UL into last four of Sigerson Cup after beating Maynooth in extra time

It looked like Maynooth had done enough to earn a semi-final spot until the late UL rally that forced extra time and UL hit form to earn a comfortable win.

University of Limerick's Paddy O’Driscoll and Darragh O’Beirne of Maynooth University. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

UL 3-16 Maynooth 0-17 (after extra time)

UL booked their spot in the Sigerson Cup semi-finals following a 3-16 to 0-17 victory over Maynooth at Maguires Pitches.

David Power’s side needed a Daithi Hogan goal late on to force extra time but dominated the game on its resumption with a three-pointer from Hugo O’Loughlin sealing their passage.

UL overcame a second half missed penalty and a 19-minute period without a score to somehow stay in the game with Hogan’s heroics saving the day.

Maynooth made a fast start with Harry Plunkett and an Eoghan Freyne two-pointer helping them to a four-point advantage UL hit back quickly when a speculative Cathal Brosnan delivery was guided to the net by a deft Cian McHale touch to the net.

McHale then slotted a point from play that was added to by Frank Irwin’s free and suddenly UL were in front.

Irwin then landed a superb two-pointer from play that saw the score at 1-4 to 0-4 in UL’s favour with nine minutes played.

Cathal King then fired over another fine effort for UL that was added to by a McHale free to push their lead to five points.

Eoin Cully and Conor Duke settled things for Maynooth and they added further scores in the run up to half time from Freyne and James Harris after Conal Dawson pointed for UL. Half time score at 1-7 to 0-8 in UL’s favour.

Maynooth got the better start once more in the second half with a Duke free cutting UL’s lead to one.

Duke and Cully then put Maynooth on the front foot but UL missed out on a great chance to snatch control back when Dawson was fouled for a penalty. However, Irwin was denied by a smart save by Cian Burke.

Referee James Molloy then had to leave the game injured and was replaced by Chris Maguire in a game that had everything.

Aaron Browne landed Maynooth’s fifth on the spot to put his side 0-13 to 1-7 clear before UL finally woke from their second half slumber thanks to a Cathal Keavney strike.

Dawson’s excellent strike brought UL to within one but points from Cully and Luke Crowley gave Maynooth space heading into added time.

There was still time left for Hogan to hit the net with a shock goal for UL and they took huge confidence from the equalising goal to boss extra time and seal safe passage into the final four.

Scorers for UL: C McHale 1-5 (2f), F Irwin 0-4 (1f), D Hogan 1-1,H McLoughlin 1-0 each, C Dawson 0-2, C King, C Keavney, M Freaney and K Butler 0-1 each.

Scorers for Maynooth: A Browne 0-4 (1f), E Freyne, E Cully and C Duke (1f) 0-3 each, H Plunkett, J Harris, L Crowley and D Scahill 0-1 each.

UL: T O’Callaghan (Clane, Kildare); T Walsh (Kanturk, Cork), T Ross (Curry, Sligo), B Dempsey (Portlaoise, Laois); P O’Driscroll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), S Morohan (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo), C King (Ballina, Tipperary); B McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare), C Brosnan,(Currow, Kerry); C Dawson, (Westport, Mayo), J McCabe (Corofin, Galway), C Ryan (Rathmore, Kerry); J Melvin (Davitts, Mayo), C McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), F Irwin (Ballina Stephanites, Mayo).

Subs: C Keavney (Parke KC, Mayo) for King (37), D Hogan (St Patrick’s, Tipperary) for McCAbe (38), H O’Loughlin (Kilmaine, Mayo) for Melvin (43), M Freaney (Kilsheelin-Kilcash, Tipperary) for Brosnan (53), D Buckley (Newcestown, Cork) for Ryan (53), K Butler (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary) for Dempsey (74).

Maynooth: C Burke (Clane, Kildare); R Fitzgerald (Naas), B O’Halloran (Ballivor, Meath), R Burke (Caragh, Kildare); L Killian (Sallins, Kildare), C Daly (Coralstown-Kinnegad, Westmeath), J Harris (Castlemitchell, Kildare); C Duke (Dunshaughlin, Meath), C Gray (Dunshaughlin, Meath); A Browne (Celbridge, Kildare), D Scahill (Shandonagh, Westmeath), D Finn (Garristown, Dublin); E Freyne (Summerhill, Meath),H Plunkett (Tullamore, Offaly), E Cully (Carbury, Kildare).

Subs: R Kinsella (Dunshaughlin, Meath) for Finn (38), L Crowley (Glenflesk, Kerry) for Killian (45), S Greene (Emo, Laois) for Daly (59), M Gibbons (Kilcock, Kildare) for Gray (75), S Walsh (Oran, Roscommon) for Browne (76).

Referee: J Molloy (Galway) & C Maguire (Clare).