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Tyrone's Ronan O'Neill found the net for UUJ today. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Last Four

Jordanstown book Sigerson semi-final place as they defeat reigning champions DIT

Ronan O’Neill found the net as Jordanstown won by three points.

UUJ 1-9
Dublin IT 1-6

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER Jordanstown toppled reigning champions Dublin IT to reach the semi-final stage of the Sigerson Cup today with a three-point victory in Coolock.

Ronan O’Neill’s second-half goal in the 49th minute was a crucial moment for the winners as it gave them a buffer moments before Peter Acheson found the net for DIT.

Tyrone player O’Neill raised the green flag with a delightful left-foot chip while Acheson also struck a quality goal after he surged through the heart of the Jordanstown defence.

Ultimately the Adrian McGuckin-managed side were deserved winners against a DIT team who lost Dublin defender Kevin O’Brien to a serious injury in the closing stages.

UUJ were backed by the wind in the first-half at the Parnell’s GAA club and raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 10th minute. But their star-studded team struggled to put scores on the board in the difficult conditions for the remainder of the half.

DIT fought tenaciously against the wind with Ciaran Reddin employed in a sweeper role and they were pleased to be only 0-5 to 0-2 adrift approaching the interval. A brilliant point from distance by Monaghan’s Kieran Hughes did send UUJ four points clear at the midway mark.

DIT cut the deficit to three points, 0-7 to 0-4, when 2012 All-Ireland minor winner Niall Scully converted a free in the 39th minute. But UUJ slowly took a grip on the game as they denied their opponents the space to score in attack.

Conor McAliskey popped up with some key points in the finale and O’Neill’s goal was a critical strike. Armagh’s Jamie Clarke was shown a black card in the finale but UUJ coped as they fashioned a three-point victory.

DIT were reduced to 14 men in the closing stages when midfielder Michael Argue was shown a second yellow card.

Scorers for UUJ: R O’Neill 1-0, C McAliskey 0-3 (0-2f), K Hughes (0-1f), R Beggan (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), 0-2 each, M Donnelly, J Clarke 0-1 each.
Scorers for DIT: P Acheson 1-0, N Scully (0-2f), R Sheridan (0-1f) 0-2 each, C Madden (0-1f), B Allen 0-1 each.

UUJ: Rory Beggan (Monaghan); Barry Tierney (Derry), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry), Dean McNally (Tyrone); Luke Keaney (Donegal), Colin Walshe (Monaghan), Killian Clarke (Cavan); Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone), Niall McKeever (Antrim); Derek Savage (Down), Ronan O’Neill (Tyrone), Kieran Hughes (Monaghan); Jamie Clarke (Armagh), Caolan O’Boyle (Derry), Conor McAliskey (Tyrone).

Subs: Pat Hughes (Sligo) for Savage (39), Richard Donnelly (Tyrone) for McKeever (57), Colm Duffin (Antrim) for Clarke (bc) (61).

DIT: Conor Ferris (Dublin); Gary O’Hare (Louth), Bryan Menton (Meath), Kevin O’Brien (Dublin); Ross Sheridan (Cavan), Nick Devereux (Dublin), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan); Michael Argue (Cavan), Peter Acheson (Tipperary); Darren O’Reilly (Dublin), Ciaran Reddin (Dublin), Shane O’Connor (Dublin); Conor Madden (Cavan), Tomas O’Connor (Kildare), Niall Scully (Dublin).

Subs: Conor Grimes (Louth) for Shane O’Connor (half-time), Bernard Allen (Offaly) for Grimes (bc) (47), Harry Dawson (Dublin) for Scully (50), Stephen Cooney (Cavan) for O’Brien (inj).

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

 

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