O'Grady brace helps UL to win over University of Galway in Sigerson Cup

Galway looked stronger going in at half time but UL turned it around in the second period.

Sigerson Cup Rd 3: University of Limerick 3-8 University of Galway 0-14

A brace of second-half goals from Castlegregory’s Cian O’Grady helped University of Limerick take the momentum and eventually the victory in this Sigerson Cup round three meeting with University of Galway.

It will be a defeat saddled with regret for Galway, who had recovered from their opening round loss to TU Dublin to claim a facile victory over Queen’s University last weekend. This was always going to be a sterner test against a UL side who’d seen off ATU Galway before losing out late to University of Ulster.

Seemingly in charge of this contest in the third quarter, the visitors led by as many as four points in a then low scoring clash. However, a surge from UL, including a fortuitious penalty, saw them take the reigns in the final quarter.

That penalty, dispatched by O’Grady, came after the ball was handled on the ground in the small square from a dropping free – something which took the winds out of the sails of the Connacht outfit.

It was level at half-time but Galway, with Ryan O’Donoghue spearheading their attack looked more fluid, more efficient and overall the better side against a UL side struggling to find their flow.

Four of the first five points had gone to Maurice Sheridan’s charges but they failed to hammer home their advantage. UL, through Darragh Cashman’s fine long range effort, kept in touch before Cian McHale was sharpest to a rebound to tuck home his sides first goal of a cold evening.

This gave UL a first lead but Cian Hernon levelled the contest heading for the break.

Again, a dominant opening to the half from Galway had them looking likely winners. However, the hosts, thanks to a first from Thomas O’Donnell got back into the reckoning. A fine O’Donoghue effort was added to by Eoin Colleran and Liam O Conghaile.

However, when John McMonagle conceded the penalty, UL didn’t really look back. O’Grady slotted it home before McHale’s free put Declan Brouder’s side in front.

McHale’s second green flag left Galway with a mountain to climb as UL began to dominate all over the pitch. The Limerick side were sharp on their defensive transition and eventually got to grips with O’Donoghue’s movement.

They weren’t afraid to delay Galway’s counter with a foul in the middle third and when UL did have possession they struck the balance well between injecting pace and playing slowly, something aided by their floating Meath netminder – Billy Hogan.

Captain Cashman doubled his tally in stoppage time as the sides traded blows. Galway punished for pushing up while never really looking like finding their own green flag.

UL, still chasing a first Sigerson title, await the draw to see their last eight opposition, knowing that they’ve had three quality examinations in this famous old competition.

Scorers for University of Limerick: C McHale 1-3 (0-2 frees); C O’Grady 2-0 (1 pen); D Cashman, T O’Donnell 0-2 each; P Kearney 0-1.

Scorers for University of Galway: R O’Donoghue (1 free), C Ó Curraoin (2 frees) 0-3 each; R Thompson (1f), L O Conghaile 0-2 each; C Hernon, D Lowry, J McLoughlin, E Colleran 0-1.

UL: B Hogan (Longwood, Meath); P O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), C Woulfe (St. Senan’s, Limerick), F Kelly (Davitts, Mayo); E Clifford (Laune Rangers, Kerry), D Cashman (Capt) (Millstreet, Cork), D Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane, Clare); T O’Donnell (Castlegregory, Kerry), D O’Hagan (Mungret St. Paul’s, Limerick); C Dawson (Westport, Mayo), J McCabe (Corofin, Galway) , D Heneghan (Michael Glavey’s, Roscommon); C McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), S McDonnell (Mallow, Cork), C O’Grady (Castlegregory, Kerry).

Subs: B McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare) for McCabe (39); P White (John Mitchell’s, Kerry) for Dawson (47); C Keogh (Padraig Pearse’s, Roscommon) for O’Hagan (52); C O’Sullivan (Adrigole, Cork) for O’Donnell (58).

UG (Galway unless stated): J Egan (St. James’s); J McMonagle (Castlebar, Mayo), C Mulligan (St. Patrick’s, Sligo), C Murray (Mountbellew); R Fallon (St. Bridgid’s, Roscommon), C Hernon (Bearna), J O’Neill (St. James’s); S Hansberry (Menlough), J McLoughlin (Moycullen); M Moughan (Moycullen), M Thompson (Salthill), B Cogger (Corofin); L O Conghaile (Spiddal), C O Curraoin (Michael Breathnach), R O’Donoghue (Belmullet, Mayo).

Subs: E Colleran (Padraig Pearse’s, Roscommon) for Thompson (35); D Lowry (Moate, Westmeath) for Hernon (37); T O’Flaherty (Aghamore, Mayo) for O’Neill (50); S McGrath (Dunmore) for Hansberry (52).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)