UCC through to Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Final

Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup semi-final

UCC 1-11 (1-0-11) University of Galway 1-8 (1-2-4)

By Stephen Barry at The Mardyke

UCC are Croke Park-bound after they eventually made a more fluent footballing display count against University of Galway at the Mardyke.

The Skull and Crossbones relied upon an early Ruairí Murphy goal and four Cormac Dillon points at key junctures to seal an Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final return for the first time since their 2023 triumph.

The 24-time champions will face Queen’s University or UL in the final at GAA HQ next Wednesday.

This pair had eliminated last year’s finalists in the quarter-finals, with UCC dethroning DCU and the Corribsiders taking out UCD.

The hosts put in a dominant first quarter with some direct running down the heart of the maroon defence. Murphy, the captain and sole remaining starter from UCC’s last title in 2023, drew an early free when his charge down the middle was halted. Conor Daly tapped over.

With an early grip on the kick-out, they sliced through for the opening goal. Liam Evans bolted into space and laid off for Murphy to shoot. The Kerryman’s effort appeared to be pulled off target, but was deflected into the net by Jack Folan.

Ger Davoren got the visitors on the board with a half-blocked shot which carried over the crossbar. At the other end, Dillon was too easily picked out from a Daly free to make it 1-2 to 0-1.

Daly gave a great pass over the top to Ciarán Santry, who teed up Dillon for their next goal chance, only for the impressive Mike Moughan to get in a diving block. At the other end, Shane McGrath had an effort deflected out for a 45.

Eoin Colleran curled over a fine score before Jack Horgan pointed to restore the four-point lead.

University of Galway gained a lifeline in the 17th minute. McGrath and Tom O’Flaherty’s good work was embellished when Sigerson top-scorer Colleran skinned his marker and fired low to the net.

UCC, meanwhile, weren’t getting their reward due to poor shot selection and some courageous Galway defence. When Conor Corcoran blocked from Horgan, it was the third shot snuffed out in the early exchanges.

A Mark McInerney two-point free gave University of Galway their only lead after 22 minutes, but Conor Daly levelled. A superb diving block by Evans ensured parity remained, 1-4 apiece at half-time.

Daly had a shot tipped onto the post by Cillian Walsh after the restart, while McGrath smashed the crossbar.

Slowly, UCC began to creep away. Michael McSweeney countered for a point, Daly tacked on a free, and Dillon added three in a row.

Canice Mulligan pulled one back, but while Dillon was denied a goal, an Austin Murphy 45 and a Ciarán Santry score made it 1-11 to 1-5.

University of Galway made it a one-score game with a Colleran point and McInerney’s second two-point free in the fourth added minute, but they couldn’t find the goal to bring the game to extra-time.

Scorers for UCC: Cormac Dillon 0-4; Ruairí Murphy 1-0; Conor Daly 0-3 (2f); Austin Murphy (45), Michael McSweeney, James Horgan, Ciarán Santry 0-1 each.

Scorers for University of Galway: Eoin Colleran 1-2; Mark McInerney 0-4 (2tpf); Canice Mulligan, Ger Davoren 0-1 each.

UCC: Austin Murphy; Dan Peet, Jacob O’Driscoll, Darragh O’Connor; Liam Evans, Colin Molloy, Chris Kenneally; Michael McSweeney, Tom Cunningham; Emmet Daly, Ruairí Murphy, James Horgan; Cormac Dillon, Conor Daly, Ciarán Santry. Subs: Donnacha Desmond for E Daly (45), Harry Aherne for Horgan (56).

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY: Cillian Walsh; Conor Corcoran, Colm Moriarty, Jack Folan; Mike Moughan, Brian Cogger, Canice Mulligan; Ger Davoren, Seán Hansberry; Conor Sheridan, Tom O’Flaherty, Shane McGrath; Mark McInerney, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Eoin Colleran. Subs: Liam Ó Conghaile for Hansberry (36), Hansberry for Davoren (38, temp), John MacMonagle for Hansberry (43), Tom McGrane for Corcoran (51, inj), Dara Hurley for McGrath (59).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).