Round-up: Queen's and DCU Dóchas Éireann advance in Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup
Anton Tohill is a key performer for Queen's University. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Round 3
Queen’s University 1-14 Ulster University 0-12
DCU Dóchas Éireann 1-16 ATU Galway 1-13
Queen’s University came with a gutsy late comeback to eliminate rivals Ulster University in an intense derby in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup.
The eight-time champions trailed into closing three minutes at Jordanstown, where they were facing into the wind, but dug deep to strike the final 1-3 without reply for a 1-14 to 0-12 triumph.
A booming Anton Tohill two-point free gave them the lead in the second added minute and, with 64 minutes on the clock, Joey Clarke sealed their quarter-final berth with a walk-in goal.
Queen’s began with the wind and rain at their backs and built a cushion which wasn’t headed until the closing stages.
A pair of two-point frees from Ryan McQuillan were the key scores for a 0-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.
The Antrim forward also added the opening score, which was cancelled out by Ruairí McCullagh. A Luke Diamond point was also nullified by a McCullagh free before the first of McQuillan’s orange flags in the 15th minute.
McCullagh’s frees kept Ulster University in touch until a late flurry via McQuillan’s second orange flag and Noah Grimes’ single for a three-point lead at the break.
Ulster University immediately cut the deficit to the minimum. Charlie Diamond, brother of Luke on the opposition team, curled over an early two-pointer.
Queen’s had three in quick succession from Conor O’Neill, Conall Higgins, and a Ronan Cassidy free to hold a two-point lead entering the final quarter.
Ben Cullen’s two-pointer levelled and McCullagh’s sixth point handed Ulster University their only lead.
That lasted until the 58th minute and Cassidy’s equalising free. From there, Tohill nailed his long-range free off the turf, and while their rivals had late attempts for green and orange flags, Queen’s countered for Clarke’s clincher.
Meanwhile, champions DCU Dóchas Éireann extended their Sigerson reign with a victory away to ATU Galway by 1-16 to 1-13.
Both sides traded blows across a hard-fought first half. DCU goalkeeper Michael Tansley nabbed a two-point free, but when David Prendergast raised an orange flag, they were level.
The next two scores were goals as Seanán Carr and Ryan Roche hit the net at either end.
When DCU fell behind for the only time early in the second half, Senan Baker slingshot them ahead with a two-point free.
Fionn McDonagh’s orange flag brought ATU back into the game, but DCU closed out with scores from Darragh Swords, Conor Dolan, and a Baker brace to complete his 0-8 contribution.
