UCD 0-11
NUIG 1-6
JOHN HESLIN PROVIDED the key scores as UCD finally saw off the stern challenge of NUIG in a keenly-contested encounter in good conditions in Dangan.
NUIG will be kicking themselves that they did not take out one of the Sigerson Cup favourites but wayward shooting cost them dearly.
They kicked eight wides to UCD’s three and dropped several other efforts short, especially in the second-half when they were against the breeze.
A well-worked goal from Antrim’s Owen Gallagher just before the break saw the Galway college lead by 1-3 to 0-3 at the interval.
UCD, backboned by Dublin stars Jack McCaffrey, Michael Fitzsimons and Paul Mannion, got on top in the third quarter and it was Westmeath’s Heslin who led the way.
He kicked two excellent points from play and then added a free before Barry O’Sullivan pointed from distance to lead by 0-7 to 1-3 after 40 minutes.
Peter Cooke responded for Galway with a point from play and then edged them in front going into the final quarter, before a Heslin free from 45 metres tied the game.
Mannion, who had been denied a goal chance by NUIG’s Donie O’Sullivan early in the opening half, pushed UCD into a lead they never lost eleven minutes from the end to go 0-9 to 1-5 ahead.
A point from Ray Connellan cut the gap to the minimum but UCD sealed it with another Heslin free after NUIG were guilty of a couple of bad wides.
Scorers for UCD: J Heslin 0-7 (3f), P Mannion 0-2, B O’Sullivan 0-1, C McCarthy 0-1.
Scorers for NUIG: P Cooke 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘45), O Gallagher 1-0, A Gallagher 0-1, R Connellan 0-1.
UCD
1. Eoghan Keogh (Laois)
2. Ryan Wylie (Monaghan)
3. David Hyland (Kildare)
6. David Byrne (Dublin)
5. Conor Mulally (Dublin)
4. Michael Fitzsimons (Dublin)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)
8. Barry O’Sullivan (Kerry)
9. Darragh Murphy (Cork)
10. Niall Kelly (Kildare)
11. Padraic Harnan (Meath)
12. John Heslin (Westmeath)
13. Eoin Lowry (Laois)
14. Paul Mannion (Dublin)
15. Paul Kingston (Laois)
Subs
18. James McEntee (Meath for Kelly (30)
19. Tom Hayes (Cavan) for Kingston (30)
32. Colm Basquel (Dublin) for Lowry (40)
20. Sean O’Dea (Limerick) for Mullaly (40)
17. Conor McCarthy (Monaghan) for Harnan (45)
28. Rob McDaid (Dublin) for McCaffrey (60)
NUIG
1. Donie O’Sullivan (Limerick)
2. Kevin McDonnell (Sligo)
3. David Cunnane (Galway)
4. Luke Burke (Galway)
5. John McManus (Roscommon)
6. David Murray (Roscommon)
7. Adrian Nolan (Galway)
8. Conor O’Shea (Mayo)
9. Peter Cooke (Galway)
10. Sean Moran (Galway)
11. Michael Daly (Galway)
12. Adam Gallagher (Mayo)
13. Kevin Finn (Roscommon)
14. Owen Gallagher (Antrim)
15. Criostoir Davey (Sligo)
Subs
24. Enda Tierney for Nolan (21) black card
28. Ray Connellan (Westmeath) for Davey (49)
22. Paul Mannion (Galway) for Moran 50)
Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim)