DCU cruise past UCD into Sigerson final

Wed, 22nd January 2020

SIGERSON CUP SEMI-FINAL

DCU 1-15 UCD 0-3

Four-time champions DCU cruised into the Sigerson Cup final following this comfortable semi-final victory over UCD at the DCU Sportsgrounds on Wednesday night.

Sigerson Cup Final 2020@DCUGAAAcademy v @ITCarlowGAA

Wednesday 29th January @ 19:30
DCU Sportsgrounds @ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA #FirstClassRivals #WeAreDCU

First week back of semester please come and support our Senior Football Team as we host final of competition pic.twitter.com/l2wisJFx0A
— DCU Dóchas Éireann (@DCUGAAAcademy) January 23, 2020

The Glasnevin university took control of the game in the second quarter and were never in any real trouble as the game progressed.

DCU led 0-7 to 0-2 at the interval, after the sides had been level 0-2 each after 15 minutes.

Michael Bannigan's goal on the rebound, after his initial penalty had been saved by UCD keeper Gary O'Rourke, four minutes into the second half left the Belfield outfit with a major uphill task that proved well beyond them.

UCD had reached the last-four stage following two tough extra-time clashes and perhaps it told against them.

Dublin senior Evan Comerford's kickouts gave DCU a great foothold around centrefield while DCU attacked their opponents kickouts to telling effect.

Comerford also slotted two deadballs in the second half - the first a 46-metre free from slightly to the right of goal and then a '45' from towards the flank.

DCU's defensive shape was impressive as they stripped UCD of the ball or shepherded them out to the flanks and forced them into some wayward shooting.

Comerford's county and club teammate, Paddy Small, added two second half points to his first half score - two coming off his less favoured right side - as DCU began to move further clear in the second half.

Watch Full-Time highlights here as @DCUGAAAcademy beat @UCDGAA in the @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup semi-final #FirstClassRivals pic.twitter.com/expK0lXCTQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 22, 2020

Monaghan native David Garland showed great accuracy to add four points from play to his three first half frees while Nh Mearnóg's Shane Carthy used the all accurately and intelligently from midfield for a forward unit in which Dublin's Seán Bugler handled plenty of possession.

DCU will face IT Carlow in the decider at the DCU Sportsgrounds next Wednesday night.

SCORERS - DCU: D Garland 0-7 (0-3f), M Bannigan 1-2 (0-2f), P Small 0-3, E Comerford 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 '45'), S Carthy 0-1. UCD: C Hartley, R Connellan (0-1f), G Walsh (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DCU: E Comerford; C Morrison, B McCole, D Corcoran; K Flynn, J Morrissey, D Monaghan; S McMahon, S Carthy; B Stack, M Bannigan, S Bugler; T Donohoe, D Garland, P Small. Subs: T Fox for Donohoe (43), S Smith for Bannigan (55), K Dwyer for Corcoran (55), M Curran for Monaghan (55).

UCD: G O’Rourke; L Flatman, M Breen, M O’Connor; K Kennedy, R O’Toole, S Coen; B O’Sullivan, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne; B McGinn, C O’Shea, L Fortune; C Hartley, R Connellan, G Walsh. Subs: R McCormack for Fortune (29), Fortune for McGinn (ht), C Moriarty for Hartley (ht), F Clifford for Wash (47), S Egan for Fortune (47).

REF: C Reilly (Meath).