Cork IT set up Garda showdown

CORK IT will face Garda College in the last eight of the Sigerson Cup after easily accounting for a substandard UCD in Cork yesterday.

Fielding a very experienced team that included a host of former and current Cork U21 players and Kerry senior Bryan Sheehan, CIT were never headed.

At times their football was excellent, some of their scores were superbly-executed, and even with 14 players for the last quarter after the impressive Eoin Hegarty was yellow carded twice, there was never a hint of an upset.

Defensively CIT were excellent. Frank Tobin, Ray Carey, Gearóid O’Shea and Hegarty were always in command while up front the attack of Shane McCarthy, Paul Kerrigan and Colm O’Neill were in mean form.

Kerrigan in particular was superb with his pace and vision. His point in the second half kicked on the run with the outside of his boot was fit to grace a higher arena. McCarthy led the attack well despite coming in for some rough treatment, while O’Neill’s contribution of four points, all from play, were brilliantly taken.

UCD were a huge disappointment. Despite winning the midfield exchanges all through thanks to Brian Mullin and Paul Kelly, their defence was always struggled while up front, their attack completely overdid the short passing.

CIT served notice of their intentions early. Colm O’Neill kicked the first of his four points after a minute before the game’s only goal came four minutes later when Denis Murphy’s long delivery was superbly caught behind his man by Kerrigan, and he coolly slotted home to the net.

That goal helped CIT to an interval lead of 1-6 to 0-2 as the visitors waited 18 minutes for their opening score, and their second came six minutes later.

The second half was more or less the same as the home side continued to press forward, and it took a wonderful save by UCD ‘keeper Stephen Gallagher to deny Daniel Goulding a goal after a great passing movement. Despite their territorial advantage, the scores were slow in coming for CIT but at the end of the third quarter they had stretched their lead to nine points. UCD raised some hope of a recovery when substitute Mathew McKenna finished a passing movement to the net, and it took an excellent save by ‘keeper Brendan Kealy to deny them another.

However it was quickly nipped in the bud by points by O’Neill, O’Flynn and Shane McCarthy, and despite losing the services of Hegarty for a second yellow card offence, the home side held firm for a comfortable victory.

Scorers for CIT: P. Kerrigan 1-1; C. O’Neill 0-4; B. Sheehan 0-3 (0-2 45s, 0-1 free); G. O’Shea 0-2; D. Goulding (free), P. O’Flynn, S. McCarthy 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCD: M. McKenna 1-1; S. Lennon 0-3 (0-1 free, 0-1 45); C. O’Dwyer, J. O’Loughlin 0-1 each.

CIT: B. Kealy (Kerry); R. Carey (Cork), C. Ryan (Laois), F. Tobin (Cork); D. Murphy (do.), E. Hegarty (do.), G. O’Shea (do.); B. Sheehan (Kerry), A. Barry (Cork); H. Curran (do.), S. McCarthy (do.), P. O’Flynn (do.); D. Goulding (do.), C. O’Neill (do.), P. Kerrigan (do.).

Subs: S. Cahalane (Cork) for Curran; R. O’Dwyer (do.) for Murphy; N. Canty (do.) for Goulding; J. McGrath (Wicklow) for O’Flynn.

UCD: S. Gallagher (Westmeath); C. O’Sullivan (Dublin), D. Brennan (Kildare), C. Brady (Monaghan); K. Doherty (Donegal), C. Fleming (Laois), D. McGlade (Cavan); B. Mullin (Roscommon), P. Kelly (Longford); B. Collins (Sligo), J. O’Loughlin (Laois), N. Corkery (Dublin); C. Kelly (Meath), S. Lennon (Louth), C. O’Dwyer (Meath).

Subs: D. Bailey (Meath) for Brady; M. McKenna (Monaghan) for Collins; B. Quill (Kerry) for K. Doherty; D. Gilhooly for Kelly; D. O’Connor (Leitrim) for Corkery).

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).