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