University of Limerick 3-12
DCU Dochas Éireann 0-12
Kevin Egan reports from Netwatch Cullen Park
UL WILL GET the chance to go one step further than last year and win a first ever Sigerson Cup title next Wednesday night in Waterford after their greater goalscoring threat powered them past DCU in the first of the two semi-finals, played at Netwatch Cullen Park tonight.
The two sides hit the ground running with some fantastic attacking play in the opening quarter in this game, with Keelin McGann the star of the show as he struck two excellent scores for DCU from wide positions.
Four times DCU took the lead and four times UL replied to level the game in that period, but the contest changed completely when Ciarán Downes pounced on an underhit sideline ball to get there before goalkeeper David O’Hanlon, and after steadying himself up, the Clare county star measured a 30 metre shot that bounced perfectly on the edge of the square before nestling into the DCU net.
Downes added a skyscraper of a point as UL built up a 1-7 to 0-4 interval lead, but it looked like DCU were well on the way to a comeback as the introduction of the Donegal duo of Johnny McGroddy and Oisín Gallen livened up their attack. Gallen was in sublime form, racking up five second-half points, but while they cut the gap back to three points, a breakaway move midway through the half ended up with Aaron Griffin finding the net from a tight angle to double the margin.
Again DCU rallied and McGann’s third point of the night narrowed the gap to three points, 2-8 to 0-11, but UL finished strongly and counter-attacked very effectively, wrapping up the game when Downes cut through and laid off to Eoghan McLaughlin, with the Mayo man blasting the ball to the top corner to confirm the win.
Scorers for UL: Ciaran Downes 1-3, Aaron Griffin 1-1, Eoghan McLaughlin 1-0, Paul Walsh 0-3 (0-1f), Paul Keaney 0-2 (0-2f), John Hayes 0-1, Daniel Walsh 0-1, Mark Lenehan 0-1 (0-1f).
Scorers for DCU: Oisín Gallen 0-5 (0-1f), Keelin McGann 0-3, Lorcan O’Dell 0-2, Páraic Hughes 0-1, Johnny McGroddy 0-1.
UL
Conor Flaherty (Claregalway, Galway)
Colm Moriarty (Annascaul, Kerry), Jack Glynn (Claregalway, Galway), Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis, Mayo)
Darragh Cashman (Millstreet, Cork), Jack O’Brien (Durrow, Offaly), Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Clare)
Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport, Mayo), Paul Keaney (St. Mary’s Kiltoghert, Leitrim)
Ciarán Downes (Kilmihil, Clare), Ikem Ugweuru (Éire Óg, Clare), Mark Lenehan (Buttevant, Cork)
John Hayes (St. Kieran’s, Limerick), Emmet McMahon (Kildysart, Clare), Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey, Clare)
Subs
- Sean McDonnell (Mallow, Cork) for Hayes (38)
- Brian McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare) for Ugweuru (42)
- Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephites, Mayo) for Keaney (49)
- Paul Walsh (Brosna, Kerry) for McMahon (52)
- Cian Glennon (St. Faithleach’s, Roscommon) for Lenehan (56)
DCU
David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna, Dublin)
Tomás Crean (Creggs, Roscommon), Páraic Hughes, (Kilanerin, Wexford), Jamie Grant (Termon, Donegal)
Alex Beirne, (Naas, Kildare), Seán Fitzgerald (Barna, Galway), PJ Masterson (Abbeylara, Longford)
Bill Carroll (Cappincur, Offaly), Kevin Quinn (Baltinglass, Wicklow)
Shane O’Donnell (St. Eunan’s, Donegal), Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge St., Dublin), Keelin McGann (Kenagh, Longford)
Jack Bryant (Shamrocks, Offaly), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers, Cork), Seán Jones (Inniskeen Grattans, Monaghan)
Subs
- Oisín Gallen (Seán MacCumhaills, Donegal) for Bryant (28)
- Johnny McGroddy (Downings, Donegal) for Jones (28)
- Mark Cully (Carbury, Kildare) for Masterson (half-time)
- David Lacey (Na Fianna, Dublin) for McGann (59)
- Ross Ó Mearlaigh (Glenfin, Donegal) for Grant (60)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
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Might win something there
@John O Reilly: who is she
Extremely tough choice for any young player. A big loss for Mayo and Football in general. Massive opportunity for him though. Very best of luck to him.
@Cian Nolan: I don’t think it’s that tough a choice. It’s a chance to play professional sport that he may never get a chance to do again. Also great chance to experience living in another country, best time to do it is when you’re young and have less commitments back home. If it doesn’t work out or doesn’t enjoy it he can always come home and come back into the Mayo set up at any time.
@DK: Agree. The only thing that makes it tough is living in the other side of the world away from family but financially it’s a no brainer. Irish AFL rookies get $80k a year (about €50k), 3 free flights home a year, free car and free rent. If they don’t make it they come home with enough money for a deposit for a house and got to play pro sport in Australia and can slip right back into playing high level GAA. If they do make it they earn a salary similar to pro rugby players 200-300k per year. Be mad not to go
@Phil Redmond: you’re right and you’ve me sold Philo. You’ve hardly got a phone number there for one of the clubs do you, preferably Eagles, Dockers, Brisbane or Gold Coast (nicer weather). I’ll give them a shout and see how they’d fancy a lad with a stylish blue knee patch, great under the high ball taking marks and that. Can handle myself around the small ‘parallelogram’ and beyond. Slightly getting on in years. Rare opportunity for them to pick up a gem of the Junior football division. Will need to be kept away from the drink if required to train and play, though only trains well and plays well if I’ve had a drink. I’m well bred, brother played county, which I could’ve also and legend has it, would’ve been better if it wasn’t for the knee and the drink.
@This time its personable!: It sounds like your clubs junior 3 team wouldnt be willing to let you go easily :-)
A massive loss to Mayo. Wishing him all the best
Arguably the best up and coming player in the country. A huge loss to Mayo.
Best of luck young man,great player…
He’ll have to put up with the GAA hassling him now, they’ll be sending priests and gards up to the house to try talk him out of it. “Would ya not stay here and play and train the same as professionals but with no pay, in the most expensive to live in country in Europe?”
Class player. Huge loss.
No brainer, enjoy the experience.
@Fr Romeo sensini.: yes too good to turn down
Great opportunity for him , all the best of luck to him
You cannot blame him really. Some of those players who done so well took so much crap from the people of Mayo after the loss to Tyrone its no wonder he is moving half way around the world to play his Football. He can get some sun and make a few bob too. Good on him , look at Orla O’Dwyer she is ripping it up and making some good money too.
@Gary O’Rourke: that’s a joke right? I saw more abuse from journalists towards mayo players than I did from mayo fans to players! And if there’s one player that definitely didn’t get abuse it’s Oisin Mullen!
Mayo should have been doing all the could like Tyrone done with Mcshane to get this lad to stay. Can’t blame him for wanting to go though
@mel roberts: its forwards we need mel. Big loss but we usually dont have a problem finding backs
@Kieran Doherty: he’s class. Regardless of the quality we have at the back, he makes the team better. Big loss
Does anyone know the success rate of code switchers? It would be an interesting one to see how many make AFL appearances. If it’s lower than expected, would there be scope for introducing an Aussie Rules youth league in key Football counties to run on opposite season times to Football? The intricacies of the sport might be less alien then for those lucky enough to get a pro sport contract. Just a short 2-3 month season like Rugby 7s and Rugby League in Ireland is to work around Rugby Union.
@SomeGuy: that’s tricky that, what is success to you? Is successful being winning a Brownlow Medal or Grand Final. Then that’s easy, two were successful. I’ve high standards me like.
@This time its personable!: We’re not talking about you.
@Paddy Waggon: I was joking, to be fair there have been many over the years, Stynes, Kennelly, Clarke, Touhy, Hanley, Begley, Setanta, McKenna and O’Connor, they would be the top off my head but it’s some achievement to go over there in the first place and then to actually make it to play in the AFL, that’s something to be proud of for sure. There’s been so many others who’ve gone played a few games and came back due to various reasons and would still have great respect for them, doing something like that, at such a young age and so far from home, not an easy task so I’d think going there in the first place means they’re a success, the rest is just the icing, cherries and all the rest to add to the cake.