An converted Stephen Murphy try had helped UCD towards an early 10-0 lead, beforeTrinity’s challenge eventually came to life when scrum-half Angus Lloyd touched down in the right corner.

Tries from UCD’s Bobby Holland and Trinity’s Tim Maupin meant that the hosts held a five-point advantage (20-15) at the interval, but Trinity proceeded to open up a nine-point buffer after the restart thanks to tries from Tom Ryan and Maupin in the 61st and 63rd minutes respectively.

UCD weren’t prepared to relinquish their crown, however, and after James Tracy’s excellent five-pointer 11 minutes from time had set up a nerve-wracking finale, a magnificent move led to Doherty’s 78th-minute try – which sealed the Belfield side’s fourth Colours triumph in succession.

UCD – S Coghlan Murray; A Byrne, H McNulty, S Murphy, B Daly; L Bourke, B Holland; G Frayne, J Tracy, L Hyland; G Thornbury, E MacMahon; P Timmins, D Leavy, S Grannell. Reps: T Fletcher, D Lawler, R Byrne, J Harrison, M Moynihan, J Murray, C Doherty.

Dublin University – C Kearns; T Maupin, P Lavelle, S Fromm, J Fitzpatrick; T Whittle, A Lloyd; G Walsh, R Halpin, T Collis, J Burke, R Tyrell; P Dargan, B Du Toit, N McCarthy. Reps: T Ryan, A Keating.

Ref – H O’Reilly (Leinster Branch).