Hoping for a win to follow up their draw with TUS Midwest seven days earlier, DCU stormed four points clear inside the opening two minutes after a white flag effort from Darragh Carley was supplemented by a goal on the run by wing-back Sam Bourke. While Maynooth responded brightly with back-to-back scores courtesy of Cillian Hackett and goalkeeper Niall Holland, DCU quickly reinforced their authority with six unanswered points via the sticks of Cathal Beirne (two), Joe Flanagan, Colin Spain, Cillian Dunne and the aforementioned Carley.

A Hackett goal on 22 minutes breathed fresh life into their opponents, but DCU nevertheless brought a commanding 1-14 to 1-8 cushion into the break.

The Dublin college subsequently moved seven points in front on the resumption, but Maynooth gave themselves a fighting chance of success when the influential Colm Fogarty drilled a 44th-minute penalty to the net in clinical fashion.

Yet DCU didn’t panic and after turning sharply close to the opposition posts, substitute Cian Boran fired a low shot beyond the reach of Holland for their second goal just past the third-quarter mark.

Maynooth continued to battle gamely with the likes of Eamonn Cunneen, Tommy Maher and Harry Shine finding the range at various junctures, but a defeat in this encounter leaves them needing a win against TUS Midwest in their final group game in order to advance to the knockout rounds.

Scorers – DCU Dochas Eireann: C Dunne 0-7 (5f), C Boran 1-1, C Beirne 0-4, S Bourke 1-0, D Carley, J Flanagan 0-2 each, P Langton, B Reid, D Shirley, C Spain, D Walsh, P Clarke 0-1 each.

Maynooth University: C Fogarty 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), C Hackett 1-2, E Cunneen 0-3, N Holland 0-2 (2f), T Maher 0-2, F Hogan, D Queally, H Shine 0-1 each.

DCU Dochas Eireann: C Byrne; D Kehoe, P Moylan, P Lennon; S Bourke, P Langton, B Reid; D Shirley, C Spain; C Beirne, J Carroll, D Carley; J Flanagan, D Walsh, C Dunne. Subs: P Clarke for Shirley (h-t), C Boran for Walsh (40), D O’Meara for Moylan (45), C Kehoe for Carroll (50), C Dolan for Lennon (52-55, blood), Lennon for Kehoe (55).

Maynooth University: N Holland; M Donnelly, D Maher, C Phelan; D McCahey, A Hickey, C O’Toole; F Hogan, E Cunneen; T Maher, C Fogarty, D Queally; C Hackett, J Connolly, D Fogarty. Subs: H Shine for Connolly (22), B Og Curran for D Fogarty (44).

Referee: E Furlong (Wexford).