Updated 18.55pm
DCU 3-10
UUJ 0-10
TWO GOALS INSIDE five minutes in the opening half set DCU on course for an unexpectedly one-sided Sigerson Cup victory over UUJ at Jordanstown this afternoon.
Despite possessing a stellar forward line that included the likes of Tyrone’s Ronan O’Neill, Donegal’s Patrick McBrearty and Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor, last year’s finalists Jordanstown were defeated as DCU advanced to a quarter-final against St Mary’s.
Enda Smith put clear daylight between the teams with a low finish to the net in the 23rd minute and five minutes later Niall Murphy’s tidy finish to the far corner put DCU into a 2-5 to 0-2 lead.
Points from Killian Clarke and Ronan O’Neill narrowed the deficit to 2-5 to 0-4 at the interval, with Jordanstown left to rue the five wides they hit during their period of ascendancy in the first 10 minutes.
Jordanstown battled bravely in the third quarter and outscored their opponents by six points to three during that time with Paddy McBrearty leading the charge. Brian Sankey was black-carded for a blatant bodycheck only six minutes after coming on while many of Jordanstown’s inter-county stars failed to fire.
DCU displayed more cohesiveness and slicker support play and ensured their safe passage through to the quarter-finals when Enda Smith bagged his second goal of the day deep into injury-time.
Donie Smith came off the bench to land a couple of points late on for Niall Moyna’s side, including the best point of the day with his left foot in what was the last kick of the game.
Scorers for DCU: Enda Smith 2-0, Conor McHugh 0-5 (0-4f), Niall Murphy 1-1, Donie Smith 0-2, Rory Connor, Conor Daly 0-1 each
Scorers for UUJ: Patrick McBrearty (0-2f), Richard Donnelly 0-2 each, Killian Clarke, Stephen Sheridan, Ronan O’Neill, Caolan Mooney, Danny Savage, Cillian O’Connor (0-1f) 0-1 each.
DCU
Tadgh Lowe (Boyle, Roscommon)
Jack Smith (Skerries Harps, Dublin)
Conor Boyle (Clontibret, Monaghan)
Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon)
Dessie Ward (Ballybay, Monaghan)
Conor Moynagh (Drumgoon, Cavan)
Colm Begley (Laois)
Tom Flynn (Athenry, Galway)
Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Tipperary)
Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber, Mayo)
Conor Meredith (O’Dempsey’s, Laois)
Davy Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams, Dublin)
Enda Smith (Boyle, Roscommon)
Niall Murphy (Coolera-Strandhill, Sligo)
Conor McHugh (Na Fianna, Dublin)
Subs
Rory Connor (Kenagh, Longford) for Meredith (39)
Donie Smith (Boyle, Roscommon) for Murphy (45)
Conor McGraynor (Avondale, Wicklow) for O’Connor (46)
Eoin O’Connor (Naomh Pádraig, Louth) for Byrne (52)
S Carey (Monaghan) for Moynagh (55)
Donal Wrynn (Fenagh, Leitrim) for McHugh (58)
UUJ
Rory Beggan (Scotstown, Monaghan)
Killian Brady (Mullahoran, Cavan)
Ricky Johnston (Creggan, Antrim)
Marty Johnston (Creggan, Antrim)
Killian Clarke (Shercock, Cavan)
Mattie Donnelly (Trillick, Tyrone)
Stephen Sheridan (Forkhill, Armagh)
Michael Argue (Bailieborough, Cavan)
Caolan Mooney (Rostrevor, Down)
Kieran Hughes (Scotstown, Monaghan)
Ronan O’Neill (Omagh, Tyrone)
Richard Donnelly (Trillick, Tyrone)
Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar, Donegal)
Caolan O’Boyle (Lavey, Derry)
Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, Mayo)
Subs
Brian Sankey (Sherock, Cavan) for Argue (29)
Danny Savage (Bryansford, Down) for Sankey (BC, 35)
Liam Gervin (Derrylaughan, Tyrone) for O’Neill (40)
Frank Burns (Pomeroy, Tyrone) for O’Boyle (44)
************
St Mary’s 1-10
NUI Galway 1-7
ST MARY’S ADVANCED to the quarter finals of the Sigerson Cup thanks to their gruelling win over NUIG in a real battle in Dangan.
The Ulster students trailed 1-6 to 0-5 at half time, but a second half goal from substitute Matthew Fitzpatrick proved key in a scrappy affair, with NUIG only scoring one point in the second half.
The Galway students stood in good stead at the break as Tipperary senior Robbie Kiely’s goal along with scores from Cian Connolly and Ray Connellan set them on their way against a rigid St. Mary’s blanket defence.
When Tipperary ace Kiely was black carded midway through the second-half, Tommy Joyce’s charges lost their spark and the visitors took full advantage, with Tommy Canavan and Aidan Forker leading the charge.
The hosts kicked a series of bad wides and a single pointed free from Connolly was all they could muster as the absence of sidelined Damien Comer and Peadar Ó Gríofa proved a killer blow.
Scorers for St Mary’s: Aidan Forker and Tommy Canavan (0-3f) 0-4 each, Matthew Fitzpatrick 1-0, Jack Grugan, Kevin McKernan 0-1 each.
Scorers for NUI Galway: Cian Connolly 0-4 (1f), Ray Connellan 0-2 (2f), Robbie Kiely 1-1.
ST. MARY’S
1. Rory Burns (Castlewellan, Down)
2. Aaron Beattie (Newry Bosco, Down)
3. Danny McBride (Strabane Sigersons, Tyrone)
4. Dermot Morrow (Kilrea Pearses, Derry)
5. Paddy McBride (St John’s, Antrim)
6. Aidan Forker (Maghery, Armagh)
7. Kieran McCooey (Cullyhanna, Armagh)
8. Brian McGilligan (Banagher, Derry)
9. Conal McCann (Killyclogher, Tyrone)
10. Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo, Down)
11. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy, Tyrone)
12. Ryan Johnston (Kilcoo, Down)
13. Tommy Canavan (Errigal Ciaran, Tyrone)
14. Jack Grugan (Ballymacnab, Armagh)
15. Kevin McKernan (Burren, Down)
Subs
18. Matthew Fitzpatrick (St. John’s, Amtrim) for J Johnston (10) (black card);
24. Neil McNicholl (Glenullan, Derry) for McGilligan (31)
20. Harry Loughran (Moy, Tyrone) for Morrow (31)
25. Emmett Bradley (Wattygrahams, Derry) for McCann (34)
27. Conor Clarke (Omagh, Tyrone) for Grugan (41)
NUI Galway
1. Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen, Limerick)
2. James Kennedy (Barna, Galway)
3. David Murray (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon)
4. Lee Cullen (Bellanaleck, Fermanagh)
5. Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers, Tipperary)
6. John McManus (Roscommon Gaels, Roscommon)
7. Adrian Nolan (Killererin, Galway)
8. Einne O hEochaidh (An Spideal, Galway)
9. David Cunnane (St.Michael’s, Galway)
10. Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo)
11. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks, Galway)
12. Cristoir Davey (Coolaney, Sligo)
13. Ray Connellan (Athlone, Westmeath)
14. Sean Moran (Claregalway, Galway)
15. Cian Connolly (Roscommon Gaels, Roscommon)
Subs
22. Kevin Gibbons (Louisburgh, Mayo) for Feeney (34)
21. Fergal Reilly Father (Manning, Longford) for Kiely (44) (black card)
24. Cathal Brennan Curry, (Sligo) for Connellan (46)
19. Conor O’Shea (Breaffy, Mayo) for O hEochaidh (49)
23. Eoghan Lavin (Kiltimagh, Mayo) for Davey (57)