Dublin IT 1-11
DCU 0-9
DUBLIN IT sprung a shock against competition favorites DCU in this afternoon’s Sigerson Cup semi-final at Athlone IT.
DIT, 7/2 outsiders before this game, were full value for their victory with a 51st minute goal by substitute Bernard Allen from Offaly sealing their triumph.
Allen pounced shortly after being introduced to blast a loose ball into the bottom corner of the net past DCU goalkeeper James Farrelly.
Mayo attacker Jason Doherty shone for DIT as he grabbed 0-6 while his county colleague Aidan O’Shea and Cavan’s David Givney exerted control at midfield.
Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan was another to impress and despite going off with an injury towards the end of the game, he is expected to be fit to start in tomorrow afternoon’s decider.
DCU were flat throughout and only managed a solitary point from play, in the 42nd minute from Dean Rock, with Donegal star Michael Murphy expertly marshalled by Meath’s Bryan Menton in the DIT rearguard.
Dublin IT began brightly with Givney excelling as he floated over two long-range points to help them lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 5 minutes. Murphy kept DCU in touch through frees but at the other end Doherty caught the eye for DIT and along with a point from Ross Sheridan, he helped DIT lead by 0-6 to 0-2 in the 18th minute.
DIT still managed to finish the half on a strong note with Doherty notching a superb score from play and tapping over a free to push his side into a 0-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.
DCU emerged for the second-half in determined fashion with Murphy helping them reduce the margin to only two points, 0-9 to 0-7, by the 44th minute.
However that was as good as it got for the reigning champions with DIT closing out the game in a powerful fashion and Allen’s goal sealed their passage through to their first final appearance since 2009.
Scorers for Dublin IT: Jason Doherty 0-6 (0-5f), Bernard Allen 1-0, David Givney 0-2, Ross Sheridan, Darran O’Sullivan (0-1f), Alan Nestor 0-1 each.
Scorers for DCU: Michael Murphy 0-8 (0-8f), Dean Rock 0-1.
DUBLIN IT: Robert Lambert (Aughrim, Wicklow); Kevin O’Brien (Naomh Mearnóg, Dublin), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Meath), Gary O’Hare (Na Piarsaigh, Louth); Ross Sheridan (Killygarry, Cavan), Nick Devereaux (Ballinteer St John’s, Dublin), Colin Walshe (Doohamlet, Monaghan); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy, Mayo), David Givney (Mountnugent, Cavan); Martin Reilly (Killygarry, Cavan), Mark Collins (Castlehaven, Cork), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar, Kerry); Ciarán Reddin (St Maur’s, Dublin) Tomás O’Connor (Clane, Kildare), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole, Mayo).
Subs: Bernard Allen (Tubber, Offaly) for Reddin (47), Paul Maguire (St Judes, Dublin) for O’Sullivan (inj) (54), Shane O’Connor (St Sylvester’s, Dublin) for O’Connor (59), Alan Nestor (Blackhall Gaels, Meath) for Sheridan (61).
DCU: James Farrelly (Kingscourt, Cavan); Conor Boyle (Clontibret, Monaghan), Johnny Cooper (Na Fianna, Dublin), William Lowry (St Vincent’s, Dublin); Jack Brady (Ramor United, Cavan), Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Michael Quinn (Emmett Og Killoe, Longford); Fiontain O Curraoin (Micheál Breathnach, Galway), James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams, Dublin); Chris McGuinness (Ballybay, Monaghan), Paul Flynn (Fingallian’s, Dublin), Antoin McFadden (St Michael’s, Donegal); Philly Ryan (St Brigid’s, Dublin), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly, Donegal), Dean Rock (Ballymun Kichams, Dublin).
Subs: Conor Dunleavy (Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh, Dublin) for Daly (19), Davy Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams, Dublin) for McFadden (21), Gary Sweeney (St Sylvester’s, Dublin) for Rock (53), Brian Donnelly (Cooley Kickhams, Louth) for O Curraoin (53), Donal Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for Quinn (57).
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo)
