Plenty of Dubs on view in Sigerson Cup semi-final

Tue, 21st January 2020

Several Dublin club players will be in opposing camps, as hosts DCU face UCD in this evening's Sigerson Cup semi-final at the DCU Sportsgrounds (6.0).

You can watch the game LIVE here:

DCU have beaten Garda College and Queen's University while UCD required extra-time in both their victories to date over St Mary's, Belfast and University of Ulster, Jordanstown to reach the last-four.

UCD progressed to the last-four when powering on in extra-time to knockout St Mary's (2-10 to 2-6) last Sunday afternoon in Billings Park, Belfield

The John Divilly-managed side looked primed to progress in normal time when holding a three-point lead entering injury-time but some poor defending was punished when Matthew McGleenan struck for a late Queen's goal to force extra-time.

In extra-time UCD were the dominant force with goals at the close of both halves from Ryan O’Toole and Gary Walsh, who scored 1-5 (0-3f) overall, proving decisive.

Cuala's Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne did well on his comeback from injury for UCD and was joined in the UCD victory by fellow Dublin club players Cillian O'Shea (Kilmacud Crokes), Liam Flatman (Kilmacud Crokes), Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's), Seán Egan (St Brigid's) and Evan Caulfield (Clanna Gael Fontenoy).

Con O'Callaghan got injured in the warm-up for UCD first round victory over UUJ and has not featured in either of their two games to date.

In their opening round tie UCD eventually saw off UUJ 0-13 to 0-11, again at Billings Park, Belfield.

Jordanstown looked to have made a winning move when scores from Michael McKernan, Lee Brennan and Daire Gallagher edged them two points clear with ten minutes remaining.

However, points in added time from Gary Walsh and Luke Fortune drew UCD level, 0-7 each, by the end of normal time.

It was one-way traffic in the first period of extra-time as UCD dominated thanks to two points apiece from Ray Connellan and sub Fiachra Clifford as they held on for victory.

DCU, who are managed by former Dublin senior footabller Paddy Christie who also managed the country's minors for two years (2015, 2016), enjoyed a massive 26-point (7-14 to 0-9) quarter-final victory over Queen's University at DCU's Sportsgrounds.

Early goals from Thomas Edward Donohoe, Brian Stack and Kevin Flynn helped DCU race into a 3-9 to 0-3 lead.

In the second half David Garland, top scorer Micheal Bannigan (2-4, 0-1f) and Skerries Harps' Stephen Smith added goals as DCU ran out comfortable winners.

Apart from Stephen Smith other Dublin club players in the DCU panel are Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams), Seán McMahon (Raheny), Declan Monaghan (Clontarf), Shane Carthy (Nh Mearnóg), Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh), Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams) and Tom Fox (Kilmacud Crokes).

Monaghan native Michael Bannigan was also DCU's chief scorer in the first round victory over Garda College (0-11 to 0-9) at DCU's Sportsgrounds when his late flurry of points saw his side to victory.

Letterkenny IT face IT Carlow in the other Sigerson Cup semi-final.

--------------------------------

2020 SIGERSON CUP

First Round

St Mary’s, Belfast 2-14 Maynooth University 0-9

Letterkenny IT 1-18 Athlone IT 3-4

IT Sligo 0-8 UL 0-5

IT Carlow 3-9 IT Tralee 1-13

UCD 0-13 UUJ 0-11 (after extra-time)

DCU 0-11 Garda College 0-9

UCC 2-12 NUIG 1-14

Queen’s 1-14 TUD 1-8