UL book quarter-final date with Trinity in Collingwood Cup

University of Limerick will meet Trinity College Dublin in today’s Collingwood Cup quarter-final in Galway after emphatically sweeping past University of Ulster, Coleraine in yesterday’s first round.

In the first of three ties held at the Dangan Pavilion, UL laid down their title credentials with a 6-1 victory.

Conor Maguire’s first-half brace and two more goals from Shane Harrington and Oisin McMenamin sped UL into a four-goal advantage by the break.

Although UUC’s reply through Jordan Dane early in the second-half threatened to upset their rhythm, UL regained a foothold and bagged another couple of goals from Brian Donovan and Garbhan Coughlan to complete the rout.

UL’s opponents today, TCD, booked their place in the last eight by accounting for Royal Colleage of Surgeons 2-0 yesterday morning courtesy of goals from John McDonagh and Darren O’Donoghue.

With Coleraine knocked out and University of Ulster, Jordanstown (UUJ) barred from participating over the weekend due to a player eligibility issue, there was at last some good news for northern teams in the afternoon.

Strikes from Aaron Keenan and Conor Murray earned Queen’s University a 2-0 triumph over Mary Immaculate, pitting them into battle today against University College Dublin, who profited from Jordanstown’s expulsion with a bye into the quarter-finals.

In today’s other last-eight ties at the four-day national blitz, champions Maynooth take on University College Cork at 11am, while Dublin City University are paired against last year’s runner-up and hosts, NUI Galway at 2.30pm.

The final takes place on Thursday at Eamonn Deacy Park (2.30pm).