The University, with a strong showing from students in the Division of Civil Engineering has landed its first ever hurling championship, and its second major Gaelic Games trophy in a decade.
The game was played in Dundee with the two Dundee Universities head to head in the British Final. Abertay got off to the better start with an early goal and some good long range points from Paddy Hartigan and Padraig Fahy (both Galway men) and they led at half time by two goals and eight points (14 points) to one goal and six points (9 points). In the second half, assisted by the breeze, Dundee moved into the game and with a strong defence marshalled by Iain Friel (Donegal) and Ian Bermingham (Galway), control at midfield through Michael Coughlan (Galway) and Paudie Barry (Clare) and strong forward play through Paul Storan (Limerick), Eoin Duffy (Wicklow) and Cliff Morgan (Tipperary), Dundee got the vital scores in the last quarter of the match.
The standard of hurling was excellent throughout and the scores, in particular the goals from Paul Storan and from top scorer Michael Coughlan who scored two goals and four points, were first class exponents of the best skills in hurling.
The reward for the new British University hurling champions is that, for the first time, they are invited to participate in a third level hurling championship known as the Fergal Maher Cup winners in Ireland.