UCC put icing on cake for centenary

After ousting competition favourites DCU and the final’s hosts UCD, the Billy Morgan managed team rounded matters off by taking the scalp of the formidable northern outfit.

Midfielder Johnny Buckley revealed the agony of last year’s final defeat to DCU was never far from their minds entering the decider.

“There were a lot of lads there hurting after last year and I think that showed in the last ten minutes. We didn’t want that same feeling. It was another serious battle but that’s been the way the last few days against the favourites DCU and then UCD. I think the camaraderie and spirit we’ve built up was a huge help and that’s been the same in every UCC team I’ve played in since I was a Fresher.”

The traits that underpinned UCC’s march to the final surfaced once more Saturday. Their defence was disciplined and organised as they thwarted a vaunted UUJ attack that had been wreaking havoc en route to the decider. The twin blades of Matthew Donnelly and Conor McManus were blunted by the UCC defence as Peter Crowley and Eoin O’Mahony did expert marking jobs. Outside them Sean Kiely was hugely effective in raiding forward from his wing-back berth while Roscommon’s Niall Daly, the only non Cork or Kerry player in the team, deputised admirably at centre-back for Adrian Greaney, who broke his ankle in Friday’s semi-final win over UCD.

The absence of their injured captain had fuelled UCC’s desire to succeed, according to goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran.

“He’s the most popular guy in our dressing-room and has driven the team on all year. Before the match Billy brought us all into the huddle and put Greaney in the centre. The fella was fierce disappointed after breaking his ankle and he was in there on the crutches, and we all knew that the motivation was to win the match for him.”

UCC started in blistering fashion with three points inside the opening ten minutes. The Cork College were functioning well all over the pitch as they processed the ball sensibly and despite a strong display by midfielder Niall Holly, UUJ were struggling in several departments. Their first score came in the 14th minute when McManus converted a free and it was not until late in the half that they registered their first score from play through defender Ciarán McGinley. But UCC were errant in front of goal and that instilled hope into UUJ’s challenge as they only trailed 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval.

The second-half saw UCC’s fortunes fluctuate markedly. Despite playing against the wind, their sparkling teamwork initially came to the fore as they strung together three points on the trot courtesy of Kevin O’Driscoll and a pair of assured frees by Barry O’Driscoll. However despite possessing a 0-7 to 0-2 advantage, UCC then began to wilt as UUJ surged into contention. It took until the 45th minute for UUJ to get off the mark on the scoreboard yet they quickly rattled off four points on trot to trail 0-7 to 0-6 by the 51st minute.

UCC’s prospects looked precarious but UUJ lost their composure and spurned four scoring chances to draw level. That proved pivotal. When the need was greatest UCC summoned vital contributions from man-of-the-match Kevin O’Driscoll, JB Spillane, Mark Collins and James Fitzpatrick. O’Driscoll tapped over a crucial point and Buckley launched over a splendid effort to stretch the lead to 0-9 to 0-7. Ciaran McGinley retrieved a point for UUJ but Collins knocked over the insurance free to seal a famous success for UCC.

“You can see around me how much this means to us and nobody can begrudge us after the wins we had,” remarked selector John Corcoran. “Sixteen years has been a long time without a title and the last time that we won in 1995, Paul O’Keeffe, our current selector, was captain. It’s great in the centenary year that we’re back top of the pile.”

For UCC goalkeeper O’Halloran the win was one to cherish in his final game for the college.

“It’s my sixth year playing Sigerson and trying to win a medal. This was my last chance without a doubt and it’s just a great way to finish it off. I watched Shane O’Neill do the same thing with the Fitzgibbon a couple years ago and it means a lot to have done the same now.”

Scorers for UCC: B O’Driscoll 0-3 (two frees); M Collins (one free), K O’Driscoll 0-2 each; W Kennedy, S Kiely, J Buckley 0-1 each.

Scorers for UUJ: C McManus (one free), C McGinley 0-2 each; M Donnelly, K Dyas, C Galligan 0-1 each.

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

Subs: S O’Brien (Kerry) for Kennedy (39), S Beston (Cork) for Casey (57), M Griffin (Kerry) for B O’Driscoll (60).

UUJ: G Kelly (Tyrone); D Mone (Monaghan), B Donaghy (Armagh), C Galligan (Monaghan); K Dyas (Armagh), D Morgan (Monaghan), C McGinley (Tyrone); C Murney (Down), N Holly (Derry); D McNulty (Tyrone), C O’Boyle (Derry), P Hughes (Tyrone); J McAnulla (Tyrone), M Donnelly (Tyrone), C McManus (Monaghan).

Subs: E McGuckin (Derry) for McAnulla (35), G McCartan (Monaghan) for Murney (42), C Donnelly (Tyrone) for Hughes (45), J O’Neill (Armagh) for McNulty (48).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).