DCU 1-15
UCD 0-3
Sinéad Farrell reports from DCU Sportsground
MONAGHAN’S DAVID GARLAND kicked seven points as DCU gained resounding revenge for last year’s Sigerson Cup exit at the hands of UCD.
Micheál Bannigan’s second-half goal from a penalty rebound helped Paddy Christie’s side book their place in their first Sigerson decider since 2016, where they will face IT Carlow next week.
While they didn’t rack up the seven-goal scoreline that they enjoyed against Queen’s, DCU were still clinical throughout their 15-point victory. They limited their Dublin city rivals to just two points at half-time, while also outscoring them by 1-8 to 0-1 after the restart.
Dublin duo Evan Comerford and Paddy Small hit a combined 0-5 for the victors, with Comerford splitting the bosts from a ’45 and a long-range free.
The sides traded scores from frees in the first half, with Garland kicking the opening score of the game followed closely by UCD centre-forward Ray Connellan.
Luke Fortune tried to snatch an early goal for the visitors, but his effort was blocked.
DCU were reliant on frees from Garland and Bannigan, but they gradually began to take control of proceedings.
Small hit the first of his three points from play on 25 minutes to push them into a 0-5 0-2 lead, before UCD were briefly reduced to 14 men when Connellan was dismissed to the sin bin.
Corner-forward Conor Hartley hit UCD’s only point from play in the first half after 14 minutes. It was an impressive shot, but Divilly’s side failed to score again for the remainder of the half.
DCU also could have snatched a goal in the opening half after a blistering run from Garland. But again, the shot was kept out as UCD goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke parried the shot away.
Shane Carthy and Garland added further points to bring the half to a close, and leave DCU leading by five as they headed for the dressing rooms.
UCD introduced Ruairi McCormack at half-time, and the Down man made an immediate impact when he won a free which was converted by Walsh.
But before they could eat any further into the lead, DCU were awarded a penalty at the other end. Garland was hauled down after fielding a long ball into the square, with Bannigan finding the back of the net from the rebound.
Small quickly followed that up with his second to push DCU eight clear after 34 minutes.
Walsh then missed a crucial free while midfielder Peadar O’Coffaigh-Byrne failed in his attempt to get a goal that would have kept UCD in contention.
DCU were often wasteful in front of goals, but they started to overwhelm their opponents for the remainder of the second half.
Garland added four more fine points as Comerford twice emerged from between his posts to get his name on the scoresheet.
DCU will be the hosts once again for the Sigerson Cup final next Wednesday, 29 January, where they will battle it out with Carlow IT.
Scorers for DCU: David Garland (0-7, 3f), Micheál Bannigan (1-2, 2f, 1P) Paddy Small (0-3), Evan Comerford 0-2, 1f, 1’45, Shane Carthy 0-1.
Scorers for UCD: Gary Walsh 0-1, 1f, Ray Connellan 0-1, 1f, Conor Hartley 0-1.
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:
28. Tom Fox (Dublin) for Thomas Edward Donohoe (41 mins)
17. Kieran Dwyer (Kerry) for Daniel Corcoran (54 mins)
19. Mark Curran (Donegal) for Declan Monaghan (54 mins)
24. Cian McKeown (Roscommon) for Paddy Small (59 mins)
UCD
1. Gary O’Rourke (Cavan)
2. Cillian O’Shea (Dublin)
3. Mark Breen (Kerry)
4. Martin O’Connor (Wexford)
12. Stephen Coen (Mayo)
6. Ryan O’Toole (Monaghan)
7. Kieran Kennedy (Dublin)
8. Barry Dan O’Sullivan (Kerry)
9. Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne (Dublin)
10. Luke Fortune (Cavan)
11. Ray Connellan (Westmeath)
5. Liam Flatman (Dublin)
13. Conor Hartley (Kildare)
14. Barry McGinn (Monaghan)
15. Gary Walsh (Laois)
27. Ruairi McCormach (Down) for Barry McGinn (HT)
18. Fiachra Clifford (Kerry) for Gary Walsh (47)
20. Sean Egan (Dublin) for Luke Fortune (47)
22. Conor Moriarty (Meath) for Ray Connellan (47)
Referee: Cormac Reilly [Meath]
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