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Tomás O'Connor was in action for DIT today. INPHO/James Crombie
SURVIVE

Reigning champions DIT withstand St Mary's challenge to reach Sigerson quarter-final

The reigning champions now advance to take on UUJ.

Dublin IT 2-11
St Mary’s (Belfast) 1-13

HOLDERS DIT DREW on all their battling instincts in Coolock today to set up a Sigerson Cup quarter-final clash with UUJ.

Sean Fox’s side edged a one-point game at the Parnells club grounds with sub Bernard Deay from Kildare shooting the winning point.

They took advantage of a straight red card for St Mary’s corner-forward Richard O’Callaghan. He was dismissed with 20 minutes to go after an incident that required lengthy treatment to DIT and Dublin defender Kevin O’Brien.

With the extra numbers, DIT were on top in the final third of the game and scored 1-6 in the last 17 minutes after O’Callaghan’s departure. But it was far from convincing from a side with ambitions of making it to the finals weekend in Belfast.

Conor Grimes netted for DIT after just four minutes and they relied on the score to keep the in the game as St Mary’s came to life.

The Belfast outfit led by 0-8 to 1-4 at half-time with some fine scores from distance from wing-back Conor Clarke and Down’s Kevin McKernan.

Tyrone ‘keeper Niall Morgan converted two placed balls for Mary’s after the break. But the sending off and a scrappy DIT goal for Conor Madden soon after turned the game decisively.

DIT pulled four clear at one stage late on and could afford to leak a 52nd minute Danny McBride goal.

Scorers for DIT: Conor Madden 1-1, Conor Grimes 1-0, Kevin O’Brien and Peter Acheson 0-2 each, Shane O’Connor, Nicky Devereux, Tomas O’Connor, Karl O’Connell, Bryan Menton and Bernard Deay 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Mary’s: Danny McBride 1-1, Conor Clarke 0-3, Niall Morgan (0-1 45, 0-1f) and Ryan Johnston 0-2 each, Conor McMahon, Jerome Johnston, Kevin McKernan, Aidan Maguire and Emmet Bradley 0-1 each.

DIT: Conor Ferris (Dublin); Gary O’Hare (Louth), Bryan Menton (Meath), Mickey O Hehir (Sligo); Kevin O’Brien (Dublin), Nicky Devereux (Dublin), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan); Tomas O’Connor (Kildare), Peter Acheson (Tipperary); Darren O’Reilly (Dublin), Ciaran Reddin (Dublin), Shane O’Connor (Dublin); Bernard Allen (Offaly), Conor Grimes (Louth), Harry Dawson (Dublin).

Subs: Niall Scully (Dublin) for Dawson (41), Michael Argue (Cavan) for Grimes (43), Conor Madden (Cavan) for Allen (47), Bernard Deay (Kildare) for O’Reilly (55), Ross Sheridan (Cavan) for O Hehir (61).

ST MARY’S: Niall Morgan (Tyrone); Michael Murray (Armagh), Niall Donnelly (Down), Aidan Maguire (Antrim); Conor Clarke (Tyrone), Danny McBride (Tyrone), Ruairi Loughran (Tyrone); Peter Carragher (Armagh), Benny Hasson (Antrim); Ryan Johnston (Down), Kevin McKernan (Down), Conor McMahon (Tyrone); Tommy Canavan (Tyrone), Jerome Johnston (Down), Richard O’Callaghan (Fermanagh).

Subs: Ronan Sexton (Down) for McMahon (36), Emmet Bradley (Derry) for Murray 54, Aidan McGarrity (Tyrone) for Hasson (59).

Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).

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