NUI Maynooth 1-10
GMIT 0-9
NUI MAYNOOTH REMAIN on course to have a tilt at winning their first Sigerson Cup title since their sole success in 1976, when they held off the challenge of GMIT in bitterly cold conditions at Tuam Stadium.
GMIT wasted three good goal chances in the opening half when they had the wind and turned around level at the break.
NUI Maynooth got a big break when GMIT goalkeeper Gavin Shiel was penalised for a foul on Paddy McBrearty after seven minutes and the Donegal star slotted home the penalty.
That wiped out the early advantage which GMIT had got from two Michael Lundy points and while Galway’s Johnny Duane did most to rally them, they were unable to build a lead with the wind.
McBrearty edged NUI Maynooth in front with a monster point three minutes after the break but GMIT rallied and Lundy responded with a free.
Kildare’s Paddy Brophy and Michael Farragher exchanged points before GMIT, who shocked hosts Queen’s in the last round, took the lead with ten minutes remaining with Lundy’s fifth point.
But NUI Maynooth, with Dublin star Michael Dara McAuley prominent, finished strongly with Brophy leveling before David Duke edged them in front five minutes from time and they secured their place with three late points.
Scorers for NUIM: Paddy McBrearty 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free), Paddy Brophy 0-3, Eamonn Wallace 0-3, David Duke 0-1.
Scorers for GMIT: Michael Lundy 0-5 (0-2f), Johnny Duane 0-2f, Michael Farragher 0-2.
NUI MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Colin O’Shea, Padraig Faulkner, David Hyland; Jamie Gonoud, Fergal Conway, Eric Lowdnes; Michael Dara McAuley, Dean Kelly; Paul Cribben, Paddy McBrearty, Dean Duke; Paddy Brophy, Dean McNicholas, Eamonn Wallace.Subs: Emile Mulan for Lowdnes 16, Lowdnes for Kelly 38, Fergus Toolan for Faulkner 55.
GMIT: Gavin Shiel; Noel Sheridan, Cathal Sweeney, Alan Wynne, Ronan Shanahan, Patrick Holloway, Johnny Duane; Stephen Tighe, Alan McCormack; Michael Lundy, Gordon Kelly, Michael Farragher; Martin Farragher, Ronan Steede, Eric Monahan.Subs: Aineas Lawless for Sheridan 19, Shane Hennelly for Martin Farragher 38, Shane Walsh for Steede 48, Alan Meenaghan for Monahan 55, James Walsh for McCormack 57.
REFEREE: Michael Duffy (Sligo).
