Sigerson Cup heading to Leeside after dogged UCC display

UCC 0-10 UUJ 0-7

University College Cork won the Sigerson Cup for the first time since 1995 with a courageous display in a dogged decider at Belfield.

They led all the way, and held a five points advantage with little more than 10 minutes to play, but had to hang on to see off a resurgent UUJ outfit.

Injured skipper Adrian Greaney, who broke a leg in Friday’s semi-final win over UCD, accepted the cup from GAA president Christy Cooney after watching his team-mates battle to a memorable victory.

Cork showed all the early endeavour and drive, with their well organised defence closing down their opponents at every opportunity.

It was wing back Sean Kiely who got the Munster men off the mark with a third minute opening point, and they doubled the advantge through Mark Collins, who was sent clear by Barry O’Driscoll.

UUJ struggled to get their danger men Conor McManus and Mattie Donnelly into the game, with Peter Crowley and Eoin O’Mahony both doing excellent man marking jobs.

McManus registered UUJ’s opening score in the 15th minute from a free, but only after Will Kennedy had kicked another Cork point.

O’Driscoll raced through for an excellent individual point, and with both defences getting on top, the final 14 minutes of the half produced just one score, Jordanstown corner back Conor Galligan pressing forward to split the posts.

The northerners could have had a goal, though, when McManus saw his dipping shot go just wide.

UCC led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the break, and stretched the advantage with scores from Kevin O’Driscoll and Barry O’Driscoll, who converted a couple of frees to open out a 0-6 to 0-2 lead with 40 minutes played.

But UUJ suddenly sparked into life with three points in as many minutes, all of them superb efforts from play.

McManus, wing back Ciaran McGinley and Donnelly all found the target to leave just two between the sides with 12 minutes to play.

Kevin Dyas became the third Jordanstown defender to score when he took Donnelly’s pass to drive over from distance.

Cork were under severe pressure, but with the help of some solid defending from Niall Daly, they weathered the storm, and restored their two points cushion through midfielder Kevin O’Driscoll.

JB Spillane and Kevin O’Driscoll emerged as key figures as the Leesiders regained control, and Mark Collins and Johnny Buckley scored the late points that secured a first title since 1995 for Billy Morgan’s side.

UUJ: G Kelly, D Mone, B Donaghy, C Galligan (0-1),K Dyas (0-1), D Morgan, C McGinley (0-2) C Murney, N Holly, D McNulty, C O’Boyle, P Hughes, J McAnulla, M Donnelly (0-1) C McManus (0-2, 1f).

Subs: E McGuckin for McAnulla, G McCartan for Murney, C Donnelly for Hughes, J O’Neill for McNulty

UCC: K O’Halloran, P Crowley, E O’Mahony, J O’Sullivan, S Kiely (0-1), N Daly, B Daly, K O’Driscoll (0-2), J Fitzpatrick, W Kennedy (0-1), M Collins (0-2, 1f), JB Spillane, B O’Driscoll (0-3, 2f), D Casey, J Buckley (0-1).

Subs: S O’Brien for Kennedy, S Betson for Casey, M Griffin for B O’Driscoll

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)