Morris points TU Dublin to victory over University of Galway

Jordan Morris of TU Dublin and Meath in action. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Sigerson Cup: TU Dublin 0-8 University of Galway 0-5

A late flurry of scores ensured a winner’s slot next week for TU Dublin following a hard-fought encounter against University of Galway in bitterly cold Grangegorman on Friday night.

In a game where each score felt like a winner, TUD came from behind to take a three-point lead entering injury time. 

The home side had to rely on lady luck when a rocket-like effort close range free from University of Galway's Cillian O’Curraoin in the 64th minute cannoned off the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, it was University of Galway corner-forward Liam O’ Conghaile who sent over the game’s first score. 

O’Curraoin added a second Galway score after 20 minutes as his side had possession but were lacking a goal-scoring threat. 

Jordan Morris, finally, with seven minutes remaining in the first half, registered TUD’s opening score. 

O’Curraoin kicked two more scores before the interval either side of Darragh Rooney’s point for TUD to leave the visitors (0-4) to (0-2) ahead at the break.

A power-packed opening five minutes from TUD resulted in scores from Sean Reynolds and Morris once more and the sides were level. 

The only University of Galway score of the second half came from O’ Curraoin in the 35th minute to restore a short-lived lead. 

TUD were beginning to take the central areas of the field as TUD kicked five wides over the hour as opposed to three for the Galway college. The best score of the night was a superb curling effort by Morris and his equaliser was the beginning of the end for Galway. 

When Morris kicked his side's sixth, and his fourth, it was a sign of TUD's dominance. 

The winners' centre-back Cormac McGeogh sent his side two clear. The final score of the game fell to substitute Danny Lovett before a late surge of attacks from University of Galway ended with an O’ Curraoin effort that came back off the post. 

TU Dublin: Jack Rodgers (Kildare), Cian Reilly (Cavan), Matthew Nolan (Wicklow), Niall Carolan (Cavan), Darragh Fee (Wicklow), Cormac McGeogh (Cavan) (0-1), Joe Prendergast (Wicklow), Cian McBride (Meath) Sean Hanafin (Kildare), Darragh Rooney (Leitrim) (0-1), Jack Lundy (Dublin), Danny McCartan (Westmeath), Jordan Morris (Meath) (0-4), Conor Fee (Wicklow), Sean Reynolds (Louth) (0-1). 

Subs: Darragh Lovett (Offaly) (0-1) for Lundy, Sean Jones (Monaghan) for Rooney, Conor Hand (Roscommon) for McCartan, Evan Finnegan (Cavan) for Carolan.

University of Galway: James Egan (Galway), John McMonagle (Mayo), Cian Hernon (Galway), Colin Murray (Galway), Rory Egan (Offaly), Ruadhri Fallon (Roscommon), Darragh Lowry (Westmeath), Sean Hansberry (Galway), James McLaughlin (Galway), Mike Moughan (Galway), Matthew Thompson (Galway), Shane McGrath (Galway) (0-1), Liam O’Conghaile (Galway), Cillian O’Curraoin (Galway) (0-4), Brian Cogger (Galway). 

Subs: Sam O’Neill (Galway) for McGrath, Tom O’Flaherty (Mayo) for Egan.

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)