Sigerson run ends
UCD 5- 16 IT SLIGO 2- 6
WITH a cluster of Dublin inter- county players on the UCD panel, IT Sligo knew they faced a mammoth challenge in their Independent. ie HE GAA Sigerson Cup Round 1 match in Belfield. Padraig McGourty’s side put in a spirited display and were only four points adrift at the break, yet four second half goals put the game to bed for the holders. UCD now play Ulster University in the quarter- finals of the competition.
Sligo had the better of the early exchanges at Belfield before Larry Moran landed the game’s first goal for UCD on 17 minutes, sliding the ball past Daniel Cafferkey after a slick move involving Conor McCarthy and Paul Mannion.
Eoghan Bán Gallagher threw Sligo a lifeline six minutes later, the Donegal man shooting low under Meath ’ keeper Colm Honan. UCD led 1- 9 to 1- 5 at half- time and the defending champions came out of the blocks fast in the second half with Paul Mannion fisting a goal home following Colm Basquel’s pass.
Sligo’s Cathal McGettigan was shown a black card as he up- ended Basquel moments later with Dean McGovern outfoxing Honan for Sligo’s second goal in the 42nd minute, punching a high ball to the net.
However, UCD had too much power and pace for the visitors and ran in a further three second- half goals, from Conor McCarthy, Larry Moran and in injury- time from sub Brian ó Seannacháin, to progress. Scorers UCD: L Moran 2- 2, E Lowry 0- 4 ( 3f), A McDonnell 1- 1, P Mannion 1- 0, B ó Seannacháin 1- 0, E Wallace 0- 2, C McCarthy 0- 2; R McDaid, J Barry, C Basquel, B McGinn, BD O’Sullivan 0- 1 each. IT Sligo: J Brennan 0- 3, E B Gallagher 1- 0, D McGovern 1- 0, C McGettigan ( f), R Gorman, J Shaughnessy 0- 1 each.
UCD: C Honan; C Mullally, R McDaid, P Healy; S O’Dea, S Coen, J McCaffrey; B D O’Sullivan, J Barry; C McCarthy, C Basquel, E Wallace; P Mannion, L Moran, E Lowry. Subs: B McGinn for Mannion ( 35), E Murchan for Basquel ( 40), A McDonnell for Coen ( 40), N McInerney for McCaffrey ( 53), B ó Seannacháin for O’Dea ( 53).
IT Sligo: D Cafferkey; R Gallagher, A McClean, D McConnon; EB Gallagher, R Gorman, E McGrath; R Connolly, K McBrearty; P Neilan, R Smyth, C McGettigan; B Walsh, J Shaughnessy, J Brennan. Subs: D McGovern for Walsh ( h- t), D Curran for Neilan ( 34), K Rudden for Brennan ( 49), J O’Reilly for McGrath ( 54), S Meehan for McGettigan ( BC).