Round-up: Wednesday's Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup action
Callum Bolton, UCD, and Conor Reid, ATU Galway, in Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup action. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Sigerson Cup First Round Roundup
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK 0-17 (0-0-17) MTU CORK 1-9 (1-1-7)
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 1-14 (1-0-14) UG 0-11 (0-2-7)
UCD 3-12 (3-0-12) ATU GALWAY 0-10 (0-1-8)
ST. MARY’S 1-20 (1-2-16) MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY 1-22 (1-3-16)
UCC 3-18 (3-1-16) ATU SLIGO 0-15 (0-3-9)
In another heavyweight clash in what has been a fascinating first round of games in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup, Queen’s University laid down an early marker with an impressive win over University of Galway, avenging their heavy defeat and championship exit to the westerners 12 months ago.
Tyrone’s incredibly strong record at U-20 level in recent years is feeding through to this team and with manager Feargal Logan ideally placed to harness that pipeline of talent, Queen’s look to be in excellent shape in advance of what will be a very informative round 2A clash with UCC.
Ronan Cassidy pitched in with six points while Conor O’Neill and Noah Grimes also impressed for Queens.
University of Galway started brightly with Mark McInerney kicking an early two-pointer and they were full value for their narrow lead after 40 minutes. Derry’s Anton Tohill found the net to give Queen’s a decisive lead with ten minutes to play at Abbotstown however, suggesting that he could yet emulate his father Anthony who won this famous competition 33 years ago, also with Queens.
It was plain sailing at Belfield for UCD, who started brightly with a Peter Duffy but then had their hands full with a lively ATU Galway side for long stretches. David Prendergast hit the game’s only two pointer shortly before half-time and then added another white flag early in the second half to leave just a goal between the teams, but the Mayo corner forward duo of Darragh Reilly and Niall Hurley got goals at the beginning and the end of the second half to establish a comfortable winning margin.
It was far from comfortable at Davitt’s GAA club in West Belfast today where Maynooth University hit the target from outside the arc three times in the second half, twice from Offaly’s Harry Plunkett who came off the bench, edging out St. Mary’s.
The Dunshaughlin pair of Conor Duke and Conor Gray hit 1-7 between them for Maynooth who led by 1-11 to 1-7 at half time, the goals coming from Gray and Donal Gallagher.
St. Mary’s briefly held the lead with Shea McCann (0-7) leading their scoring but Plunkett’s doubles saw the away side scrape through.
It was another tense away win at MTU Cork, where UL came back from conceding a penalty before half-time and trailing by three to hold MTU scoreless for the next 24 minutes and run out five point winners.
Jack Dillon scored the penalty but in yet more good news for Mayo manager Andy Moran, Frank Irwin and Cian McHale hit 0-7 and 0-4 respectively, just one each from frees, while Charlie King , sub Daithí Hogan and Cathal Keavney struck late points to cancel out Fintan Fenner’s two-pointer that opened the door to a smash and grab win.
The last game of the night was in Edenderry in Offaly where UCC were very impressive against ATU Sligo.
Conor Daly hit 3-4 for the skull and crossbones jerseys who led by six points after 19 minutes and never looked back, even after Matt Carey and Cian Keaney raised orange flags in quick succession to briefly cut the lead to 3-9 to 0-11 and hint at a possible comeback.
