UCD pull away in second half to see off UCC in Sigerson Cup

Sigerson Cup football is competitive and this was provided in abundance as both sides factores in some outstanding movements through the opening thirty minutes, but despite this it still resulted in a low scoring first half.

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025 - 19:13

Brendan Furlong

Sigerson Cup: UCD 0-12 UCC 0-7

It was a game exposed to the weather as a result both UCD and UCC created their own piece of history when playing their first ever Sigerson Cup senior football tie in Wexford.

The force of the weather saw the game eventually ending up in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park in Enniscorthy where both sides were presented with an excellent surface with the result one was entertained to an excellent and competitive game of free flowing football.

From the start there was little to separate the side until UCD capitalised on an increased amount of outfield possession midway through the second period resulting in Darragh Cregg and Luke Breathnack kicking over some excellent points to eventually create some daylight between the sides.

The game was just in the third minute when Killian Falvey pointed the Cork college in front, but within two minutes following some excellent approach play from midfield it resulted in a fine Luke Breathnach levelling point.

The respectives defences were successful in frustrating the attacks with one having to wait until the ninth minute for the games second score a Conor Daly pointed free to restore the UCC lead.

Inspired by the excellent play of centre-back Diarmuid Phelan supplemented by midfielder Donncha Desmond, UCC managed to move into a 0-3 to 0-1 when Conor Daly pointed a free after twelve minutes.

Diarmuid Moriarty reduced the deficit with a fine individual point, but UCC still managed to retain their grip responding with a Conor Daly pointed free to lead 0-4 to 0-3, after eighteen minutes but this turned out to be their last score of the opening half.

With Donnacha Gilmore now beginning to impose himself in midfield, UCD responded with points from Callum Bolton and Daragh Cregg in the closing minutes to send the sides in level 0-4 apiece at the interval.

Up until this there was little to separate the sides but as the second half moved on UCD became more clinical in front of goal, while the UCC attack were unable to prise open the Dublin colleges defence in which Theo Clancy, Sam Callinan and Charlie Drumm were outstanding.

UCD began the second half by creating some worthwhile chances resulting in points from Daragh Credd, Sam Callinan and Aaron Lynch to extend into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead just six minutes into the second period.

UCC to their credit battled their way back into contention with points from Conor Daly and Hugh O'Connor, but it was their opponents who were creating the space in quick counter attacks stretching into a 0-11 to 0-7 lead by the twenty-third minute as Darragh Cregg with two and sub Simonb Forken kicked over excellent points.

Throughout the second period, UCC were always chasing the game as the attack were unable to create an impact against an imposing UCD defence, and it was the Dublin college who closed out the scoring with a Barry McNulty point.

Scorers for UCD: D Cregg (0-4, 0-1 f), A Lynch (0-2), S Callinan, C Bolton, D Gilmore, B McNulty, D Moriarty, L Breathnach (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCC: C Daly (0-5, 0-3 f), H O'Connor (0-1), K Falvey (0-1);

UCD: K Roche (Laois); D McElarney (Monaghan), T Clancy (Dublin), M Stone (Wicklow); S Callinan (Mayo), C Drumm (Westmeath), J Moran (Longford); C Bolton (Kildare), D Gilmore (Derry); C Egan (Offaly), B McNulty (Leitrim), D Moriarty (Meath); D Cregg (Roscommon), L Breathnach (Dublin), A Lynch (Meath).

Subs: M McNally (Dublin) for Egan; S Forkan (Dublin) for Moran; B O'Connell (Roscommon) for Lynch; O Cregg (Roscommon) for Stone; F Desmond (Cork) for Moriarty).

UCC: A Murphy (Kerry); F Leahy (Cork), D O;Callaghan (Kerry), D Peat (Cork); C Kennedy (Cork), D Phelan (Cork), N Lordan (Cork); D Desmond (Cork), T O hAinifin (Keerry); F O'Brien (Kerry), H O'Connor (Cork), K Falvey (Kerry); O Corcoran (Cork), C Daly (Cork), A Crowley (Kerry).

Subs: L Costelloe (Galway) for O'Brien; K O'Reilly (Cork) for Crowley; D Murphy (Cork) for Falvey.

Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry).