DCU 7-14
Queen’s University 0-9
Sinead Farrell reports from DCU Sportsground
A DUBLIN DERBY awaits in the Sigerson Cup semi-final after DCU inflicted a 26-point defeat on Queen’s University Belfast to book a final-four date with city rivals UCD.
Monaghan’s Micheál Bannigan starred for DCU, hitting 2-4 for Paddy Christie’s side, while three players chipped in with 1-1 each in a dominant display at home.
Dublin stars Paddy Small and Evan Comerford also featured for the winning side, with Comerford keeping a clean sheet while Small finished with a point from full-forward.
The hosts accelerated into an early lead as produced three scores from their first three shots, before a 13th minute goal from Cavan forward Thomas Edward Donohoe put them five points ahead.
Queen’s struggled from the outset with only one point on the board inside the opening quarter, courtesy of a well-taken mark from full-forward Darragh McGurn.
DCU pressed their advantage further with two more goals between the 13th and 15th minute.
Goal! But did he mean it? DCU's Kevin Flynn scores their THIRD goal in a one-sided first-half vs Queens in the @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup.. @DCUGAAAcademy @KildareGAA pic.twitter.com/zsZhtlQ0Ys
— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) January 19, 2020
Roscommon forward Brian Stack crashed home a thundering shot before half-back Kevin Flynn scored a somewhat fortuitous goal as his effort dipped under the bar at the last second to leave the scoreline reading 3-5 to 0-1.
DCU had six names on the scoresheet at this early stage of the game, while a combination of Sean Bugler, Jordan Morrissey and Shane Carthy bossed the middle of the field.
Donal McKeever got Queens’ first point in 11 minutes shortly after while Daniel McGuinness posted their final score of the half just before the break after a goalbound shot came back off Comerford.
Queen’s trailed 3-9 to 0-3 at half-time and things were about to get worse for the visitors as Monaghan’s David Garland hit a quickfire 1-1 after the restart.
Tiarnan Bogue kicked a fine score at the other end, but DCU were relentless as Bannigan responded with the first of his two goals, palming the ball into the net after a well-worked move.
He added a further 1-1 in the final 10 minutes, including a booming point from distance to cap off a brilliant individual display.
Substitute Stephen Smith also made his presence felt with an impressive 1-1 in the second half.
Queen’s were simply outclassed throughout. They hit their best scoring patch in the final 20 minutes as McGurn, Donohoe and Odhran Eastwood combined to score five points on the way to a 26-point defeat.
UCD now await the victors DCU in Wednesday’s Sigerson Cup semi-final, after their extra-time victory over St Mary’s University.
Scorers for DCU: Micheál Bannigan 2-4 (1f), Brian Stack 1-2, Thomas Edward Donohoe 1-1, Kevin Flynn 1-1, Stephen Smith 1-1, David Garland 1-2 (1f), Declan Monaghan, Sean Bugler, Paddy Small (0-1 each).
Scorers for Queen’s University Belfast: Darragh McGurn 0-4 (1f), Odhran Eastwood 0-2 (2f), Tiarnan Bogue, Daniel McGuinness, Donal McKeever (0-1 each).
DCU
1. Evan Comerford (Dublin)
2. Conor Morrison (Donegal)
3. Brendan McCole (Donegal)
4. Daniel Corcoran (Louth)
5. Kevin Flynn (Kildare)
6. Sean MacMahon (Dublin)
7. Declan Monaghan (Dublin)
8 Jordan Morrissey (Carlow)
9. Sean Bugler (Dublin)
34. Shane Carthy (Dublin)
11. Micheál Brannigan (Monaghan)
12. Brian Stack (Roscommon)
13. Thomas Edward Donohoe (Cavan)
14. Paddy Small (Dublin)
15. David Garland (Monaghan)
Subs:
25. Stephen Smith (Dublin) for Donohoe (35)
28. Tom Fox (Dublin) for Bugler (35)
18. Shehroz Akram (Mayo) for Flynn (41)
10. Mark Barry (Laois) for Carthy (45)
26. Shane Tierney (Offaly) for Garland (45)
Queen’s University Belfast
1. Eoghan Mullholland (Armagh)
2. Oisin Lappin (Armagh)
27. Adam Lynch (Armagh)
4. Peter Fagan (Down)
5. Daniel McGuinnes (Down)
6. Callum O’Neill (Armagh)
7. Ardan McAvoy (Down)
29. Donal McKeever (Down)
9. Ciaran Higgins (Armagh)
10. Ruairi Campbell (Down)
11. Cathal Gorman (Down)
12. Tiarnan Bogue (Fermanagh)
13. Eamon Fyfe (Antrim)
14. Darragh McGurn (Fermanagh)
15. Odhran Eastwood (Antrim)
Subs
24. Brendan Gallen for Campbell (18)
26. Brendan Haveron (Armagh) for O’Neill (41)
19. Conor Cox (Down) for Gorman (41)
23. Aidan Fullerton for Eastwood (45)
8. Emmett Deane for Ciaran Higgins (51)
Referee: Brendan Cawley [Kildare]
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