Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Semi-Final

UCC 4-9 NUIG 1-15

By John O'Shea at Mallow

UCC showed their grit and determination to eventually see off the challenge of a spirited NUIG side and book their place in the Sigerson Cup final.

The cutting edge in front of goal was to prove crucial for the Cork side, with Kerry's star Sean O’Shea most certainly bringing his shooting boots.

O’Shea netted a brace of goals in the opening few minutes of the contest. He got his first through what was a composed finish, while adding to that moments later when he showed great reactionary instincts to get on the end of an attempted point by Killian Spillane which was underhit.

NUIG though responded well and pointed through efforts from Michael Daly and also Jack Robinson.

A fine point from a wide angle from Peter Cooke levelled the game up. But Conor Geaney would point for UCC just before the break to edge his side in front 2-3 to 0-8 at the half time break.

NUIG had the most perfect of second half starts, when John Maher blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

Their celebrations did not lost too long however, as Eimhin Courtney netted with a cool finish for UCC.

They would go on to have a five point lead. But NUIG were not going to go away and the reduced the gap down to just a single point, with Michael Daly slotting over a number of scores from frees.

But Geaney would put the finishing touches to a well worked UCC move to ease the pressure being put on them.

As they did throughout, NUIG would keep fighting right up until the very end. But UCC were professional and saw the game out to a successful conclusion.

UCC will now go on to face St Mary’s of Belfast in the Sigerson decider, after the Belfast college defeated a highly fancied UCD outfit in the other semi final clash on Saturday.

Given the displays showcased by both over the semi finals this weekend, it is a final which should be an intriguing battle and should be a gripping spectacle.

**Scorers for UCC:  **S O’Shea 2-3 (2fs), C Geaney 1-4 (1f), E Courtney 1-1, P Clifford 0-1.

Scorers for NUIG: M Daly 0-7 (7fs), J Maher 1-0, P Cooke, N Mullen, O Gallagher, R Finnerty (f), J Daly (f) 0-1 each.

(2-3, 0-2 frees), C Geaney (1-4, 0-1 free), E Courtney (1-1), P Clifford (0-1).

UCC: Mark White (Clonakilty, Cork); Michael Flood (St Bridget’s, Meath), Kevin Flahive (Douglas, Cork), Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses, Kerry); James McEntee (Curraha, Meath), Brian Begley (An Gaeltacht, Kerry), Cian Kiely (Ballincollig, Cork, Capt); Padraig Lucey (Legion, Kerry), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary); Padraig Clifford (Fossa, Kerry), Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks, Kerry), Conor Horgan (Nemo Rangers, Cork); Conor Geaney (Dingle, Kerry), Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg, Ennis, Clare), Killian Spillane (Templenoe, Kerry).

Subs: Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk, Kerry) for J McEntee (23 inj), Ronan Buckley (Listry, Kerry) for C Horgan (39), Conal O’Hainifin (Éire Óg, Ennis, Clare) for C Kiely (55), Garry Murphy (Castletownbere, Cork) for K Spillane (57), Ryan Forde (Annaghdown, Galway) for G O’Sullivan (61).

**NUIG: **Aaron Brady (Elphin, Roscommon); Stephen Brennan (Claremorris, Mayo), Sean Mulkerrin (Oileán Árann, Galway), Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor, Sligo, Capt); Kieran Molloy (Corofin, Galway), Ruairi Greene (Kilannin, Galway), Nathan Mullen (Mullinabreena, Sligo); Peter Cooke (Moycullen, Galway), Cein Darcy (Caherlistrane, Galway); Patrick O’Donnell (Oileáin Arann,, Galway), Enda Tierney (Oughterard, Galway), John Maher (Salthill, Galway); Rob Finnerty (Salthill, Galway), Jack Robinson (Clogherinkoe, Kildare), Michael Daly (Mountbellew, Galway).

Subs: Owen Gallagher (St Joseph’s, Antrim) for P O’Donnell (23), John Daly (Mountbellow, Galway) for R Finnerty (39), Finian Ó Laoi (An Spideal, Galway) for J Maher (46), Gerry Canavan (Mayo Gaels, Mayo) for J Robinson (47 B/C), Evan McGrath (Boyle, Roscommon) for S Brennan (56).

REFEREE: Derek O’Mahoney(Tipperary).