Advertisement
DCU's Diarmuid O'Connor blocks the shot of Eamon Quigley. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Sigerson Cup

DCU make light work of Athlone IT as Monaghan star Carey scores hat-trick

It was a one-sided affair at the DCU sports grounds this evening.

DCU 6-14
Athlone IT 1-7

MONAGHAN’S SHANE CAREY blasted 3-6 as holders DCU send out a serious statement of intent in Round 1 of the Sigerson Cup.

Corner-forward Carey, a county title winner with Scotstown last season, was unstoppable for the hosts who also had a key man in Conor McGraynor.

Powerful full-forward McGraynor scored just a single goal himself but set up both of Carey’s first two goals before being rested as DCU pulled away.

Manager Niall Moyna, assisted by legendary Meath figure Sean Boylan, has an arsenal of inter-county talent to call upon and the Glasnevin outfit will fancy their chances of a successful title defence.

Their reward for victory is a quarter-final clash with IT Carlow on 10 February and they will travel with confidence.

Still, they took their time to get going this evening and were just 0-6 to 0-2 ahead entering first-half injury-time.

But a brilliant McGraynor catch led to Carey’s first goal before McGraynor held off a defender to sneak home a goal himself moments later.

Mark Plunkett and Daniel Monagle Daniel Monagle and Mark Plunkett battle for possession. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

DCU led 2-6 to 0-2 at half-time and sealed victory early in the second-half when Carey played a one-two with McGraynor before slotting home their third goal.

Carey rounded off his hat-trick in the 47th minute while Dublin’s Shane Carthy and rising Roscommon star Ultan Harney also hitting the net in the second-half.

Kieran Martin, who destroyed Meath in last year’s Leinster championship while on duty for Westmeath, was Athlone IT’s key man and hit 1-5 including a 44th minute goal.

Scorers for DCU: Shane Carey 3-6 (0-3f), Diarmuid O’Connor and Ultan Harney 1-1 each, Conor McGraynor 1-0, David Mannix and Michael Quinn 0-2 each, Dessie Ward and Shane Carthy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Athlone IT: Kieran Martin 1-5 (0-3f), Cein McMonagle 0-2

DCU

1. Brendan Flynn (Leitrim)

2. Jack Smith (Dublin)
3. Dessie Ward (Monaghan)
4. Paudie McKenna (Monaghan)

9. Davy Byrne (Dublin)
6. Conor Moynagh (Cavan)
17. Stephen Attride (Laois)

8. Shane Carthy (Dublin)
23. Caolan McGonagle (Donegal)

24. Michael Quinn (Longford)
21. Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo)
25. Mark Plunkett (Leitrim)

11. Conor McNally (Armagh)
14. Conor McGraynor (Wicklow)
10. Shane Carey (Monaghan)

Subs

5. Eoin Smith (Dublin) for Ward (h/t)
15. Ryan Lyons (Fermanagh) for Plunkett (h/t)
20. Ultan Harney (Roscommon) for McNally (43)
7. Cian Breheny (Sligo) for Quinn (50)
12. Rory Connor (Longford) for McKenna (50)
22. David Mannix (Kerry) for McGraynor (54)

Mikey Quinn goes on a solo run Mikey Quinn goes on a solo run. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Athlone IT

1. Darren O’Connell (Westmeath)

2. Daniel Monagle (Donegal)
4. Aidan Claffey (Galway)
13. Michael Kearney (Meath)

7. Dan Wharton (Cavan)
25. Stephen Flynn (Roscommon)
19. Anthony Byrne (Carlow)

6. Eamon Quigley (Westmeath)
9. Mark Daly (Roscommon)

5. Dylan McDermott (Westmeath)
12. Kieran Martin (Westmeath)
11. Alan Fitzpatrick (Westmeath)

14. Cein McMonagle (Kildare)
10. Theo Watts (Westmeath)
15. Alan Coffey (Westmeath)

Subs
23. Dara Petit (Roscommon) for Coffey (36)
21. Killian Rudden (Monaghan) for Daly (43)

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).

Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy on why he put his retirement plans on hold for 2016

GAA chief warns against motions restricting broadcast deals to free-to-air TV