IT Carlow 0-11
University of Limerick 0-10
Jackie Cahill reports from the University of Limerick
THERE WAS A dramatic end to this afternoon’s Sigerson Cup quarter-final in Limerick as IT Carlow made history by qualifying for the semi-finals for the very first time.
A late injury to Kerry’s Michael Flannery, who landed heavily on his neck before appearing to suffer a seizure on the ground, resulted in the conclusion of the game being delayed by almost half an hour.
Flannery was well enough to walk onto an ambulance that ferried him from the ground.
When play finally resumed, hosts UL had a couple of chances to take the game into extra-time but IT Carlow, with Kilkenny hurling selector Michael Dempsey on board as a member of their management team, held out to set up a last-four showdown with UCC or Sligo IT.
In a tit-for-tat second half, Carlow led by two points on as four occasions but each time, UL whittled the deficit back to the bare minimum.
But Carlow, who had an eight-point haul from Galway hitman Barry McHugh, clung on for a famous victory. McHugh hit six points in the first half, including five frees, as Carlow led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
UL centre back Denis Daly bombed over two spectacular points from either touchline – one from a sideline and the other a free – as the side managed by former Limerick and Laois boss Liam Kearns kept in touch.
But UL, wind-assisted in the first half, were playing catch up from the moment that McHugh landed a free with the final play of the first half.
And while they were constantly breathing down Carlow’s necks, the visitors prevailed as goalkeeper Shane Murphy popped up with a long-range free in the 56th minute.
Daniel McLaughlin responded with a 57th minute score before the long delay but that was as good as it got for UL.
Scorers for IT Carlow: Barry McHugh 0-8 (0-6f), Liam Boland 0-2 (0-1f), Shane Murphy 0-1 (0-1f).
Scorers for UL: Niall McDermott (0-3f), Daniel McLaughlin 0-3 each, Shane Killoran, Denis Daly (0-1 sideline, 0-1f) 0-2 each.
IT CARLOW
1. Shane Murphy (Kilcummin, Kerry)
2. Thomas O’Connell (Rathangan, Kildare)
3. Conor Lawlor (Palatine, Carlow)
4. Declan Smyth (Dunsany, Meath)
5. Eoin Lynch (Longwood, Meath)
6. Thomas Featherston (Oran, Roscommon)
7. Eoin Walsh (Moycullen, Galway)
8. Will Young (Clonaslee, Laois)
9. Mark Sherry (Two Mile House, Kildare)
10. Kevin Ryan (Summerhill, Meath)
11. Anthony Dever (Lahardane, Mayo)
12. Anthony Forde (Moynalvey, Meath)
13. Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary)
17. Kevin Mulvany (Ramor, Cavan)
15. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew/Moylough, Galway)
Subs
14. Thomas Shiels (Stradbally, Laois) for Mulvany (40)
18. Rea O’Ceallaigh (An Rinn, Waterford) for Sherry (59)
20. Ronan O’Brien (Carlow) for Lynch (b/c 60)
UL
1. Ruairi Lavelle (Renvyle, Galway)
4. Fergal Boland (Aghamore, Mayo)
3. Cathal Long (Dingle, Kerry)
18. Patrick O’Connor (Kerry)
5. Aidan Rowan (Cashel, Longford)
6. Denis Daly (St Mary’s, Kerry)
7. David Larkin (Horeswood, Wexford)
8. Conor MacNamee (Rhode, Offaly)
9. Eoin Carroll (Cappincur, Offaly)
13. Antoine McFadden (St Michael’s, Donegal)
11. Niall McDermott (Ballinagh, Cavan)
12. Shane Killoran (Elphin, Roscommon)
17. Craig O’Brien (Wolfe Tones, Clare)
14. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s, Limerick)
15. Daniel McLaughlin (St Michael’s, Donegal)
Subs
28. Phelim McHugh (Drumkeerin, Leitrim) for MacNamee (20)
19. Daire McLoughlin (Cork) for O’Brien (half-time)
20. Bryan O’Shea (Dr Crokes, Kerry) for Hegarty (b/c 47)
21. Michael Flannery (Dingle, Kerry) for Rowan (b/c 55)
25. Conor Hussey (Michael Glavey’s, Roscommon) for Flannery (60)
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
