DIT beat UCC to win Sigerson Cup

Dublin Institute of Technology 3-8 University College Cork 0-7

Dublin Institute of Technology walloped University College Cork by ten points in this afternoon’s Irish Daily Mail Sigerson Cup final at Athlone IT.

DIT’s comfortable win ensured that they won the coveted title for the very first time, as 20-time winners UCC found themselves on the receiving end of a heavy defeat.

And UCC’s misery was compounded in stoppage time when sub Darragh O’Sullivan was sent off.

O’Sullivan connected with Shane O’Connor as the DIT player attempted to run by him and referee Maurice Deegan produced a straight red card.

Moments later, Deegan blew the full-time whistle to ensure that DIT completed a superb double.

They were also crowned League champions before Christmas before going through the entire Sigerson Cup campaign without conceding a single goal.

Meath’s Bryan Menton was superb against Donegal’s Michael Murphy as DIT shocked 2012 champions Dublin City University (DCU) in Friday’s semi-final.

And he put the shackles on UCC dangerman Conor Cox yesterday, with the Kerry forward in red-hot form having collected 0-22 in his previous three games.

But Cox managed just a single point yesterday, from a free; as UCC scored just three points from play in the entire game.

At the other end, DIT struck for two first half goals and outstanding midfielder David Givney crowned a wonderful individual display with his side’s third goal in the 58th minute.

Dubliner Ciaran Reddin notched DIT’s opening goal in the 14th minute as he finished a brilliant team move.

Givney won possession at midfield and the ball was transferred to Reddin via Jason Doherty and Kerry superstar Darran O’Sullivan.

Reddin’s low finish was clinical and Mayo forward Doherty added a second DIT goal into the same bottom right hand corner in the 27th minute.

Reddin was involved again as his long ball was touched down by Kildare’s Tomás O’Connor for Doherty, who made no mistake in a one-on-one situation with UCC goalkeeper Sean Mellet.

Those goals helped DIT to lead by 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time and they were in cruise control throughout the second half.

DIT registered nine first half wides but that another indication of their dominance and UCC were not good enough to capitalise on that profligacy.

And Givney rubbed salt into gaping UCC wounds late on with a fine goal as his low drive went into the net off Mellet’s right hand upright.

Givney was aided and abetted throughout at midfield by Mayo powerhouse Aidan O’Shea, who is in his final year at DIT.

UCC: S Mellet; P Galvin, E O’Mahony, N Daly; J O’Sullivan, P Crowley, T Clancy (0-1); P Acheson, JB Spillane; K O’Driscoll, L Connolly (0-1, 45), B Coughlan (0-1); G O’Grady, C Cox (0-1f), C Sweeney (0-3, 2f).

Subs: D O’Sullivan for Coughlan (48), P Murphy for Clancy (48), E Buckley for O’Grady (52).

DIT: R Lambert; K O’Brien, B Menton, G O’Hare (0-1); C Walshe, N Devereaux, R Sheridan; A O’Shea, D Givney (1-2); M Reilly, D O’Sullivan, C Reddin (1-1); M Collins, T O’Connor (0-1), J Doherty (1-2, 0-2f).

Subs: B Allen for Reddin (41), A Nestor for Sheridan (47), P Maguire (0-1) for Reilly (51), S O’Connor for O’Sullivan (53), J McGrath for O’Connor 59).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois)