Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final
University College, Dublin 0-15 Ulster University 3-12
A STUNNING three-goal first-half salvo was the catalyst for Ulster University to end their 16-year famine as they captured a sixth Sigerson Cup title with a deserved victory over a gutsy UCD at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
Courtesy of the blitzkrieg of green flags in the opening 30 minutes, which led to their shell-shocked opponents wondering just what had hit them, Barry Dillon’s charges went in at the interval with a nine-point cushion (3-6 to 0-6).
When the excellent Canavan siblings, Darragh and Ruairi, notched the opening two points on the resumption, the winners were 11 points to the good, and despite a more than spirited UCD fightback, Ulster University always kept them at arm’s length.
John Divilly’s side, inspired by the attacking magnificence of star man, Roscommon’s Daire Cregg (he kicked nine points on the night), reduced the deficit to four points during a much improved second-half display, but the goal that they really needed to ignite their challenge never materialised.
Goals were the order of the day at the other end of the pitch in the first half when, after an evenly-matched opening 10 minutes, Ulster University struck for two green flags in the space of 60 seconds which, pretty much, took the wind from the UCD sails.
Conor Cush and Ruairi Canavan did the spade-work for Derry full-forward Niall Loughlin to billow the net in the 12th minute and, gathering the resulting kick-out, Ciaran Daly had a shot well saved by the UCD goalkeeper, before the outstanding Oisin McCann buried the rebound from close range (2-2 to 0-2).
To be fair to UCD, they didn’t retreat into their shells, notching an unanswered three points, but with Darragh Canavan particularly excellent, Ulster University’s third goal in the 29th minute, made by McCann and clinically dispatched by his midfield colleague Ben McCarron, was the game’s key score.
The aristocrats of this competition (34 titles to their name), needed a strong start to the second half, but with Ulster University firing over those first two scores, and now with a commanding double-figure lead, the destination of the spoils was, pretty much, done and dusted.
However, gaining some impact off their bench, and with the peerless Cregg , aided by Monaghan’s Davy Garland, continuing to deliver the goods up front, six white flags on the trot (with Ulster University having a barren spell of 13 minutes), reduced the winners’ lead to five (3-8 to 0-12) heading into the last quarter.
There was never a question of UCD throwing in the towel, and they tried everything to navigate a passage through for what might have been a game-changing goal, but the Ulster University defence held firm, aided and abetted by the magnificent McCann, who made a superlative catch in his own square in the closing stages of a momentous victory.
UCD K Roche (Laois); L Smith (Dublin), R Brickenden (Mayo), D McElearney (Monaghan); R O’Toole (Monaghan), S Callinan (Mayo), S Coffey (Meath); P Duffy (Dublin), J Lynam (Westmeath); D Gilmore (Derry), D Cregg (Roscommon) 0-9 (0-4fs, 0-1mk), D Moriarty (Meath); A Lynch (Meath), C Bolton (Kildare), D Garland (Monaghan) 0-5 (0-3fs).
Subs L Costello (Galway) 0-1 for Smith (ht), C Egan (Offaly) for Duffy (36), S Forker (Dublin) for Moriarty (37), B McNulty (Leitrim) for Lynch (44), T Clancy (Dublin) for Gilmore (60)
UU R McGeehin (Donegal); R Boyle (Monaghan), C Diamond (Derry), S Donaghy (Tyrone); J Largo Ellis (Fermanagh) 0-1, R Magill (Down), P Og McCartan (Tyrone); O McCann (Tyrone) 1-0, B McCarron (Derry) 1-0; R McCaffrey (Fermanagh), C Cush (Tyrone), C Daly (Tyrone); D Canavan (Tyrone) 0-5, N Loughlin (Derry) 1-1, R Canavan (Tyrone) 0-4 (0-3fs).
Subs E Magee (Armagh) for McCartan, inj (22), E Brown (Down) 0-1 for Daly (44), D Curran (Tyrone) for Loughlin (60+3), J Cunningham (Armagh) for Cush (60+3), D Fullerton (Tyrone) for R Canavan (60+5).
Referee S Lonergan (Tipperary)