UCC show true grit to edge cup thriller

UCC’s practice of slaying major forces in this season’s Sigerson Cup was maintained when they ousted the host college UCD in an enthralling semi-final clash in Belfield yesterday afternoon.

After producing a ferocious effort to claim the scalp of DCU on Thursday, UCC managed to replicate the energy and intensity of that performance to seal another famous win.

On home soil, UCD were desperate to claim silverware on the centenary of the competition. But they were left frustrated by their own inability to build on a promising start and the high standard of football produced by UCC as they stifled the threat posed by UCD’s big-name stars.

It was a remarkable victory by UCC. Jamie O’Sullivan is the only player in their squad with inter-county senior championship experience yet there is a great balance to their team as they stick rigidly to an effective system of play.

The dynamism and support play that they produced here was first class. Defenders Eoin O’Mahony and Peter Crowley were superb once more while Sean Kiely caused huge problems for UCD on the right flank of defence, tearing forward for a brace of stylish points. At midfield, James Fitzpatrick impressed again for UCC by chipping in with two points and his partner Will Kennedy was similarly effective on the scoreboard.

UCC’s victory did come at a cost. Their inspirational captain Adrian Greaney looks certain to be unable to take his place at centre-back in this afternoon’s final after he limped off with an ankle injury yesterday. In addition Johnny Buckley, who has battled a knee injury in recent weeks, was also withdrawn after picking up a knock during the second half of the game.

Buckley had made an admirable contribution before that, considering he and panellist Michael Mennis had sat a final-year economics exam yesterday morning before the game, at the team’s base in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin.

There were several junctures in the second half when UCD appeared on the cusp of grinding down UCC’s challenge. When John O’Loughlin converted a 46th minute point, UCD had drawn level at 0-9 apiece and they were pressing hard to push ahead.

However, they lacked the necessary composure in front of goal and could not surge into the ascendancy during their spell of dominance. Those misses proved costly as UCC soaked up the pressure and hit UCD on the break.

Their defence proved the platform for key attacking movements with a terrific run by full-back Eoin O’Mahony setting up substitute Shane Beston for a neat point in the 51st minute and then wing-back Sean Kiely broke forward two minutes later to place Will Kennedy for a great score.

UCD responded strongly with Ciarán Lyng and Kevin McGourty grabbing the points that locked the teams together and extra-time looked imminent. But it was UCC who closed out the game in a powerful fashion. Daithi Casey nailed a free before Mark Collins popped over the insurance point.

The UCD players were a disconsolate bunch at the final whistle and this defeat will be maddening when they reflect on their blistering opening. With 18-year-old Westmeath sensation John Heslin leading the way, they sprinted into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the seventh minute.

However, UCC soon settled and got into a strong rhythm that yielded six unanswered points courtesy of Kiely, Kennedy, Casey (2) and Fitzpatrick (2). By the 24th minute, they were 0-6 to 0-3 in front and in flying form all around the pitch.

Despite their 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead, UCC faced the tricky scenario of playing against the wind in the second half and UCD assumed a dominant position in the third quarter. But the hosts saw Dublin senior Michael Fitzsimons go off through injury, Galway’s Cathal Kenny, was another significant absentee while Mark McGowan received a straight red card in the last minute for an off-the-ball incident to compound their misery.

That should not detract from UCC’s achievement as they withstood losses of their own. They summoned the goods when required and marched on.

Scorers for UCC: D Casey 0-3 (three frees); W Kennedy, J Fitzpatrick, S Kiely, B O’Driscoll (one free) 0-2 each; S Beston, M Collins 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCD: J Heslin (one free), R Kelly (one free), D Kingston, J O’Loughlin 0-2 each; C Lyng, K McGourty, M Coughlan 0-1 each.

UCC: K O’Halloran (Cork); P Crowley (Kerry), E O’Mahony (Cork), J O’Sullivan (Cork); S Kiely (Cork), A Greaney (Kerry), B Daly (Cork); W Kennedy (Cork), J Fitzpatrick (Cork); K O’Driscoll (Cork), M Collins (Cork), JB Spillane (Kerry); B O’Driscoll (Cork), D Casey (Kerry), J Buckley (Kerry).

Subs: S Beston (Cork) for Buckley (38) (inj), N Daly (Roscommon) for Greaney (inj) (48), S O’Brien (Kerry) for O’Driscoll (58).

UCD: M Savage (Dublin); M Fitzsimmons (Dublin), C Forde (Galway), S Redmond (Carlow); M McGowan (Donegal), C Brady (Monaghan), J Fitzpatrick (Down); J Heslin (Westmeath), C Murphy (Dublin); K McGourty (Antrim), J O’Loughlin (Laois), M Coughlan (Dublin); C Lyng (Wexford), R Kelly (Kildare), D Kingston (Laois).

Subs: C Dias (Dublin) for Coughlan (half-time), M Brazil (Offaly) for Fitzsimmons (inj) (34).

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).