UCC blow ATU Galway away to get Sigerson campaign back on track

It was too cold to be hanging about. UCC simply wanted to get on with it. They wanted to get on with their campaign. It’s back on track now.

Wed, 17 Jan, 2024 - 21:14

Eoghan Cormican, Bishopstown 4G

UCC 9-21 ATU Galway 3-6

Take a look at that scoreline. Two teams separated by 33 points and an ocean of ability. Save for blathering on about the freezing conditions, what really can be said about such a non-event?

A UCC Sigerson Cup match means Billy Morgan is close at hand. We’ll let the doyen of third-level football give his take on the decidedly one-sided proceedings.

After last week’s opening round defeat to Ulster University, survival was the sole show in town. That was, of course, until survival was wrapped up in the tidiest of bows by the end of the first quarter, at which stage the title holders had posted 3-8 and the visitors had posted nothing at all.

“What we wanted then was that we’d maintain our standards, not drop our performance, and to keep playing as well as we can for as long as we can,” said Morgan.

“We got sloppy against Jordanstown last week. We were five up and could have gone eight up. We were sloppy in our passing and general play. We wanted to cut out that sloppiness here.

“We went out to give our best performance and for long periods of the game we did that.”

Before neatly setting out the many UCC contributors, it’s necessary to set out the paucity of the challenge they faced.

ATU Galway, who went down to UCD by 17 points in their opener, did not manage a first shot in anger until the 11th minute of this second-round tie. It was another nine minutes further on before they opened their account. Their exit had already been confirmed by that early marker, 19 points they trailed.

Full-forward Adam McDermott was the sole visiting player to cause any bit of nuisance or grievance for the home defence. He never stopped prodding and poking. He finished with 1-4, all bar a white flag of that total arriving from play.

The other visitor meriting mention was goalkeeper Andrew Power. He might have been beaten nine times, but the opposition goal count would have been up around 16 were it not for his efforts.

Of the nine majors that Morgan’s students stitched, Conor Daly’s first, on nine minutes, was part of an unanswered 1-3 from the inside forward. He took home a tally of 2-5 with him.

Midfielder Diarmuid Phelan won the throw-in and travelled all the way to the 14-metre line where his effort was kept out by Power. Phelan’s second bite seven minutes later was successful.

The opening three scores of the second period were UCC green flags. A Sean O’Connor pair either side of Daly’s second. 7-12 to 1-4.

Full-back Alan Dineen then came forward for a point before another goal, this time finished by Eoghan O’Sullivan. And on and on it continued.

Half-time ran for no more than 10 minutes. It was too cold to be hanging about. UCC simply wanted to get on with it. They wanted to get on with their campaign. It’s back on track now.

Scorers for UCC: C Daly (2-5); S O’Connor (2-3, 0-1 free); K Falvey (1-3); C Hayes (1-2); R Quigley (1-1); E O’Sullivan, D Phelan (1-0 each); A Dineen, S Quilter (0-1 free, 0-1 mark), F Herlihy (0-2 each); D Hayes (0-1).

Scorers for ATU Galway: A McDermott (1-4, 0-1 free); R Curran, C O Laoi (1-0 each); D Prendergast (free), N Treacy (0-1 each).

UCC (Cork unless stated): D Foley (Éire Óg); D O’Callaghan (Kilcummin, Kerry), A Dineen (Rathmore, Kerry), N Lordan (Ballinora); M Cooper (Dr Crokes, Kerry), B Curtin (Kilshannig), D Bourke (Na Gaeil, Kerry); D Phelan (Aghada); C O Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht, Kerry); E O’Sullivan (Legion, Kerry), R Quigley (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary), K Falvey (Annascaul, Kerry); C Daly (Clonakilty), F Herlihy (Dohenys), S O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary).

SUBS: S Quilter (Austin Stacks, Kerry) for O’Connor, D Hayes (Carbery Rangers) for Herlihy, C Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry) for Quigley, D Murray (Glanmire) for Phelan, D Peet (Clonakilty) for Lordan (all 40); J Boyle (Sean MacCumhails, Donegal) for Bourke (54, temporary).

ATU GALWAY (Galway unless stated): A Power (Moycullen); F Guinnane (Kildysart, Clare), C Roarty (Naomh Conaill, Donegal), S Murray (Dunmore MacHales); C O Laoi (An Spidéal), S Joyce (Castlerea, Roscommon), P Joyce (Castlerea, Roscommon); C Reid (Moy Davitts, Mayo), R Curran (St Mary’s Swanlinbar, Cavan); E Owens (Eastern Gaels, Mayo), E Mannion (Milltown), D Prendergast (Kilconly); J O’Flaherty (Killannin), A McDermott (Castlerea, Roscommon), N Treacy (Davitts, Mayo).

SUBS: D Wynne (Ballinameen, Roscommon) for P Joyce (40).

Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry).