UCC 2-12
NUI Galway 1-14
Declan Rooney reports from Dangan
SIGERSON CUP CHAMPIONS UCC held on by the skin of their teeth this afternoon as NUI Galway missed a 66th minute free that would have sent this first round game in Dangan to extra-time.
Rob Finnerty was outstanding for NUI Galway and his 1-9 tally dragged the Galway side back into contention after UCC recovered from a sluggish start to take control on this first round game.
Goals from James McEntee and Rory Cunningham gave UCC a seven-point lead at one stage in the first-half, but Finnerty’s goal lifted them again.
Despite his Corofin commitments next week, NUI Galway captain Kieran Molloy was brought on for the second half and his point kept them in touch, but Killian Spillane and Diarmuid O’Connor efforts got UCC over the line as Dessie Connelly missed a late leveller.
Another dramatic finish in Dangan! @ucc_gaa hold off @nuiggaa1 to advance in the @HigherEdGAA Sigerson Cup. Check out the highlights here. #FirstClassRivals pic.twitter.com/PjYQSxWJkn
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) January 12, 2020
In the midst of a downpour NUI Galway got off to a brilliant start against last year’s champions. Lining out with Conneely and Finnerty as a two man full-forward line, with Patrick O’Donnell sweeping for his side, there was plenty of room for the dangerous inside men to operate in.
Finian Ó Laoi got NUI Galway’s first point when a goal chance seemed to be there for the taking, while Finnerty’s point on the turn was added to when Ó Laoi cut in off the right and landed a sweet score. Ó Laoi, Nathan Mullen and Finnerty linked up again as NUIG took a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after five minutes.
While their start may have been slow there was nothing slack about the next 11 minutes from UCC. The hit an unanswered 2-5 including goals from McEntee and Galway native Cunningham, while two Sean O’Shea frees – he was well marshalled by Eoin O’Donoghue – and two points from Mark Cronin, including one marked effort, put them 2-5 to 0-4 clear.
Finnerty was the big danger man for the Galway side though. He landed two great points to settle his side, and then somehow found himself unmarked inside seven minutes from half time and he beat Eoghan O’Brien with ease.
Further points from Ó Laoi and a Finnerty mark meant the hosts deserved to be within one point at the break, as UCC led 2-7 to 1-9 at half-time.
The arrival of Molloy in the NUIG team gave UCC something to think about, but a Finnerty point soon had the Galway side level. Ó Laoi and goalkeeper Ronan O Beloain both kicked wides for NUIG as they sought the lead but they could never claim it back.
O’Connor and Spillane kicked good points for UCC either side of a great Molloy score, but despite their best efforts NUI Galway couldn’t takes their chances and the champions survived.
Scorers for UCC: Rory Cunningham 1-1, James McEntee 1-1, Mark Cronin 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 mark), Sean O’Shea 0-2 (0-2f),Diarmuid O’Connor 0-1, Killian Spillane 0-1, Cian Gammell 0-1, Brian Hartnett 0-1, Colm O’Callaghan 0-1.
Scorers for NUI Galway: Rob Finnerty 1-9 (0-3f, 0-1 mark), Finian Ó Laoi 0-3, Kieran Molloy 0-1.
UCC
1. Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill, Kerry)
3. Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty, Cork)
4. Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk, Kerry)
6. Michael Flood (St Bridget’s, Meath)
23. Ross Dunphy (Éire Óg, Carlow)
24. Brian Hartnett (Douglas, Cork)
7. James McEntee (Curraha, Meath)
8. Padraig Lucey (Legion, Kerry)
29. Padraig Feehan (Killenaule, Tipperary)
10. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare, Kerry)
11. Killian Spillane (Templenoe, Kerry)
33. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg, Cork)
17. Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers, Cork)
31. Rory Cunningham (St Brendan’s, Galway)
14. James Naughton (St Senan’s, Limerick)
Subs
9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil,Kerry) for Feehan (46)
32. Gary Murphy (Castletownbere, Cork) for Cunninghan (51)
26. Colm Barrett (St Finbarr’s, Cork) for Spillane (57)
NUI Galway
1. Ronan Ó Beolain (Michael Breathnach, Galway)
17. Kevin Carr (Newtown Blues, Louth)
3. Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet, Mayo)
2. Stephen Brennan (Claremorris, Mayo)
13. Patrick O’Donnell (Oilean Arann, Galway)
5. Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor, Sligo)
6. Sean Mulkerrin (Oilean Arann, Galway)
7. Aiden Claffey (Moycullen, Galway)
8. Cein Darcy (Caherlistrane, Galway)
9. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy, Mayo)
12. Finian Ó Laoi (An Spidéal, Galway)
11. Nathan Mullen (Mullinabreena, Sligo)
10. John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra, Galway)
14. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra, Galway)
15. Dessie Conneely (Moycullen, Galway)
Subs
32. Kieran Molloy (Corofin, Galway) for Carr (half-time)
26. Padraig Costello (Dunmore McHales, Galway) for Maher (36)
34. Gavin Burke (Corofin, Galway) for Claffey (40)
27. Iarla O’Sullivan (Longford) for O’Donnell (46)
21. Conor Bohan (Moycullen, Galway) for Brennan (57).
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).
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Khan, soon to be 33-5
@Seriously: whilst running from Brook
@Barry Newell: running from brook to Crawford?! One of the pound for pound best.
@Barry Newell: did you watch Brooks last fight?
@Barry Newell: Khan doesn’t need Brook. Brook needs Khan.
Crawford is #1 P4P in my book Kahn is going to get a battering here
Fair balls to him taking the far harder fight for a smaller paycheck. I would fancy him to beat Brook based on their most recent showings whereas, on paper, Crawford should stiffen Khan within the first 6 rounds.
@EBurton: He’ll get 5m and a beatin’ from TC instead of 10m from KB. Course there is a chance of winning a belt in the TC fight. As you said, fair balls to him.
@EBurton: if he takes in Crawford it’s a no pressure fight, we all know he’ll lose. Far more pressure on a domestic fight with Brook that he might be expected to win. So altho he’s fighting the better fighter it’s a softer option in my opinion
@EBurton: He can lose to Crawford and then fight Brook. He can’t really risk losing to Brook because then he won’t get Crawford. Win win.
Brook Kahn is a big fight from a British entertainment point of view same way haye bellew was. It has no relevance to any weight division and doesn’t make a mark on the world scene. It’s a big fight in Britain because it’s a grudge match between two well known fighters. Amir has a chance of greatness by fighting Crawford. Yes he has hardly no chance of beating him but do you think he thinks that? No chance! Same as when he fought Canelo. Amir chased Floyd and manny around for years because he wants to test himself against the best. He should be commended for taking on a p4p top 3 over lining his and matchrooms pockets by settling a domestic grudge match
@niall murphy: go on the murph
He’ll get battered. Another knockout on the cards.
@samstheman: could be the case. Crawford is so far so far out of his league it’s almost an embarrassing bought. Will be as one sided as his attempt to fight Canelo.
Love that he takes on the hard fight. Shame more aren’t the same
Its a smart move even if he loses he can go back to the Brook fight.
Kudos to Khan
Cant knock Khan for wanting big fights, hes consistently put himself out there.
Stupid to suggest hes running from a second rate considering who he has got in the ring with. But hes gonna get knocked out clean again. Lose this then one final pay day with brook
@Peter Govan: *got in the ring with (and dropped on his snot by…).
Brook is so desperate for one last payday its embarassing. Brook v Khan is just a british level fight now, only the hearn ballticklers would want to watch that shambles.
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