UU 0-9
UCD 1-18
SIGERSON CUP HOLDERS UCD advanced to next weekend’s semi-finals after a second-half demolition of 13-man University of Ulster at Jordanstown.
The Dublin outfit, with Paul Mannion top scoring with 0-7, hit 1-8 without reply in the second half after leading by just a point at the interval.
Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy scored the only goal in the 56th minute, but the game was already over with UCD making hay against the wind in the second period.
UU had the wind in the second half but made poor use of it, only scoring two points in total after the break. They lost their discipline too, with Gareth McKinless (two yellows) and Ronan McNamee (straight red) sent off.
UCD finished with 14 men, losing Dublin forward Colm Basquel to a straight red card after his tussle with McKinless midway through the second half.
He’ll now miss next week’s semi-final against either UL or DIT, who play tomorrow.
The first half was high quality with Paddy McBrearty sharp up front for UU hitting 0-4, including two from play, and Eoin McHugh and Ryan McAnespie also scoring fine points into the wind.
The sides were level five times in the opening half with Mannion putting man marker McKinless under extreme pressure.
UU just never showed up for the second half and UCD grew stronger and more purposeful, Conor McCarthy showing good composure to tuck the ball away after being put clean through the middle of the home defence.
Scorers for UU – P McBrearty 0-5 (3f), E Rafferty, R Brennan, R McAnespie, E McHugh 0-1 each.
Scorers for UCD – P Mannion 0-7 (6f), C McCarthy 1-2, A McDonnell 0-4, E Wallace 0-2, C Mullally, J Barry 0-1 each, B McGinn 0-1 (f).
UU: S Fox (Tyrone); R Brennan (Tyrone), R McNamee (Tyrone), M McEvoy (Derry); R McHugh (Donegal), G McKinless (Derry), S Sheridan (Armagh); N McKeever (Antrim), F Burns (Tyrone); T O’Brien (Derry), E Rafferty (Armagh), E McHugh (Donegal); P McBrearty (Donegal), R McAnespie (Monaghan), M Bradley (Tyrone)
Subs: E Donnelly (Fermanagh) for Rafferty (43), T Clarke (Fermanagh) for E McHugh (54)
UCD: C Honan (Meath); E Murchin (Dublin), M Fitzsimons (Dublin), N McInerney (Roscommon); C Mullaly (Dublin), S Coen (Mayo), J McCaffrey (Dublin); B O’Sullivan (Kerry); J Barry (Kerry); A McDonnell (Louth), C McCarthy (Monaghan), E Wallace (Meath); P Mannion (Dublin), C Basquel (Dublin), L Moran (Longford)
Subs: J Rossiter (Wexford) for McInerney (HT), B McGinn (Monaghan) for Moran (HT), T Hayes (Cavan) for McDonnell (56), S O’Dea (Limerick) for Wallace (55), E Lowry (Laois) for McCarthy (58)
REFEREE: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)
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Joubert was nothing short of a disgrace in the final .
Joubert was nothing short of a disgrace in every match he’s ever reffed.
Can you imagine if France won though? That would just be bad for rugby in general, and Lievremont might have kept his job longer!
I would more say that he bottled it rather than set out to ensure a home win. Having said that he was chosen to ref the final on the basis that he would bottle it.
They’ll need an even bigger performance from Andre Joubert if they’re to win it again.
*Craig Joubert
They’re clearly the best team on paper so it all just depends on whether they show up. I’ll be putting a sizeable bet on a Southern Hemisphere winner at 7/11. Bet of the century as far as I’m concerned.
Carter will be lucky to get his place in the team these days. Barrett and Slade will gunning for a starting berth. Their strength in depth is remarkable. They could their top 5 or 6 players and still win it.
*could lose their top 5 or 6 players
No Slade would never be starting unless an emergency situation a la 2011 were to happen again. He’s good but nothing more than a bench player. I’d have Cruden as the starting 10 if he wasn’t injured, however I’m confident DC will deliver as long as he doesn’t get injured. TBH the only headache and legitimate question from the above is who our starting right winger is. If you were to go by form you’d be urged to drop Savea for Naholo and have Skudder on the right, but that won’t happen.
Watched the documentary on the NZ triumph in 2011 on a plane a few years ago. Conrad Smith trying to choke back laughter when commenting on how Ireland beat Australia stuck with me. His take was; “you know, scoff scoff, one of these smaller northern sides, might, *tries to hold back laughter, in their day and that, scoff scoff, even, scoff, beat you!”