Buckley catches fire as MTU Cork see off ATU Donegal after extra time

SCORER SUPREME: David Buckley of MTU Cork in action against Jack Gallagher of ATU Donegal. Pic: Ben McShane, Sportsfile

MTU Cork 3-20 ATU Donegal 1-14 (AET)    

The temperature didn’t rise above the minus figures at Abbotstown but David Buckley brought some badly needed heat to keep MTU Cork’s Sigerson Cup flame burning.

Needing a win to stay in the competition following defeat to Maynooth in Round 1, Buckley rose superbly to the challenge to keep MTU Cork in the competition with a blistering 1-12.

There were goals too from substitutes Ryan O’Donovan and David O’Connor though it took a marathon 80-plus minutes to separate the teams.

It was a long trip back to the north-west for ATU Donegal who, leading by five after 20 minutes and by 1-7 to 0-8 at half-time, will ultimately rue the amount of shots they dropped short in normal time.

They left five in the goalkeeper’s arms over the hour though even at that it looked as if they might pinch a memorable win to stay in the competition themselves.

Free-taker Luke McGlynn nudged them a point clear in the 61st minute, 1-13 to 0-15, but the brilliant Buckley rode to MTU Cork’s rescue with a stunning score from a free to push the game to extra-time.

Podge Healy, who eventually went off with an injury in extra-time, won the free that Buckley converted and even some of the ATU Donegal substitutes looked impressed with his curling kick from the left wing in front of their camp.

Maxi Curran is part of the ATU Donegal coaching staff and the ultra-experienced coach did his best to rally his troops for extra-time.

But it turned out to be one-way traffic in the additional 20 minutes and they only added one more point in the two halves.

MTU Cork, meanwhile, went to town on the scoreboard and struck 2-3 in the first-half alone. Buckley’s 65th-minute goal was the gamebreaker as he punished a poor kick-out by the Donegal side and looped the ball back in over the goalkeeper’s head.

O'Donovan then hit the net while O’Connor wrapped up the win with a late, late goal as MTU Cork eased through to Round 3.

Special mention too for Luke McGlynn who picked out Keelan Dunleavy much earlier for the ATU Donegal goal with a quite sumptuous pass.

MTU Cork scorers: D Buckley (1-12, 7f); R O’Donovan (1-2); D O’Connor (1-0); L Smith (0-2); A Walsh, M Casey, K O’Driscoll, A Dunwoody (0-1 each).

ATU Donegal scorers: L McGlynn (0-6, 5 frees); K Dunleavy (1-2); R O’Donnell (0-3); J McSharry (0-2); C Gernon (0-1).

MTU Cork: R Cashman (Kanturk, Cork); D Cronin (Gneeveguilla, Kerry), T Walsh (Kanturk, Cork), M Casey (Templenoe, Kerry); B Thompson (Eire Og, Cork), S Brady (Ballygarvan, Cork), S Andrews (Shamrocks, Cork); J Cooper (Eire Og, Cork), L Smith (Glenbeigh/Glencar, Kerry); J Cahalane (Castlehaven, Cork), A O’Shea (Listry, Kerry), S Dore (Ballincollig, Cork); K O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), A Walsh (Kanturk, Cork), D Buckley (Newcestown, Cork).

Subs: R O’Donovan (Barryroe, Cork) for O’Shea (h/t); P Healy for Thompson & C O’Neill (Canovee, Cork) for Walsh (43); C O’Donovan (Macroom, Cork) for Dore (48); A Dunwoody for O’Driscoll & D O'Dwyer (Carbery Rangers, Cork) for Brady (h/t e/t); D O’Connor (Boherbue, Cork) for Cooper (h/t e/t), D McSweeney (Newcestown, Cork) for Cronin (75), M Quirke (Ballinora, Cork) for Healy (76).

ATU Donegal: N O’Donnell (Shannon Gaels, Leitrim); J Kelly (Glenswilly, Donegal), D Dorrian (Baile na nGalloglach), Donegal), R O’Donnell (Milford, Donegal); O Caulfield (Na Rossa, Donegal), J Gallagher (Glenswilly, Donegal), C McEntee (Gweedore, Donegal); C Gernon (Iniskeen, Monaghan), H Monaghan; K Dunleavey (Glenswilly, Donegal), L McGlynn (Glenfin, Donegal), R O’Donnell (Kilcar, Donegal); B McGettigan (Termon, Donegal), J McSharry (Killybegs, Donegal), B McGarvey (Cloughaneely, Donegal).

Subs: D Doogan (St Eunan's, Donegal) for Gernon & A Pasoma (Downings, Donegal) for Monaghan (52); P Teevan (Ballyhaise, Cavan) for McEntee (68); A Doherty (Carndonagh, Donegal) for Caulfield (74); S Toolan (Bonniconlon, Mayo) for McGlynn (75); S McBride (Milford, Donegal) for O’Donnell (76).

Ref: D Gough (Meath).