IT’S SIGERSON CUP semi-final day and we’re bringing you all the coverage from the Mardyke in Cork, as UCD take on DCU at 2pm and UCC face IT Carlow at 4pm.
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Our immediate focus is on the UCD and DCU game. It’s a repeat of last year’s quarter-final which UCD won out by 3-11 to 3-10 after a thrilling clash. UCD lead the way on the competition roll of honour, but you have to go back to 1996 for their last title win. DCU in contrast have lifted the trophy recently in 2006, 2010 and 2012.
UCD are managed by former Galway All-Ireland winner John Divilly, while DCU are guided by Niall Moyna, who has recent inter-county experience with Dublin and Down. DCU can also can call upon the expertise of Sean Boylan, the legendary Meath manager. Niall Moyna recently lauded the ‘genius’ of Boylan for his contribution. High praise indeed…
So how have the sides got to this stage? For UCD, John Heslin was the scoring star in their opening round win over Athlone IT at Belfield. Then Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey and Kildare’s Niall Kelly spearheaded their run to glory against GMIT in last week’s quarter-final in Belfield.
DCU for their part are used to being on the road this season. Roscommon’s Enda Smith bagged two goals as they saw off a star-studded Jordanstown team in the opening round. Then they were back to Belfast for the quarter-final and needed extra-time before seeing off St Mary’s…
Referee for today’s game is Rory Hickey of Clare.
DCU have made three changes to their starting line-up for today’s game. Midfielder Tom Flynn (Galway) and wing-forward Davy Byrne (Dublin) are both injured, so they’re replaced by Fintan Kelly (Roscommon) and Donal Wrynn (Leitrim) respectively. The other changes sees Donal Smith (Roscommon) take the place of full-forward Niall Murphy (Sligo).
The rain is starting to pour here at the Mardyke. Hopefully it won’t detract from what should be a very good game betwen DCU and UCD here on Leeside.
Here’s how the teams are lining out…
DCU
Tadgh Lowe
Jack Smith
Conor Boyle
Conor Daly
Dessie Ward
Conor Moynagh
Colm Begley
Fintan Kelly
Steven O’Brien
Diarmuid O’Connor
Conor Meredith
Donal Wrynn
Enda Smith
Donal Smith
Conor McHugh
UCD
Eoghan Keogh
Ryan Wylie
Davey Byrne
Martin O Cathalain
Conor Mulally
Mark Deegan
Jack McCaffrey
Conor Sheridan
John Heslin
Brian Fenton
Arran O Muruchu
Niall Kelly
Eoghan Nolan
Mark Hughes
Ryan Basquel
1 min – DCU 0-1 UCD 0-0: Good start for DCU with a point from Conor Meredith inside the opening minute.
3 mins – DCU 0-2 UCD 0-0: Enda Smith extends DCU’s early lead.
6mins – DCU 0-3 UCD 0-0: Conor McHugh points a free for DCU. UCD have already hit three wides.
9 mins – DCU 0-4 UCD 0-1: UCD’s Eoghan Nolan and DCU’s Enda Smith trade points.
11 mins – DCU 1-4 UCD 0-1: Goal for DCU! Stephen O’Brien delivered the ball in to Donal Wrynn and Enda Smith found the net.
12 mins – DCU 1-5 UCD 0-1: Conor Moynagh adds another point for DCU. What a start for them.
13 mins – DCU 1-5 UCD 0-2: John Heslin points a free for UCD after a foul on Jack McCaffrey.
20 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-2: Enda Smith points for DCU after his brother Donie robbed Heslin of the ball to set him up.
26 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-2: Matt O’Hanlon (Wexford) and Ciaran Lenehan (Meath) have replaced Conor Sheridan and Eoghan Nolan (black card) for UCD.
27 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-3: Lenehan makes an immediate impact for UCD with a fine point.
30 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-4: Heslin points a free for UCD.
30 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-4: Rob McDaid replaces Mark Deegan for UCD.
HALF TIME – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-4
DCU in control at the break here in the Mardyke as they hold a five-point lead. It could have been greater but Conor Meredith was foiled in his attempt for a second goal by UCD defender David Byrne. Roscommon’s Enda Smith the star of the show so far as he’s bagged 1-3 for DCU.
Back underway here for the second-half. DCU have brought on Conor McGraynor at the break for Diarmuid O’Connor.
31 mins – DCU 1-6 UCD 0-4: The second half is up and running here at a rainy Mardyke.
35 mins – DCU 1-7 UCD 0-5: Heslin and Niall Kelly trade points early on.
36 mins – DCU 1-7 UCD 0-5: Conor McGraynor with a swift response with a point for DCU.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-6: Niall Kelly point.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-7: Heslin points from a free and there’s just a kick of a ball between them now.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-8: Brilliant Brian Fenton point for UCD. The gap is closing.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-9: Another excellent Heslin point for UCD and now there’s just a point between them.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-9: David Mannix comes on for DCU in place of Donal Smith but his first contribution is to miss a free.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-10: They’re level! A fifth point in a row for UCD, this time thanks to Niall Kelly.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-10: DCU’s Shane Carey has been shown a black card.
DCU 1-7 UCD 0-10: The scores are still even with four minutes of normal time remaining.
UCD 0-11 DCU 1-7: Substitute Jack Barry with UCD’s sixth point in a row and they lead in the dying moments. Two minutes of added time to be played. Incredibly tense finale.
UCD 0-11 DCU 1-7: McGraynor is fouled and DCU have a penalty!
DCU 2-7 UCD 0-11: GOAL! Enda Smith’s penalty is saved by Eoghan Keogh but Smith nets from the rebound.
DCU 2-8 UCD 0-11: Colm Begley points a free for DCU.
FULL-TIME – DCU 2-8 UCD 0-11
What an incredible first Sigerson Cup semi-final we’ve just witnessed! UCD were seven points behind in the first half but rallied in the second period to lead by one as the game entered added time. But a goal from Enda Smith and a Colm Begley point have sent DCU through to the decider.
Right then, let’s turn our attention to the second semi-final. Reigning champions UCC are on home soil as they go up against IT Carlow, who have never reached the semi-final stage before.
UCC are favourites to advance here. They’re backboned by several members of last year’s team that won the final against Jordanstown in Belfast. Managed by Cork All-Ireland winner Billy Morgan, they’re bidding to reach a fifth final in six years after winning titles in 2011 and 2014, while losing deciders in 2010 and 2013. This is all uncharted territory for IT Carlow, who include Kilkenny hurling trainer Mick Dempsey among their coaching team.
IT Carlow are used to travelling to date in this campaign. They saw off IT Tralee in Kerry in the opening round by three points, while they got the better of UL by a narrow margin in Limerick in last week’s quarter-final tie. Galway’s Barry McHugh and Tipperary’s Liam Boland have been their scoring stars so far.
UCC were comfortable winners over local rivals Cork IT in their first-round clash, while they then overcame IT Sligo in last week’s quarter-final. Cork trio Conor Dorman, Brian O’Driscoll and Tom Clancy, along with Kerry’s Conor Cox, have been central to their progress to date.
Tipperary’s Derek O’Mahoney is the referee here.
Just about to get under way here for the second Sigerson semi-final at the Mardyke.
Here’s how the teams will line out…
UCC
Micheál Martin
Fearghal McNamara
Jack McGuire
Pádraig O’Connor
Conor Dorman
David Culhane
Tomás Clancy
Seán Kiely
Gary O’Sullivan
Shaun Keane
Luke Connolly
Brian O’Driscoll
Thomas Hickey
David Harrington
Conor Cox
IT CARLOW
Shane Murphy
Thomas O’Connell
Conor Lawlor
Declan Smyth
Eoin Lynch
Thomas Featherston
Eoin Walsh
Will Young
Mark Sherry
Kevin Ryan
Anthony Dever
Anthony Forde
Liam Boland
Kevin Mulvany
Barry McHugh
Carlow’s Brendan Murphy an interesting inclusion at full-forward on the IT Carlow side.
UCC 0-2 IT Carlow 0-1
Brace of points for Conor Cox for UCC, one from a free and one from play, sandwich a ’45 converted by IT Carlow’s Barry McHugh.
There was a big goal chance for UCC for that last point when Thomas Hickey set up Cox but his fiercely-struck shot under pressure saw the ball fly just over the bar.
Favourites UCC not quite motoring fluidly in the early stages.
UCC 0-3 IT Carlow 0-1
Kerry’s Thomas Hickey knocks over his first point of the day for UCC with a left-footed shot from a free.
UCC 0-3 IT Carlow 0-2
That’s a fabulous left-foot point by Liam Boland for IT Carlow, the Moyle Rovers man arcing a shot over from the left wing.
UCC 0-3 IT Carlow 0-3
And now we’re level as goalkeeper Shane Murphy strides upfield to boot over a long-range free for IT Carlow.
IT Carlow 0-4 UCC 0-3
The underdogs hit the front through wing-forward Kevin Ryan.
IT Carlow 0-5 UCC 0-3
Liam Boland stretches IT Carlow’s lead to two points from a free.
IT Carlow 0-5 UCC 0-4
David Harrington pulls a point back for UCC after being set up by captain Thomas Clancy.
UCC 0-5 IT Carlow 0-5
All square now as Conor Cox lofts over a point for UCC.
IT Carlow 0-6 UCC 0-5
Barry McHugh restores IT Carlow’s lead by pointing a free.
Underdogs IT Carlow ahead 0-6 to 0-5 in Sigerson semi-final against UCC.
IT Carlow 0-6 UCC 0-5
Advantage to IT Carlow at the break and UCC have plenty scope for improvement in the second-half.
IT Carlow 0-6 UCC 0-6
UCC quickly draw level early in the second-half through David Harrington.
UCC 0-7 IT Carlow 0-6
And UCC hit the front as Conor Cox taps over a free after Clancy is fouled.
Goal for UCC from Luke Connolly!
UCC 1-7 IT Carlow 0-6
Far different complexion on this game now. UCC have powered out of the blocks for the second-half and they hit the net for a crucial score. Harrington’s point effort hangs in the air before being punched clear under pressure by IT goalkeeper Shane Murphy. It falls invitingly for Luke Connolly who gathers and hammers a shot to the net.
UCC 1-8 IT Carlow 0-7
Cox slots over a free for UCC and they go four clear.
UCC 1-9 IT Carlow 0-7
Cox turns and hooks over a stylish point off his left and the defending champions are now gone five points clear.
UCC 1-10 IT Carlow 0-7
Cox again points for UCC and they’re now six clear. They’ve been more resolute in defence in the second-half and more potent in attack.
UCC 1-11 IT Carlow 0-7
David Culhane bounds forward from defence to stretch UCC’s lead to seven points.
UCC 1-12 IT Carlow 0-7
UCC fully in control of this game now and they’re set for the final it seems. Shaun Keane pops over their latest point.
Thomas Hickey fires home UCC’s second goal.
UCC 2-12 IT Carlow 0-7
That should be that now. Thomas Hickey neatly sidesteps IT Carlow goalkeeper Shane Murphy to strike home their second goal after the chance was created for him by Cox and Connolly.
All over and it’s a 2-12 to 0-8 win for UCD against IT Carlow. Better side in the second-half and they set up a final meeting with DCU tomorrow. Thanks for joining in today.
