Ulster University into Sigerson Cup final after holding off battling Maynooth side

FIRST FINAL IN TWELVE YEARS: Niall Loughlin celebrates after scoring Ulster University’s first goal against Maynooth in last night’s Sigerson Cup semi-final. Picture: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup semi-final 

Ulster University 1-13 

Maynooth University 0-11 

Ulster University are through to their first Sigerson Cup Final since 2012 after they held off a stubborn challenge from Maynooth University in Inniskeen. The teams belied the very testing conditions to produce a contest full of endeavour and quality, with no fewer than 18 players getting on the scoresheet, including ten from the winners. 

UU could afford to pass up a host of goal chances and still get the job done, with Niall Loughlin’s strike on the 20th minute helping them through. Both sides lined out minus big names: Darragh Kirwan’s absence was felt by Maynooth, but UU will hope to have Glen and Derry stars Conor Glass and Ethan Doherty back for the decider against UCD.

Errigal Ciarán duo Peter Óg McCartan and Darragh Canavan opened the scoring for UU, but a superb point from Ruairí Kinsella got his side off the mark and even though Conor Cush restored the Ulster side’s two-point lead, that was soon wiped out by a strong spell from Maynooth. Kevin and Shane O’Sullivan, Kinsella, Luke Killian and Eoghan Frayne were all on target as Maynooth reeled off five unanswered points, although a brace of Ruairí Canavan frees kept UU within one.

They retook the lead with a clinically-taken goal by Niall Loughlin and they should have added at least one more in the closing stages of the first half, with Ben McCarron hitting the post from close range and Darragh Canavan sending another shot fizzing just past the post. Tom Moran got a point back for Maynooth, but UU led by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break and they started the second half with rapid scores from Oisín McCann and McCarron.

Maynooth dug deep, with a combination of some last-ditch defending and occasional overplaying of opportunities by UU keeping the game in the balance, while Frayne and Shane O’Sullivan responded at the other end to make it a one-point game once more. Darragh Canavan ended a 16-minute scoring drought for UU, but with Colin Walsh and sub James Fitzpatrick replying, Maynooth’s challenge remained alive well into the final quarter.

Ulster University retained their composure, however, to kick five of the last six points. Charlie Diamond, McCann and McCarron all chipped over, before Danny Fullerton and Éamon Brown came off the bench to add insurance scores late on.

Scorers for Ulster University: N Loughlin 1-0; O McCann, B McCarron (1f), D Canavan, R Canavan (2f) 0-2 each; P Óg McCartan, C Diamond, C Cush, D Fullerton, É Brown 0-1 each.

Scorers for Maynooth University: S O’Sullivan, E Frayne (1f), R Kinsella 0-2 each; T Moran, J Fitzpatrick, K O’Sullivan, L Killian, C Walsh 0-1 each.

ULSTER UNIVERSITY: R McGeehin (Donegal); R Boyle (Monaghan), C Diamond (Derry), S Donaghy (Tyrone); P Óg McCartan (Tyrone), R Magill (Down), J Largo-Ellis (Fermanagh); O McCann (Tyrone), B McCarron (Derry); C Daly (Tyrone), R McCaffrey (Fermanagh), C Cush (Tyrone); D Canavan (Tyrone), N Loughlin (Derry), R Canavan (Tyrone).

Subs: D Fullerton (Tyrone) for Daly (52); E Magee (Armagh) for McCartan (57); É Brown (Down) for R Canavan (59).

MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY: C Burke (Kildare); R Burke (Kildare), T McPhillips (Monaghan), T Moran (Wicklow); P McDermott (Kildare), S Greene (Laois), D Scahill (Westmeath); L Killian (Kildare), C Walsh (Roscommon); S Leech (Westmeath), R Kinsella (Meath), K O’Sullivan (Westmeath); S O’Sullivan (Kildare), E Frayne (Meath), K O’Neill (Offaly).

Subs: J Fitzpatrick (Roscommon) for O’Neill, B O’Halloran (Meath) for Scahill (both H-T); A Brazil (Offaly) for R Burke (39); R Teahan (Kildare) for K O’Sullivan (53); J Kiernan (Longford) for Leech (59); C Casey (Cavan).

Referee: P Falloon (Down).