Ulster University finish strong to avoid Sigerson Cup upset against MTU Cork

TOUGH DEFEAT: MTU Cork manager James McCarthy watches on. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Sigerson Cup Round 2B: ULSTER UNIVERSITY 1-16 (1-3-10) MTU CORK 1-11 (1-2-7)

The absence of the Tyrone trio of Ruairi Canavan, Ciarán Daly and Eoin McElholm unlocked the door for MTU Cork to pull off an upset in Belfield on Wednesday evening.

And when Brian Thompson opened the scoring in the second half with a fisted point to make it 0-8 to 0-6 in favour of the Cork college, it looked like they might just open it and walk through to the third round of the Sigerson Cup.

MTU hadn’t necessarily been the better team up to that point but they had been much more efficient in front of the posts, recording just one wide up to then in contrast with six from the Ulster side.

Cian O’Brien’s 1-2 in the space of five minutes completely changed the game however as it didn’t just wipe out the lead and put Ulster University back in front, it also settled their nerves and allowed them to push on from there, boosted by a strong contribution from their bench.

UU always looked that bit slicker and stronger in moving the ball against an MTU Cork side that leaned heavily on a couple of key individuals in the middle third, Charlie Keating in particular making an impression after coming into the side that lost out to UL.

There was no wind advantage to speak of with two-pointers at both ends, Gary Mohan on target for the victors while Charlie Diamond and Fintan Fenner each hit the target from dead balls just outside the arc.

Seán Brady made a superb block to deny what looked like a nailed on point with the score at 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of the Ulster college and you could see belief rising in the Rebels from there, belief that turned into two points for Seán Dore and the fourth orange flag of the half, this time from Jack Dillon.

If the nervousness had been allowed to take root, UU might have found themselves in real difficulty but after conceding the first point after the restart and adding two more wides to their tally, O’Brien stepped up with two curled kicks from just inside the arc and a precise low finish under the legs of Josh Woods for the game’s first goal.

Fenner tied the game up again when he seized a loose break and then slammed the ball to the net on the 40 minute mark, but by now UU looked a lot more like themselves and established a winning position by hitting 0-5 unanswered in the next ten minutes, meaning that MTU needed to convert at least one of their two late goal chances.

Both Keating and Seán Brady had their efforts blocked however, enabling UU to see out five extra minutes with ease.

Scorers for UU: C O’Brien (1-2), C Diamond (0-5, 1tpf, 1tp, one free), G Mohan (0-3, 1tp), R McCullagh (0-2), J Doran (0-1), J Donaghy (0-1), R Nugent (0-1), H Magill (0-1).

Scorers for MTU CORK: F Fenner (1-3, 1tpf, one free), S Dore (0-2), J Dillon (0-2, tp), Z McCarthy (0-1, free), B Thompson (0-1), C Keating (0-1), S Brady (0-1).

UU: R Burns (Drumgath, Down); F O’Brien (Devenish, Fermanagh), L Kelly (Truagh, Monaghan), R Boyle (Truagh, Monaghan); B Cullen (Edendork, Tyrone), R Nugent (Granemore, Armagh), J Donaghy (Carrickmore, Tyrone); S Carr (Clonduff, Down), G Mohan (Truagh, Monaghan); J McDermott (Glen, Derry), R Magill (Burren, Down), D McDermott (Glen, Derry); C Diamond (Bellaghy, Derry), C O’Brien (Devenish, Fermanagh), R McCullagh (Loughmacrory, Tyrone).

Subs: H Magill (Burren, Down) for Kelly (h-t), J Doran (Ballyholland, Down) for Mohan (41), L Hughes (Dungannon, Tyrone) for R Magill (41), C Cush (Donaghmore, Tyrone) for 15 (51), C Daly (Omagh, Tyrone) for Cullen (56).

MTU CORK (Cork unless stated): J Woods (Valley Rovers); C O’Donoghue (St. Mary’s, Kerry), S Brady (Ballygarvan), S Copps (Mallow); B Thompson (Éire Óg), C Hyland (Mitchelstown), K Graham (Clyda Rovers); S Dore (Ballincollig), C Keating (Dr. Crokes, Kerry); S Browne (Castlehaven), F Fenner (Castletownbere), B Comerford (Grangemockler, Tipperary); M Quirke (Ballinora), Z McCarthy (Galtee Gaels, Limerick), J Dillon (Mallow).

Subs: K O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers) for Quirke (h-t), D Roche (Glenflesk, Kerry) for McCarthy (43), L Harte (O’Donovan Rossa) for Browne (46), L Shorten (Tadhg Mac Carthaighs) for Comerford (49), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue) for Graham (53).

Referee: E O’Connor (Offaly).