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.The Cups That Cheered: A History of the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Championships, Dónal McAnallen, 2012, The Collins Press, Cork
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.The Irish Times, 7 April 1976, p. 4 The trophy was a silver replica of an open book, measuring 14 inches by 8 inches, mounted on a wooden base. 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.The Irish Independent, 12 April 1976, p. 8 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.The Irish Times, 28 July 1978, p. 12; Irish Press, 14 June 1979, p. 9
Roll of honour Year Winners Cup Score Finalists Cup Score Where Played Date Referee County 1983 Northern Ireland Polytechnic Trench University College Galway (UCG) Sigerson Croke Park, Dublin 1982 Thomond CollegeIrish 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 Trench 0-09 Queen's University Belfast Sigerson 0-06 Parnell Park, Dublin 30 March 1982 M Forde Dublin 1981 University College Galway (UCG)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) Sigerson 1-13 Sligo RTC Trench 0-06 Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon 3 May 1981 1980 Northern Ireland PolytechnicThe Irish Times, 7 April 1980, p. 3 Trench 2-11 University College Galway (UCG) Sigerson 1-06 Croke Park, Dublin 6 April 1980 K Greene Dublin 1979 University College Dublin (UCD) v Cork RTC 26 May-6 June 1979? 1978 University College Dublin (UCD) Sigerson St Joseph's TC Belfast Trench Knockbridge, County Louth 4 May 1978 1977 Thomond College, LimerickIrish Independent, 27 April 1977, p. 14; Irish Press, 27 April 1977, p. 16 Trench 1-12 University College Dublin (UCD) Sigerson 1-02 Durrow, County Laois 26 April 1977 M. Meally Kilkenny 1976 National College of Physical EducationIrish Independent, 12 April 1976, p. 8; The Irish Times, 12 April 1976, p. 3 Trench 2-16 St Patrick's College, Maynooth Sigerson 0-05 Croke Park, Dublin 11 April 1976 M. Meally Kilkenny
Team sheets Year Winning team Finalist Team 1983 Northern 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) 1982 Thomond 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 1981 University 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 1980 Northern Ireland Polytechnic:Irish Independent, 2 April 1980, p. 14 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'Hare University 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 1979 U.C.D. v Cork RTC 1978 U.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 1977 Thomond 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 Kilcoyne U.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) 1976 N.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 Year Player College County 1983 Anthony McArdlePersonal Communication, John "Tommy-Joe" Farrell, UU Jordanstown GAA Hon Secretary 1981, Chairman of CAO 1987-89 Northern Ireland Polytechnic Armagh 1982 Brian Ladden Kerry Thomond College, Limerick Limerick 1981 Gay McManusSigerson Cup University College Galway Galway 1980 Kevin McCabe Northern Ireland Polytechnic Tyrone 1979 1978 Gerry McEnteeSigerson CupIrish Independent, 3 May 1978, p. 16 University College Dublin Meath 1977 Pat SpillaneIrish Independent, 29 March 1977, p. 10; Irish Independent, 26 April 1977, p. 18 Thomond College, Limerick Kerry 1976 Brian MullinsIrish Independent, 7 April 1976, p. 13 National College of Physical Education Dublin
References