thescore.thejournal.ie/dcu-dit-sigerson-cup-805229-Feb2013/Sigerson Cup: DIT cause semi-final upset against DCU
Dublin IT 1-11
DCU 0-9
DUBLIN IT sprung a shock against competition favorites DCU in this afternoon’s Sigerson Cup semi-final at Athlone IT.
DIT, 7/2 outsiders before this game, were full value for their victory with a 51st minute goal by substitute Bernard Allen from Offaly sealing their triumph.
Allen pounced shortly after being introduced to blast a loose ball into the bottom corner of the net past DCU goalkeeper James Farrelly.
Mayo attacker Jason Doherty shone for DIT as he grabbed 0-6 while his county colleague Aidan O’Shea and Cavan’s David Givney exerted control at midfield.
DCU were flat throughout and only managed a solitary point from play, in the 42nd minute from Dean Rock, with Donegal star Michael Murphy expertly marshaled by Meath’s Bryan Menton in the DIT rearguard.
Dublin IT began brightly with Givney excelling as he floated over two long-range points to help them lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 5 minutes. Murphy kept DCU in touch through frees but at the other end Doherty caught the eye for DIT and along with a point from Ross Sheridan, he helped DIT lead by 0-6 to 0-2 in the 18th minute.
However DIT did no translate their superiority into scores and DCU chipped away at the deficit courtesy of a pair of converted Murphy frees.
DIT still managed to finish the half on a strong note with Doherty notching a superb score from play and tapping over a free to push his side into a 0-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.
DCU emerged for the second-half in determined fashion with Murphy helping them reduce the margin to only two points, 0-9 to 0-7, by the 44th minute. However that was as good as it go for the reigning champions with DIT closing out the game in a powerful fashion and Allen’s goal sealed their passage through to their first final appearance since 2009.
Scorers for Dublin IT: Jason Doherty 0-6 (0-5f), Bernard Allen 1-0, David Givney 0-2, Ross Sheridan, Darran O’Sullivan, Alan Nestor (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for DCU: Michael Murphy 0-8 (0-8f), Dean Rock 0-1.
DUBLIN IT: Robert Lambert (Aughrim, Wicklow); Kevin O’Brien (Naomh Mearnóg, Dublin), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Meath), Gary O’Hare (Na Piarsaigh, Louth); Ross Sheridan (Killygarry, Cavan), Nick Devereaux (Ballinteer St John’s, Dublin), Colin Walshe (Doohamlet, Monaghan); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy, Mayo), David Givney (Mountnugent, Cavan); Martin Reilly (Killygarry, Cavan), Mark Collins (Castlehaven, Cork), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar, Kerry); Ciarán Reddin (St Maur’s, Dublin) Tomás O’Connor (Clane, Kildare), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole, Mayo).
Subs: Bernard Allen (Tubber, Offaly) for Reddin (47), Paul Maguire (St Judes, Dublin) for O’Sullivan (inj) (54),
DCU: James Farrelly (Kingscourt, Cavan); Conor Boyle (Clontibret, Monaghan), Johnny Cooper (Na Fianna, Dublin), William Lowry (St Vincent’s, Dublin); Jack Brady (Ramor United, Cavan), Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Michael Quinn (Emmett Og Killoe, Longford); Fiontain O Curraoin (Micheál Breathnach, Galway), James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams, Dublin); Chris McGuinness (Ballybay, Monaghan), Paul Flynn (Fingallian’s, Dublin), Antoin McFadden (St Michael’s, Donegal); Philly Ryan (St Brigid’s, Dublin), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly, Donegal), Dean Rock (Ballymun Kichams, Dublin).
Subs: Conor Dunleavy (Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh, Dublin) for Daly (19), Davy Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams, Dublin) for McFadden (21), Gary Sweeney (St Sylvester’s, Dublin) for Rock (53), Brian Donnelly (Cooley Kickhams, Louth) for O Curraoin (53), Donal Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for Quinn (57).
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo)
thescore.thejournal.ie/ucc-sigerson-805739-Feb2013/Sigerson Cup: Conor Cox points the way as UCC claim spot in decider
UCC 1-20
Athlone IT 1-9
UCC BOOKED THEIR place in the Sigerson Cup final this afternoon with an impressive 1-20 to 1-9 win over Athlone IT.
The Billy Morgan managed side were far too strong for their opponents in a game that was played at the Athlone IT grounds.
2011 champions UCC will now go forward to tomorrow’s decider against Dublin IT in what will be their third final appearance in four years.
Six of their team – Eoin O’Mahony, Peter Crowley, Jamie O’Sullivan, Niall Daly, JB Spillane and Kevin O’Driscoll – started in that final victory two years ago against UUJ.
The scoring damage was done this afternoon by two newcomers in Kerry’s Conor Cox, who fired 0-10 from full-forward, and Tipperary’s Conor Sweeney, who weighed in with 1-5 from corner-forward. Their contribution helped UCC cope with the loss of attacker Paul Geaney with the Kerry player ruled out with a hamstring injury.
It was the hosts Athlone IT who had got off to a bright start when James McGivney smashed a fierce drive to the net in the 11th minute after UCC lost possession as they attempted to work the ball out of defence.
That put Athlone IT ahead by 1-1 to 0-2 and with Kieran Martin, their best player on the day, and Frank Burke on target, they were in front by 1-3 to 0-4 by the 17th minute.
However UCC then took over with Peter Acheson in towering form at midfield while Eoin O’Mahony, Peter Crowley and Jamie O’Sullivan fronted a strong rearguard.
That resulted in several chances being created up front with Cox, Gavin O’Grady, Brian Coughlan and Luke Connolly all on target to help them string together seven unanswered points before the break.
Facing a 0-11 to 1-3 deficit as they emerged for the second-half, Athlone IT did briefly threaten to make a fight of it but UCC soon resumed their dominance. Sweeney emerged as their go-to guy up front and after UCC notched a series of points, it was the Tipperary man’s goal in the 54th minute which sealed their triumph as it propelled them into a 13-point advantage.
The game petered to its inevitable conclusion from there with UCC now going forward to contest tomorrow’s final where they will hope to claim the college’s 21st Sigerson Cup title.
Scorers for UCC: Conor Cox 0-10 (0-7f), Conor Sweeney 1-5 (0-3f), Luke Connolly 0-2, Peter Acheson, Brian Coughlan, Gavin O’Grady 0-1 each.
Scorers for Athlone IT: Kieran Martin 0-4 (0-1f), James McGivney 1-0, Alan Coffey 0-2, Frank Burke 0-1.
UCC: Sean Mellet (Carrigaline, Cork); Philip Galvin (Ballymacelligot, Kerry), Eoin O’Mahony (Macroom, Cork), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers, Kerry); Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown, Cork), Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Tomas Clancy (Fermoy, Cork); Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary), JB Spillane (Castlegregory, Kerry); Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadgh MacCarthaigh, Cork), Brian Coughlan (Kinsale, Cork), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers, Cork); Gavin O’Grady (Glenbeigh-Glencar, Kerry), Conor Cox (Listowel Emmett’s, Kerry), Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen, Tipperary).
Subs: Darragh O’Sullivan (Dingle, Kerry) for Coughlan, Eoghan Buckley (St Michael’s, Cork) for O’Grady, Fergal McNamara (Austin Stacks, Kerry) for Crowley, Billy Hewitt (Ardfinnan, Tipperary) for Cox, Paul Murphy (Rathmore, Kerry) for Clancy.
ATHLONE IT: Gary Connaughton (Tubberclair, Westmeath); Colm O’Brien (Menlough, Galway), Killian Clarke (Shercock, Cavan), Eoin Kerins (Annaghdown, Galway); Levi Murphy (Cavan Gaels, Cavan), Thomas Rahill (Oldcastle, Meath), James Dolan (Garrycastle, Westmeath); Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown, Galway), Ger Egan (Tyrellspass, Westmeath); James McGivney (Northern Gaels, Longford), Kieran Martin (Maryland, Westmeath), Peter Masterson (Dromard, Longford); Alan Stone (Castledaly, Westmeath), Frank Burke (Annaghdown, Galway), Alan Coffey (Tubberclair, Westmeath).
Subs: Diarmuid Maleady (Edenderry, Offaly) for Kerins, Cathal Shine (Clann na Gael, Roscommon) for Duggan, Dan Queeney (Enfield, Meath) for Masterson, Adam Caul (Round Towers Lusk, Dublin) for McGivney, Duggan for O’Brien.
Referee: Gary McCormack (Dublin)