The University of Galway bowed out of the Sigerson Cup last night at the Mardyke in Cork, following a 1-11 to 1-8 semi-final defeat at the hands of UCC. The sides were level at 1-4 each at half-time, with Eoin Colleran getting the Galway goal in the 17th minute to bring his side back into the game after the home side had raced into an early 1-2 to 0-1 lead. A Mark McInerney two-point free briefly had the Galway lads in front, but a Conor Daly free for UCC meant the sides could not be separated at the break. With no fewer than 7 Kerry lads on the starting team, it was UCC who dominated the third quarter, and they landed five points in succession, including three in a row from Cormac Dillon. Despite Canice Mulligan pulling one back for UoG, further scores from goalkeeper Austin Murphy ('45) and Ciaran Santry made it 1-11 to 1-5, and it looked all over. All credit to Maurice Sheridan's charges for putting in a spirited finish, as an Eoin Colleran point was followed by a second two-point free from Mark McInerney, but they couldn't manage the match-saving goal they needed, so it is UCC who march on to next Wednesday's final in Croke Park against either Queens Belfast or UL, who meet in the second semi-final this evening (6 pm).
University of Galway: 1. Cillian Walsh (Claregalway), 2. Conor Corcoran (Maigh Cuilinn), 3. Colm Moriarty (Kerry), 4. Jack Folan (St James’s), 5. Mike Moughan (Maigh Cuilinn), 6. Brian Cogger (Corofin), 7. Canice Mulligan (Sligo), 8. Ger Davoren (Maigh Cuilinn), 9. Seán Hansberry (Menlough), 10. Conor Sheridan (Sligo), 11. Tom O’Flaherty (Mayo), 12. Shane McGrath (Dunmore MacHales), 13. Mark McInerney (Clare), 14. Cillian Ó Curraoin (Micheál Breathnach), 15. Eoin Colleran (Roscommon). Subs: 22. Liam Ó Conghaile (An Spidéal) for Hansberry (36), 9. Hansberry for Davoren (38, temp), 18. John MacMonagle (Castlebar, Mayo) for Hansberry (43), 27. Tom McGrane (Kildare) for Corcoran (51, inj), 25. Dara Hurley (Mayo) for McGrath (59).
Scorers for University of Galway: Eoin Colleran 1-2, Mark McInerney 0-4 (2tpf), Canice Mulligan 0-1, Ger Davoren 0-1.
UCC: 1. Austin Murphy (Kerry), 2. Dan Peet (Clonakilty), 3. Jacob O’Driscoll (Valley Rovers), 29. Darragh O’Connor (Kerry), 34. Liam Evans (Kerry), 31. Colin Molloy (Nemo Rangers), 7. Chris Kenneally (Clonakilty), 8. Michael McSweeney (Knocknagree), 9. Tom Cunningham (Kilshannig), 11. Emmet Daly (Kerry), 10. Ruairí Murphy (Kerry), 12. James Horgan (Kerry), 25. Cormac Dillon (Kerry), 14. Conor Daly (Clonakilty), 15. Ciarán Santry (Carbery Rangers). Subs: 19. Donnacha Desmond (Ballincollig) for E Daly (45), 6. Harry Aherne (Ballincollig) for Horgan (56).
Scorers for UCC: Cormac Dillon 0-4, Ruairí Murphy 1-0, Conor Daly 0-3 (2f), Austin Murphy 0-1 (45), Michael McSweeney 0-1, James Horgan 0-1, Ciarán Santry 0-1.
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
You can listen back to the full commentary of the game with Jonathan Higgins and Barry Cullinane here...
