UL 4-15
IT Sligo 0-7
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK started their Sigerson Cup campgain in emphatic fashion with a facile victory over IT Sligo tonight.
Goals from Mayo senior Eoghan McLaughlin and Kerry star David Clifford sandwiched a brace of efforts from Paul Walsh as UL began their campaign in style.
The result sets up a round two clash with Letterkenny IT, and in truth UL were never tested on home soil.
They were ahead 1-8 to 0-2 at the interval with Sligo’s struggles emphasised by only one first-half wide to go with points from Barry Cafferkey and Matthew McGahern.
Eoghan McLaughlin found the net with a bullet finish from an overlapping run on 20 minutes. He was joined on the scoresheet by Paul Walsh – the former Kerry minor – whose first act from the bench was to send a curling effort to the top corner to the net
He added a second soon after as when Knockmore’s Connell Dempsey rattled the crossbar, Walsh was on hand to tuck the ball beneath Luke Jennings.
UL kicked eight wides in total and with time running out, Clifford brought a moment of magic for the large crowd in attendance. He caught a long direct pass and spun, before curling a wonderful left-footed effort into the top corner for UL’s fourth goal.
UL were able to leave Kerry senior player Stefan Okunbor on the bench, owing to club commitments with Na Gaeil at the weekend in the Munster intermediate final.
Scorers for UL: David Clifford 1-4 (0-3 frees); Paul Walsh 2-0; Emmett McMahon 0-5; Donal O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-3, 0-1 free); Eoghan McLaughlin 1-0; Dan Gray, Connell Dempsey, Daniel Walsh 0-1 each
Scorers for IT Sligo: Matthew McGahern (frees), Oisin McLaughlin (frees) (0-2 each); Barry Cafferkey 0-1, Peter O’Driscoll, Darragh Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
UL
Conor Flaherty (Carnmore/Claregalway – Galway)
Jack Glynn (Claregalway – Galway), Ciaran Donnelly – (Bracknagh – Offaly), Paul Maher (Adare – Limerick)
Gearoid O’Donovan (Newcestown – Cork), Sean Powter (Douglas – Cork), Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport – Mayo)
Connell Dempsey (Knocmore -Mayo), Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane – Clare)
Ciaran Downes (Kilmilhil – Clare), Emmett McMahon (Kildysart – Clare), Oisin Looney (St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay – Clare)
David Clifford (Fossa – Kerry), Dan Gray (Castledermot – Kildare), Donal O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan – Kerry)
Subs
18. Paul Walsh (Brosna – Kerry) for O’Donovan (half-time)
20. Chris Og Jones (Iveleary – Cork) for Looney (39 mins)
19. James McCarthy (Kenmare – Kerry) for Glynn (42 mins)
24. Elliot Connolly (O’Donovan Rossa – Cork) for Downes (46 mins)
28. Jack O’Brien (Durrow – Offaly) for Powter (48 mins)
IT Sligo
16. Luke Jennings (Ballinrobe – Mayo)
10. Tiernan McSkeen (Ballybay – Monaghan), 6. Stephen Doak (St. Michael’s – Donegal), 12. Sean Murphy (Coolera/Strandgill – Sligo)
18. Ciaran McKeon (St. Michael’s – Sligo), 11. Christopher Joyce (Naomh Eanna – Galway), 8. Aaron O’Brien (Tyrellspass – Westmeath)
4. Luke Molloy (Cavan Gaels – Cavan), 13. Mairias Barrett (Naomh Eanna – Leitir Mór – Galway)
25. Cormac Murray (St. Joesph’s – Clare), 3. Matthew McGahern (Mullahoran – Cavan), 29. Joe Keaney (St Molaise Gaels – Sligo)
5. Barry Cafferkey (Bunninadden – Sligo), 15. Fola Ayorinde (St. Loman’s Mullingar – Westmeath), 26. Paul O’Hehir (Naomh Columba – Donegal)
Subs
19. Oisin McLaughlin for Cafferkey (half-time)
17. Darragh Fitzgerald for McKeon (half-time)
23. Peter O’Driscoll (Glen Rovers – Cork) for Joyce (46 mins)
14. Aaron Kellaghan (Rhode -Offaly) for Keaney (51 mins)
24. Kyle Cawley (St. Mary’s – Sligo) for Molloy (51 mins)
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Spot on Farrell. This isn’t mind games, Wales are a great side and the game could really go either way this Sunday. Tightest game of the round by a long stretch.
@Ultan Corcoran: this is the worst Welsh team in 15 years.
@Chris Mc: completely untrue.. they managed two wins and a draw over two championships finishing 5th both in 2006 and 2007 six nations and were eliminated from the group stages in the 2007 WC. This welsh team is made up predominantly of players who have been to a world Cup semi final, some having been to two, and as recently as 2019 won the GS. Even Ger Gilroys lobsidded moustache knows this
@PScald: ger Gilroy from off the ball is always stoking the fire, looking for a reaction. Wales may of been playing very poorly but cannot be written off. Wreckon it will be a tight game. COYBIG!!!
@Anthony O Connell: GG is a self serving POS and a complete hack..
@PScald: agreed. I like off the ball besides him
@Chris Mc: Is there really such a thing as ‘worst’ in test rugby? I don’t think so anyway. I would really really hate it now if the Welsh were to beat us, and that isn’t sarcasm, it would just be painful for all those dismissing Wales on here in recent posts and their ability, in a 2-horse race over 80mins. Anything can happen. Again…tight game and hoping Ireland will get the win by 3-7pts.
@PScald: so worst team in 14 years then
@PScald: since gatland finished they have been poor. They do have some good players but like their club sides lack any direction and show very little substance. It the Ireland 23 want to win and dont shoot themselves in the foot we will win handy enough.
@Chris Mc: sure, I dont necessarily disagree but it’s not what you said originally.
@Patrick Breen: how about make these judgements on a team 2 years on from a grand slam and WC semi final after the tournament
@PScald: form changes quick, and they’ve had a very poor season, in a similar way to us in 2019, but worse
Ireland are at their absolute worst when we’re heavy favourites, and Wales have something to prove. We’ve also won four in a row against them, so there’s no way they’re not going to show up, especially at home.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: Heavy favorites? I think we’re 2 or 3 point favorites
@Ricky Wright: Oh I wasn’t going off the bookies odds, more just the tone of the rugby press and people on social media.
I hope sexton has the Corona vaccine. A man of his age is in the vulnerable bracket!!!!
@Kevin O’brien: good one…
@Kevin O’brien: Painfully unfunny, even by your standards kEvInNnNn
Whatever we think of Ger Gilroy, it is ridiculous to see so much energy wasted getting all pissed off about it. Radio show host makes comment most people disagree with. People getting irate over nothing. He made the headlines. Job done.
@Ricky Wright: his job is to make headlines? Sorry, I thought he was a sports presenter
@Ricky Wright: it was tongue in cheek they were slagging themselves over the same comment they made back in 2019 about
There is no doubt that wales are in a bad run of form and the coach is under serious pressure to keep his job for the future.
This is why he has gone back to his experienced players but I believe that those players are just past their sell by date.
They are still very good players but I think there best days are past them and their age has to be catching up with them
I’d like to see an improvement with the line out , maul and defence. Even if we don’t win the game tomorrow you could take comfort if you saw these areas improve.
I’m still sticking with my original comment , Ireland to win by a one score game .