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St Mary's defeat UCD in Sigerson Cup semi-final

Caolan Dillon, left, and Liam Rafferty of St Mary's University celebrate after the Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup Semi-Final match between St Mary's University and University College Dublin at Mallow GAA in Mallow, Cork. 

Caolan Dillon, left, and Liam Rafferty of St Mary's University celebrate after the Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup Semi-Final match between St Mary's University and University College Dublin at Mallow GAA in Mallow, Cork. 

Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Semi Final

ST MARY’S 0-10 UCD 0-7

By John O’Shea in Mallow.

St Mary’s are through to the final of the Sigerson Cup after a hard working display saw them overcome the challenge of UCD in Mallow on Saturday afternoon.

In what was a battle of sheer will and desire, the Belfast side were to show how much they wanted this with their workrate both with and without the football.

This was quite a unique occasion for Conor Meyler lining out for UCD. Two years ago, he was on the Mary’s side that won the Sigerson title.

In windy conditions, it was a very tight and cagey opening to proceedings with neither side keen to give the other the edge.

Stephen McConville’s free in the 10th minute was the opening score of the game. It was a productive opening half from that young man who ended up the first 30 minutes with four points in all.

UCD were finding the St Mary’s defence a tough nut to crack and, despite the best efforts of Dublin’s Con O’Callaghan and the other forwards from the Dublin college, they would end the first half scoreless.

Aided by a strong breeze, St Mary’s got a number of fine scores from distance including those from Jarleth Og Burns, Liam Rafferty and Ryan Coleman.

Tactically the Belfest college were getting it spot on and they went into the half time break in front 0-7 to UCD’s 0-0.

UCD’s first score of the day came in the 36th minute through a point by Barry Dan O’Sullivan. The 2018 champions would do their very best to come out on top, with Evan O’Carroll also slotting over with a number of scores.

But St Mary’s, the side that won the competition back in 2017, were to showcase their fighting spirit to keep themselves in front.

McConville added to his talley on the day with a fine score after good link up play with Shane McGuigan.

Despite the best efforts from UCD to muster a fightback, in the end they would come up short on this particular occasion.

Ryan Coleman’s fisted effort was the icing on the cake for St Mary’s, who now are 60 minutes away from securing the Sigerson crown for the 2nd time in three years.

Scorers for St Mary’s: Stephen McConville(4f) 0-6, Ryan Coleman 0-2, Liam Rafferty, Jarleth Og Burns 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCD: Evan O’Carroll(3f) 0-3 Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Darragh Kennedy, Peter Healy, Cian O’Connor 0-1 each.

St Mary’s: Mark Reid (Down); Liam Rafferty (Tyrone), Caolan Dillon (Armagh), Miceal Rooney (Down): Colm Byrne (Tyrone), Ryan McSherry (Armagh), Aaron Duffy (Armagh): Jarleth Og Burns (Armagh), Liam Devlin (Down): Stephen McConville (Down), Shane McGuigan (Derry), Aaron Boyle (Armagh): Niall Toner (Derry), Ryan Coleman (Tyrone),Cathair McKinney (Armagh). Subs: Conor McAllister (Derry) for Boyle (48), Ronan McGrath(Down) for McConville(61)

UCD: Tommy O’Brien (Monaghan): Brian Byrne (Kildare), Mark Dempsey (Kildare), Peter Healy (Antrim): Mike Breen (Kerry), Cillian O’Shea (Dublin), Cian O’Connor (Dublin): Darren Gavin (Dublin), Stephen Coen (Mayo): Conor Meyler (Tyrone), Conor McCarthy (Monaghan), Luke Fortune (Cavan): Con O’Callaghan (Dublin), Evan O’Carroll (Laois), Barry McGinn (Monaghan).

Subs: Barry Dan O’Sullivan (Kerry) for Breen(16)(b/c), Gary Walsh (Laois) for Meyler (21)(b/c). Brian O’Seachain(Kerry) for McGinn(44), Darragh Kennedy(Cavan) for Fortune(47).

Ref: James Bermingham(Cork).