Queen's University finish strong to gain revenge on Galway in Sigerson opening round

Queens University's Ronan Cassidy does his best to hold possession. Pic: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Sigerson Cup Round 1: Queens University Belfast 1-14 University of Galway 0-11

You may recall that University of Galway cut loose when they met Queens this time last year, turfing them out of the Sigerson Cup with a 23-point beating.

Well, the shoe was on the other foot in Abbottstown as Queens gained sweet revenge and a big Round 1 win to set up an interesting clash with UCC next week.

Feargal Logan's side didn't exactly run amok but they closed out the game superbly, coming from one behind with 20 or so minutes left to win by a particularly satisfying six-point margin.

The Tyrone connection was strong as Logan, Tyrone's All-Ireland winning manager of 2021, looked to fellow Red Hands Ronan Cassidy, Conor O'Neill and Noah Grimes for inspiration.

Cassidy, an All-Ireland U-20 winner two years ago, and part of the Tyrone senior team last weekend against Armagh, filled his boots with six points, four from play.

O'Neill wore number six and got forward early on for an important point while Grimes, the star of last year's All-Ireland U-20 final win, was again influential in attack.

There was an important cameo too from Derry's Anton Tohill who, in his fifth year of studies at Queens, fired in the 52nd minute goal that effectively sealed the win and finished with 1-1.

Queens' Noah Grimes turns his man. Pic: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

University of Galway will kick themselves for letting things go so pear shaped after a decent first 40 minutes or so.

They led 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes, thanks in part to a Mark McInerney two-pointer, and were well led by Galway's Cillian O'Curraoin.

A 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead didn't flatter Maurice Sheridan's side who were still one up after 40 minutes. They also had Galway star Matthew Thompson on the field at that stage.

But then came that surge of Queens scoring, 1-5 without response including the Tohill goal - a well taken low finish after a solo run through the centre of the University of Galway defence - to swing the momentum entirely.

ATU Galway didn't fare much better on the night as UCD, beaten finalists last year, overcame them 3-12 to 0-10 to set up a Round 2A clash with Maynooth University next week.

On Wednesday afternoon, an early goal from Meath midfielder Conor Gray propelled Maynooth to a gutsy 1-22 to 1-20 win over St Mary's in Belfast.

Gray and Dunshaughlin clubmate Conor Duke, an All-Star nominee in 2025, fired 1-7 between them to help Maynooth lead by 1-11 to 1-7 at half-time.

St Mary's battled back and briefly led before Harry Plunkett nailed a 40th minute two-pointer for Maynooth, quarter-finalists in 2025, which put them into a lead they held onto.

Queens University Belfast scorers: R Cassidy 0-6 (2 frees); A Tohill 1-1 (1 45); L Diamond, N Grimes 0-2 each; C O'Neill, D Higgins, L McManus (1 free) 0-1 each.

University of Galway scorers: C O Curraoin 0-5 (3 frees); M Thompson 0-(tp), M McInerney (tpf) 0-2 each; M Moughan, T O'Flaherty 0-1 each.

Queens University Belfast: A Lee (Dublin); J Clarke (Tyrone), R Forbes (Derry), J Finnegan (Antrim); D Scullion (Down), C O'Neill (Tyrone), C Hynds (Antrim); D Higgins (Derry), A Tohill (Derry); C Higgins (Derry), M Burnett (Armagh), L Diamond (Derry); N Grimes (Tyrone), R McQuillan (Antrim), R Cassidy (Tyrone).

Subs: L McManus (Monaghan) for McQuillan (48); M Ennis (Meath) for Hynds (56); J Corrigan (Louth) for Diamond (60).

University of Galway (Galway unless stated): C Walsh; C Corcoran, C Moriarty (Kerry), J Folan; J MacMonagle, B Cogger, L O'Connor; C Sheridan (Sligo), S Hansberry; D Lowry (Westmeath), T O'Flaherty (Mayo), S McGrath; E Colleran (Roscommon), M McInerney (Clare), C O Curraoin.

Subs: M Moughan for O'Connor (21); M Thompson for Lowry (24); C Mulligan (Sligo) for MacMonagle (37); R Hester (Roscommon) for O'Flaherty (56); D Hurley (Mayo) for Hansberry (56).

Referee: I Howley (Dublin).