UUJ capture fifth Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup crown

UUJ 1-16 Garda College 1-14 (after extra-time)

13-man UUJ erased painful memories of last year's extra-time final defeat as they captured their fifth Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup crown tonight, beating Garda College by 1-16 to 1-14 in a hard fought final at IT Carlow.

UUJ showed great resolve to take the win despite the dismissals of James McGovern and Ciaran Donnelly in extra-time.

Contesting their first final since 1999, Garda got off to a bright start with a brace of Mark Harrington points giving them a 0-03 to 0-02 lead after seven minutes.

Harrington and Offaly's Rory Guinan led the Garda College attack in the opening quarter while Westmeath's Graham Dillon and Darren Mullahy of Galway were solid in the half-back line.

A livelier UUJ attack made the best use of possession in the second quarter where Antrim senior Paddy Cunnigham really caught fire - the full-forward kicked five first half points as UUJ claimed an 0-08 to 0-05 interval lead.

Jordanstown began the second half in determined fashion, and thanks to a Cunningham goal they lead by 1-09 to 0-06 five minutes after the restart.

However, Garda responded immediately with Dublin's John O'Brien despatching a 14-metre free straight to the UUJ net.

A second Lynch point saw UUJ break three points clear with eight minutes remaining but scores from O'Brien, Harrington and substitute James Martin forced extra-time.

Cunningham and Lynch were again in influential form in the opening stages of extra-time but industrious work from Guinan ensured the sides were level at 1-14 apiece at the break.

But UUJ were not to be denied as scores from Lynch and Cunningham steered them to victory.

Scorers: UUJ: P Cunningham 1-09 (0-04f), M Lynch 0-06 (0-03f), A Moran 0-01 (0-01sl).

Garda College: R Guinan 0-06 (0-03f, 0-01 '45'), J O'Brien 1-04 (1-02f), M Harrington 0-03 (0-01f, 0-01 sl), J Martin 0-01.

UUJ: M McAlister; C Harrison, D McCaul, D Morgan; P McGuigan, K Lacey, P Donnelly; B McKenna, C Cavanagh; D Hughes, T McCann, R Mulgrew; M Lynch, P Cunningham, A Moran.

Subs used: J McGovern for Hughes (half-time), B Dunnion for Harrison (45 mins), C Donnelly for Moran (74).

GARDA COLLEGE: P O'Connor; C McGill, C McGrath, A Pender; G Dillon, D Mullahy, E Callaghan; A O'Mahony, A O'Donovan; S Buckley, R Guinan, D Glennon; J O'Brien, M Harrington, J Keane.

Subs used: B Brennan for Keane (half-time), J Martin for O'Donovan (52 mins).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)