UCD defy losing marquee men to bring home Sigerson crown

UCD overcame the psychological blows of losing Dublin stars Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey to injury to deservedly claim a first Sigerson Cup in 20 years.

Mannion hobbled off after 17 minutes with a quad injury while for the second day in a row, 2015 Footballer of the Year McCaffrey was forced off with a hamstring injury, this time late on with his side a point ahead.

Neither injury is thought to be too serious, and McCaffrey certainly didn’t look too concerned as he lifted the trophy and immediately paid tribute to the late UCD mentor Dave Billings, who died last year.

‘We didn’t use the memory of Dave as motivation at any one point during the year, but he was kind of with us all the way,’ said McCaffrey.

‘He always preached about how the Sigerson Cup was about the friendships we’d make, but winning this isn’t half bad either!’

After losing Mannion, UCD’s woes were compounded by the loss of Kildare forward Niall Kelly to a black card offence in the 29th minute.

And having played all the football in the first half, they somehow found themselves a point behind at the break after being hit with a sucker-punch 11 from DCU in firsthalf injury-time, Tipp midfielder Stephen O’Brien with the goal.

Trailing 1-2 to 0-4 at the interval and facing into a strong wind without two of their marquee forwards, it looked ominous for the south Dublin college, but they made their superiority count on the scoreboard.

UCD quickly reasserted themselves and reeled off four unanswered points in the third quarter, man of the match John Heslin with three frees, to go 0-8 to 1-2 ahead after 44 minutes.

UCD were by far the more fluid side and DCU’s penalty came against the run of play.

Conor McHugh went on a good run down the left and passed inside to fellow sub Conor McGraynor, who swivelled and was upended in the square.

Cavan’s Conor Mynagh stepped up and buried the penalty in the 52nd minute to draw the holders level at 2-2 to 0-8.

Last year’s champions DCU dropped two efforts into the goalkeeper’s hands after that and UCD made them pay with Westmeath star Heslin converting a crucial point from the left after 56 minutes.

UCD picked up their second black card when Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy, who’d scored in either half from play, was ordered off near the end but having used all six subs it meant they finished the game with 14 men.

With DCU short of ideas, substitute Stephen Coen (above), scored from a tight angle in the first minute of stoppage-time to make sure of victory for UCD. ucD: E Keogh; R Wylie, D Hyland, D Byrne; C Mullaly, M Fitzsimons, J McCaffrey (S O’Dea 57); L Casey (T Moolick 58), R McDaid; C McCarthy (BC 60), J Heslin, C Basquel; E Lowry (J Barry 53), P Mannion (T Hayes 17), N Kelly (J McEntee BC 29, S Coen 43). ScORERS: J Heslin 0-6 (4f), C McCarthy 0-2, P Mannion (1f), S Coen 0-1 Dcu: P O’Donnell; K Daly (D Ward 44), K Feeley, J Smith; S Attride, C Moynagh, D Byrne; S O’Brien, M Quinn (S Carthy HT); D O’Connor, E Smith (C McNally 59), C Begley; R Connor (C McGraynor HT), R Lyons (C Breheny 47), S Carey (C McHugh 47) ScORERS: C Moynagh (pen), S O’Brien 1-0, S Carey (1f), S Attride 0-1 Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)