Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup: Round 2B
MTU Kerry 2-15 2-8 UCC
There was another shock in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup tonight as UCC - one of the pre-competition favourites - crashed out at the hands of a silky MTU Kerry side.
UCC selector Paul O’Keeffe had promised his side would ‘come back stronger’, after a spirited performance in defeat to UCD, but if anything the 2023 winners disimproved from last week’s display.
A rousing performance certainly didn’t look like coming in the early stages, and by half-time the home side had opened up a deserved 0-8 0-4 lead in Tralee.
Between both starting teams, only MTU Kerry goalkeeper Conor Melia (Offaly) and his corner-back Matthew Nee (Galway) were from outside Cork or Kerry in a spicy looking Munster derby.
The Kingdom outfit - beaten by 17 points by DCU in their opener - looked a completely transformed side, and things went from bad to worse for the favourites when Austin Murphy was picking the ball from his net courtesy of a 32nd minute MTU goal.
Keith Evans struck low to the net on his way to 1-3, and soon Conor O’Sullivan raised another green flag.
The second goal 15 minutes later essentially killed the contest - and with it UCC’s dreams of winning a 25th Sigerson title - as the side led by Billy Morgan trailed by 10 points.
UCC battled hard, and two late goals from Conor McMahon and Killian Falvey exemplified the fact that they were not going down without a fight, but the majors proved little other than a consolation as MTU Kerry advance.