Lowry and Barry to fore as UCD open their account

UCD manager John Divilly believes his side will only get better as the 2016 Sigerson Cup champions began with an impressive win over NUI Maynooth.

UCD were shocked by St Mary’s in last year’s final but minus rested Con O’Callaghan, they were still far too good in Maynooth. Laois youngster Eoin Lowry scored the first-half goal for UCD and went on to account for 1-7 of their tally. The visitors led by 1-8 to 0-1 at the interval and star midfielder Jack Barry added the second goal shortly after the break.

“We were very nervous coming out here because we hadn’t any competitive football since November 30,” said Divilly. “It was really a bit of a shot in the dark how things were going to go today. But in fairness to the guys they are a good bunch.”

SEASONED

The more seasoned UCD settled better as they raced into a huge 1-5 to 0-0 lead after just 16 minutes, 1-2 of that falling to Lowry.

Ryan O’Rourke final registered NUI Maynooth’s first score in the 17 th minute, but that point was all they could manage in the first half.

Conor McCarthy scored a free before Kerry ace Barry lobbed the keeper to give UCD an unassailable 2-9 to 0-1 lead. There was a mini revival from the hosts, inspired by O’Rourke who added two more points, but their ten first-half wides were costly.

McCarthy added a beautiful point before the end to seal a perfect day for UCD.

SCORERS – UCD: E Lowry 1-7 (5f), C McCarthy 0-3 (2f), J Barry 1-0, L Casey 0-3, E O’Carroll, J Feehan 0-1 each. NUI Maynooth: K Beirne 1-2 (1-0 pen), R O’Rourke 0-3 (1f), K O’Callaghan 0-1.

UCD – C Manton; L Fortune, C O’Shea, C Mullaly; E Murchan, S Coen, J Feehan; B O’Sullivan, J Barry; L Casey, C McCarthy, P O’Connor; B Byrne, E O’Carroll, E Lowry. Subs: T Hayes for O’Connor (30), L Moran O’Carroll (52), B Ó Seanacháin for Casey (52), J Rossiter for Lowry (59), D Maguire for O’Sullivan (59). NUI MAYNOOTH – N Currie; J Gibbons, M Hyland, J Mooney; E O’Donnell, T Hannifan, C Cannon; P Cribbin, P Brophy; D O Baoill, R O’Bourke, D Flynn; A Jones, P Fogarty, K Beirne. Subs: K O’Callaghan for Cannon (30), L Knowles for Hannifan (BC, 33), C Dunne for Jones (37), S McDonagh for Gibbons (BC,55).

REF – M McNally (Monaghan)