Sticky students prevail in the long run
Football games in November generally follow a pattern of dour and low-scoring affairs but this tie was a welcome exception. It was a match characterised by some splendid score-taking and a dramatic finish in normal time. Monaleen looked to have claimed victory, when after a frenzied scramble near the UCC goalmouth in the 62nd minute, the ball fell to corner-back Darren Burke who stabbed a shot to the net.
That score nudged Monaleen into a 2-12 to 1-14 lead yet crucially UCC never panicked. They worked the ball upfield before Peter Crowley was felled as he dashed through the Monaleen defence. The immense pressure did not perturb Jamie O’Sullivan as he faced the free from over 45 yards and he smacked a terrific shot over the bar.
