Sigerson Cup: UCC stay alive after final quarter surge sees off ATU

BACK TO WINNING WAYS: UCC's Shane Merritt in action against UL last week. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

ATU Galway 0-8 UCC 1-12 

UCC remain alive in the Sigerson Cup after an awesome final quarter saw them pull clear of ATU Galway at Tuam Stadium.

At the turnaround their lead was just one. Then the Kingdom came to the fore as An Gaeltacht’s Cathal Begley kicked two well-taken scores while Dingle’s Dylan Geaney kept the frees ticking over. Some poor finishing at the other end proved costly for a spirited ATU Galway challenge.

A cagey first half in icy conditions saw Billy Morgan’s outfit deploy Shane Merritt in front of the full-back line with Geaney and Mark Cronin at the other end close to goal. ATU Galway went in a with cause for optimism at the break trailing by just one and having missed their first two scoreable frees and dropped another one short.

After converting a pair of placed balls in the first half, Geaney curled a left-footed beauty early in the second to double their lead. A high turnover soon after hinted at a goal chance but Begley was content to push the margin to three. Nathan Grainger and Geaney exchanged frees to leave ATU Galway chasing a goal with the clock ticking down.

Three days after helping Ballygiblin to All-Ireland glory, the lively Cathail O’Mahony came off the bench and ruled out any hope of a comeback. His darting run along the endline eventually forced a full length save from Jack Livingstone and Sean O’Connor had the simplest of tasks to tap home.

From there the contest faded to its inevitable conclusion. Some good work done, more to do for UCC.

Scorers for ATU Galway: Nathan Grainger 0-3 (3 free), James Foley 0-1, Conor Raftery 0-1, Dylan Ruane 0-1, Dylan Farrell 0-1, Gary Higgins 0-1.

Scorers for UCC: Dylan Geaney 0-6 (5 free), Sean O’Connor 1-0, Cathal Begley 0-2, Fionn Herlihy 0-1, Brian Hartnett 0-1, Killian Falvey 0-1, Mark Cronin 0-1.

ATU Galway (Galway unless stated): J Livingstone (Breaffy, Mayo); L Costello (Milltown), A McManus (Teemore, Fermanagh), J O’Malley (Louisburgh, Mayo); M Byrne (Athlone, Westmeath), J Foley Mountbellew/Moylough), J Moran (The Downs, Westmeath); C Rafferty (Glenamaddy), D Ruane (Michael Galveys, Roscommon); C Keenan (Fr. Manning Gaels, Longford), D Farrell (Kilashee, Longford), N Treacy (Davitts, Mayo); A McDermott (Castlerea St. Kevins, Roscommon), C Reid (Bohola Moy Davitts, Mayo), N Grainger (Claregalway).

Subs: Gary Higgins (St. Michaels) for Reid (HT), C Hackett (St Marys Carrick, Leitrim) for C Keenan (45), Keenan for Treacy (50).

UCC (Cork unless stated): D Foley (Éire Óg); D Burke (Na Gaeil, Kerry), D O’Mahony (Knocknagree), B Murphy (Nemo Rangers); M Shanley (Clonakilty), R Murphy (Listry, Kerry), B Curtin (Kilshanning); S Merritt (Mallow), B Hartnett (Douglas); J Murphy (Éire Óg), F Herlihy (Dohenys), K Falvey (Annascaul, Kerry); S Quilter (Austin Stacks, Kerry) D Geaney (Dingle, Kerry), M Cronin (Nemo Rangers).

Subs: C Begley (An Gaeltacht, Kerry) for Herlihy (25), S O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary) for Quilter (40), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown) for Falvey (47), R Dalton (Nemo Rangers) for Cronin (60).

Referee: J Gilmartin (Sligo)