Fintan O’Toole reports from the Sigerson Cup final at the Mardyke
CONOR MCGRAYNOR’S LATE point delivered Sigerson Cup glory for DCU yesterday afternoon as they finally prevailed in a marathon decider against UCC at the Mardyke.
Hosts UCC were left shattered by defeat after extra-time, with Luke Connolly’s difficult long-range free drifting wide at the death as they sought to draw level.
DCU prevailed narrowly to claim their third title in six years, and after a campaign where they’ve needed to show a resilient streak in their victories away to Jordanstown and St Mary’s, before they saw off UCD in a tough semi-final encounter yesterday.
It was a tense match this afternoon, with the teams tied at 0-5 apiece at half time in normal time. UCC, boosted by the pre-match inclusion of Paul Geaney in their attack, had forged a 0-5 to 0-3 lead through a couple of Conor Cox points, but Enda Smith and Eoin O’Connor brought DCU level with really good scores.
UCC's Paul Geaney is tackled by Conor Boyle of DCU. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
The first decisive breakthrough was made by DCU, when Donal Wrynn found the net in the 40th minute. He knocked home a Donie Smith delivery when he challenged goalkeeper Michael Martin, but UCC will be aggrieved that a similar incident in the first half saw a Sean Kiely goal for them disallowed.
UCC responded well to that concession with fine points from Connolly and Gary O’Sullivan. Yet DCU looked to have notched the insurance score courtesy of Conor Boyle four minutes later.
There was still time for a blaze of drama. Connolly swung in a high ball that impressive substitute Alan O’Donovan fisted to the net to give UCC a priceless lead in the 57th minute.
They had chances to kill the game then but were left to rue them as DCU rescued themselves when goalkeeper Tadhg Lowe came upfield to nervelessly nail a tricky free.
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Brian O'Driscoll of UCC under pressure from DCU's Diarmuid O'Connor and Colm Begley. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
DCU, who had excellent displays from Mickey Quinn and Conor Moynagh, made a forceful break in extra-time to go 1-11 to 1-9 ahead at the midway mark of the additional period.
But UCC bounced back with David Culhane seizing the throw-in at the second half of extra-time, racing through the heart of the DCU rearguard and finishing confidently to the net. DCU drew level again before substitute Kevin Davis punched a point to send UCC back into the lead.
DCU’s strength in depth told as they powered to the finish line and engineered the openings for Donie Smith and McGraynor to land the vital points.
Scorers for DCU: Donal Wrynn 1-1, Conor McHugh (0-2, 1f), Tadhg Lowe (0-2f), Enda Smith and Eoin O’Connor 0-2 each, Steven O’Brien, Conor Boyle, Conor Daly, Conor McGraynor, Donie Smith 0-1 each.
Scorers for UCC: Alan O’Donovan 1-1, David Culhane 1-0, Conor Cox 0-3 (0-1f), Conor Dorman, Thomas Clancy, Shaun Keane, Luke Connolly (0-1 ’45), Gary O’Sullivan, Kevin Davis 0-1 each.
The celebrations begin for DCU. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
DCU
1. Tadgh Lowe (Boyle, Roscommon)
21. Jack Smith (Skerries Harps, Dublin)
3. Conor Boyle (Clontibret, Monaghan)
6. Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon)
26. Enda Smith (Boyle, Roscommon)
15. Conor McGraynor (Avondale, Wicklow)
8. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna, Dublin)
Subs
25. Mickey Quinn (Killoe, Longford) for Ward (30)
17. Donie Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for McHugh (30)
7. Brian Donnelly (St Patrick’s, Louth) for Meredith (53)
14. Simon McCoy (Armagh Harps, Armagh) for Enda Smith (58)
26. Enda Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for Diarmuid O’Connor (70)
20. Niall Murphy (Coolera-Strandhill, Sligo) for Eoin O’Connor (73)
27. Tom Lahiffe (St Judes, Dublin) for Enda Smith (76)
5. Conor Dorman (Bishopstown, Cork)
4. David Culhane (Ballylongford, Kerry)
7. Thomas Clancy (Fermoy, Cork)
9. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry, Kerry)
12. Sean Kiely (Ballincollig, Cork)
10. Shaun Keane (Legion, Kerry)
11. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers, Cork)
19. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadgh MacCárthaigh, Cork)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle, Kerry)
27. David Harrington (Adrigole, Cork)
15. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmetts, Kerry)
Subs
23. Alan O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers, Cork) for O’Driscoll (inj) (29)
25. Kevin Davis (O’Donovan Rossa, Cork) for Keane (53)
6. Sean White (Clonakilty, Cork) for O’Donovan (black card) (58)
2. Jamie Davis (Douglas, Cork) for McNamara (70)
13. Thomas Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds, Cork) for Connolly (78)
11. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers) for Geaney (80)
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
- This article was first published on 21 February at 6pm
DCU dethrone champions UCC on their own turf to clinch the Sigerson Cup
DCU 1-14
UCC 2-10
Fintan O’Toole reports from the Sigerson Cup final at the Mardyke
CONOR MCGRAYNOR’S LATE point delivered Sigerson Cup glory for DCU yesterday afternoon as they finally prevailed in a marathon decider against UCC at the Mardyke.
Hosts UCC were left shattered by defeat after extra-time, with Luke Connolly’s difficult long-range free drifting wide at the death as they sought to draw level.
DCU prevailed narrowly to claim their third title in six years, and after a campaign where they’ve needed to show a resilient streak in their victories away to Jordanstown and St Mary’s, before they saw off UCD in a tough semi-final encounter yesterday.
It was a tense match this afternoon, with the teams tied at 0-5 apiece at half time in normal time. UCC, boosted by the pre-match inclusion of Paul Geaney in their attack, had forged a 0-5 to 0-3 lead through a couple of Conor Cox points, but Enda Smith and Eoin O’Connor brought DCU level with really good scores.
The first decisive breakthrough was made by DCU, when Donal Wrynn found the net in the 40th minute. He knocked home a Donie Smith delivery when he challenged goalkeeper Michael Martin, but UCC will be aggrieved that a similar incident in the first half saw a Sean Kiely goal for them disallowed.
UCC responded well to that concession with fine points from Connolly and Gary O’Sullivan. Yet DCU looked to have notched the insurance score courtesy of Conor Boyle four minutes later.
There was still time for a blaze of drama. Connolly swung in a high ball that impressive substitute Alan O’Donovan fisted to the net to give UCC a priceless lead in the 57th minute.
They had chances to kill the game then but were left to rue them as DCU rescued themselves when goalkeeper Tadhg Lowe came upfield to nervelessly nail a tricky free.
DCU, who had excellent displays from Mickey Quinn and Conor Moynagh, made a forceful break in extra-time to go 1-11 to 1-9 ahead at the midway mark of the additional period.
But UCC bounced back with David Culhane seizing the throw-in at the second half of extra-time, racing through the heart of the DCU rearguard and finishing confidently to the net. DCU drew level again before substitute Kevin Davis punched a point to send UCC back into the lead.
DCU’s strength in depth told as they powered to the finish line and engineered the openings for Donie Smith and McGraynor to land the vital points.
Scorers for DCU: Donal Wrynn 1-1, Conor McHugh (0-2, 1f), Tadhg Lowe (0-2f), Enda Smith and Eoin O’Connor 0-2 each, Steven O’Brien, Conor Boyle, Conor Daly, Conor McGraynor, Donie Smith 0-1 each.
Scorers for UCC: Alan O’Donovan 1-1, David Culhane 1-0, Conor Cox 0-3 (0-1f), Conor Dorman, Thomas Clancy, Shaun Keane, Luke Connolly (0-1 ’45), Gary O’Sullivan, Kevin Davis 0-1 each.
DCU
1. Tadgh Lowe (Boyle, Roscommon)
21. Jack Smith (Skerries Harps, Dublin)
3. Conor Boyle (Clontibret, Monaghan)
6. Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon)
19. Conor Moynagh (Drumgoon, Cavan)
10. Dessie Ward (Ballybay, Monaghan)
7. Colm Begley (Stradbally/Parnells, Laois)
24. Eoin O’Connor (St Patrick’s, Louth)
22. Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Tipperary)
23. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber, Mayo)
18. Conor Meredith (O’Dempsey’s, Laois)
12. Donal Wrynn (Fenagh, Leitrim)
26. Enda Smith (Boyle, Roscommon)
15. Conor McGraynor (Avondale, Wicklow)
8. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna, Dublin)
Subs
25. Mickey Quinn (Killoe, Longford) for Ward (30)
17. Donie Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for McHugh (30)
7. Brian Donnelly (St Patrick’s, Louth) for Meredith (53)
14. Simon McCoy (Armagh Harps, Armagh) for Enda Smith (58)
26. Enda Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for Diarmuid O’Connor (70)
20. Niall Murphy (Coolera-Strandhill, Sligo) for Eoin O’Connor (73)
27. Tom Lahiffe (St Judes, Dublin) for Enda Smith (76)
UCC
1. Michael Martin (Nemo Rangers, Cork)
18. Fergal McNamara (Austin Stacks, Kerry)
3. Jack McGuire (Listowel Emmetts, Kerry)
17. Padraig O’Connor (Legion, Kerry)
5. Conor Dorman (Bishopstown, Cork)
4. David Culhane (Ballylongford, Kerry)
7. Thomas Clancy (Fermoy, Cork)
9. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry, Kerry)
12. Sean Kiely (Ballincollig, Cork)
10. Shaun Keane (Legion, Kerry)
11. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers, Cork)
19. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadgh MacCárthaigh, Cork)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle, Kerry)
27. David Harrington (Adrigole, Cork)
15. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmetts, Kerry)
Subs
23. Alan O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers, Cork) for O’Driscoll (inj) (29)
25. Kevin Davis (O’Donovan Rossa, Cork) for Keane (53)
6. Sean White (Clonakilty, Cork) for O’Donovan (black card) (58)
2. Jamie Davis (Douglas, Cork) for McNamara (70)
13. Thomas Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds, Cork) for Connolly (78)
11. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers) for Geaney (80)
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
- This article was first published on 21 February at 6pm
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