Eoghan Frayne in action for Maynooth University against DKIT. *Photo: Stephen Marken*

Fit-again Frayne 'like another coach on the field' for Maynooth as quarter-final awaits

Sigerson Cup

Published: Thu 22 Jan 2026, 3:59 PM

Fifty years on from their sole outright Sigerson Cup success, Maynooth University, backboned by a large cohort of Meath footballers, powered through to the last eight with a win over Dundalk IT on Tuesday last.

Five Meath players started, including county captain Eoghan Frayne who returned from injury, while another was introduced off the bench as Maynooth, who were 2-3 to 0-0 ahead early on, won by 2-14 to 0-13.

Conor Duke top-scored with 1-3 (1f); also starting were his Dunshaughlin clubmates Conor Gray and Charlie O’Connor, the latter of whom chipped in with a two-pointer from play.

Brian O’Halloran also played the 60 minutes, with Sean Emmanuel coming on.

Maynooth manager Aidan Minnock was especially delighted to get Frayne back on the field.

“That was a good boost,” Minnock said.

“Look, he's obviously been injured since November, he got injured during the Summerhill campaign. He's been rehabbing and recovering with Meath and we've been monitoring it closely with Eoghan. He's been back on the pitch with Meath the last couple of weeks and we saw the opportunity to get game time into him.

“We had a recommended period of time that we were allowed to play him. We were delighted to start him, delighted to have him on the field. He's the captain and he means so much to the group.

“Eoghan is a great leader on the field. He's got a great brain. He spots things on the field, he fixes things. He encourages lads - he's like another coach on the field.”

Conor Grey of Maynooth University during the Sigerson Cup round 3 match between Maynooth University and DKIT at Maynooth University in Kildare. *Photo: Stephen Marken*

Minnock was happy with the performances of the Dunshaughlin trio also. O’Connor and Grey have formed a strong partnership at midfield, with Duke scoring heavily.

“Charlie and Conor (Grey) have added to their game now, they're kicking points as well, they're getting on the end of moves, they’re winning ball. They're developing the whole time. They're a great pair and they play together for the club. They know each other well and they complement each other very well.

“Conor Duke got the goal early on. He worked hard, he won balls. He tracked back. They had two very good wing -backs and he helped track them, he worked very hard.”

Next up for Maynooth is a trip to Limerick to take on UL, provisionally fixed for next Wednesday.

“We played them in the quarter-final of the league and they beat us. They're good, they're well organised, they won the league afterwards. Brian McNamara from Clare is the captain and would make any county team so they're a good team, they have lads from all over, we know what we're up against.”