NUIG have too much firepower for UL

NUIG 0-18 UL 1-5

The defending Sigerson champions had this game won by the interval, having built a commanding 0-12 to 0-2 lead. There was nothing in UL’s game to suggest they had what it took to mount a serious comeback.

UL had no answer to Galway’s guile down the wings and their perilous half-time situation worsened immediately after the re-start, when Brendan Colleran and Mark Fadden tacked on scores for NUIG. That put them twelve points ahead, the rest of the game was simply a formality.

Galway burst from the blocks with points from Micheal Meehan and Colleran, and they were four points up before Kerry player Dave Geaney opened UL’s account in the 17th minute.

NUIG dominated midfield, with Niall Kilmartin and Michael Finnegan working well and offering plenty of supply to the front runners. Meehan, Colleran and Colm McFadden thrived on the supply, piling on the agony for UL.

That Galway didn’t score a goal was down to some fine goal-keeping from Paddy O’Halloran, particularly when he denied Matthew Clancy coming up to half-time. There was the hint of a possible revival from the losers when substitute Kieran O'Sullivan beat keeper Dave Morris, in the 40th minute, but NUIG were not resting on their laurels and a string of points saw them safely through to the next stage. This was a good all round team performance from the holders. It is not a title they plan to relinquish easily.

Scorers: NUIG: B. Colleran, M. Meehan 0-6 each, C. McFadden 0-3, M. Clancy, N. Kilmartin, G. Ramsbottom 0-1 each.

UL: K. O'Sullivan 1-1, D. Geaney 0-2, F. Rahilly, E. Barrett 0-1 each.

NUIG: D. Morris, R. Murray, D. Kelly, D. Blake, N. Coyne, M. Beirne, C. Monaghan; N. Kilmartin, M. Finnegan; B. Colleran, M. Meehan, M. Clancy, C. de Paor, C.McFadden, T. Griffin.

Sub. G. Ramsbottom for De PaorUL: P. O'Halloran; K. Quirke, P. Ruane, M. Kilgannon, G. Tubridy, S.Briggs, C. Maher; N. Fitzgerald, S. O'Sullivan; J. Quinn, N. Sullivan, P. McMahon, D. Geaney, F. O'Rahilly, J. Clarke.

Subs. E. Barrett for S. O'Sullivan.

Referee: P. Russell (Tipperary).

DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology)2-13 UUC (University of Ulster, Coleraine)1-9

by Paul Keane

RISING Mayo star Damien Munnelly guided DIT through the choppy waters of the Sigerson Cup preliminary round with an exhibition of football in Chapelizod.

Munnelly, 19, a first year student in the capital, has been primed by Mayo boss John Maughan in the FBD Connacht League this month and will figure against Fermanagh in the NFL on Sunday.

He gave himself the perfect start yesterday to what could be a memorable week with five points that helped DIT into the first round proper where they will face Dublin rivals DCU.

Despite dominating for much of the first-half and hitting the break with a six point advantage DIT still had to grind out the win though.

There was a real sense of deja vu to the tie with UUC narrowly beaten by the same team at the same venue just 12 months ago.

This time DIT raced into an early lead with Meath’s All-Ireland JFC medallist Stephen Bray notching up their first point.

By the time Bray grabbed his second after 11 minutes DIT led 0-4 to 0-1, UUC’s solitary point coming from Stephen Kernan.

DIT continued in that vein with John Carlton just about evading the tackle of Fermanagh’s Peter Sherry to slide home a 30th minute goal and leave the interval scores at 1-8 to 0-5 in their favour.

A strong wind at UUC’s back meant they were always good value to come back into the game and points from Kernan, son of Armagh boss Joe, as well as Antrim star Ruairi O’Loan put them back on level terms at 1-9 apiece by the 50th minute.

It was anybody’s game with 10 minutes to go but DIT super sub Ger Smith grabbed 1-1 along with a couple of Munnelly points to close out the game.

DIT: S Halpin; F Smith, T Bannon, C Prenderville; D Burke, P Begley, M Hannifin; T Walsh (0-1), L Mooney; P Turley, S Bray (0-2), J Melia; D Munnelly (0-5; 2f), R O'Hagan, J Carlton (1-2). Subs: G Smith (1-1) for D O'Mahony, O'Hagan for Melia (39 mins), K Donnelly (0-2) for Carlton (55 mins).

UUC: K Gallagher; E O'Gara (0-1), S O'Neill, R MacGrianna; P Sherry, L Og Hinphey, K Hinphey (0-1); R O'Loan (0-1), N Shevlin; A Cassidy, S Kernan (0-4; 4f), N McKenna; J Jackson (0-1), N Higgins, N Mulholland (0-1). Subs: S Mone for McKenna (half-time), G Kavanagh (1-0) for Higgins (35 mins).

Referee: P Finnegan (Louth).