SIGERSON CUP UU Jordanstown 1-16 Garda College 1-14 (Aet: 1-11 to 1-11 after 60 mins)THE SIGERSON Cup remained north of the Border for a second year after the University of Jordanstown overcame Garda in a thrilling final which went to extra- time at the Carlow IT grounds last evening. UUJ thus succeed Queen's University as champions.
UUJ held a slight edge for most of this game but they were unable to put away a spirited Garda side who were seeking a first Sigerson success.
The northern university gained an upper hand in the late stages of the first half in normal time to establish an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-5.
When Antrim's Paddy Cunningham crashed home a 35th-minute goal UUJ led 1-10 to 0-7 and looked on the way to the title.
But Dublin player John O'Brien countered that goal minutes later when he lashed home a close-range free, catching the UUJ defence off guard. O'Brien top scored for his side with 1-4.
UUJ, playing into the strong wind, were clinging to a one-point lead when Garda substitute James Martin kicked a levelling point to leave the sides deadlocked on 1-11 each, thus ensuring extra-time.
The teams were still level at 1-14 apiece when half-time of extra- time was reached but excellent second-half extra-time points from Derry's Mark Lynch and Paddy Cunningham saw UUJ home as they made wind advantage tell.
Remarkably, only three players scored for UUJ - the outstanding Cunningham scored 1-9, 1-5 from play, Lynch notched 0-6, while centre back Karl Lacey of Donegal scored the game's opening point.
Lacey gave a man of the match performance for the winners.
UUJ finished with 13 men after second yellow cards for two of their substitutes, James McGovern and Ciarán Donnelly, in the last minutes of extra time.
Garda had been reduced to 14 players when Cormac McGill was sent off in the early minutes of the first half of extra-time after halting a UUJ forward who was in flight for goal.
UUJ: M McAllister; C Harrison, D McCaul, D Morgan; P McGuigan, K Lacey (0-1), P Donnelly; B McKenna, C Kavanagh; D Hughes, T McCann, R Mulgrew; M Lynch (0-6, three frees), P Cunningham (1-9, four frees), A Moran. Subs: J McGovern for Hughes (half-time), B Dunnion for Harrison (45 mins), C Donnelly for Moran (74 mins).
GARDA COLLEGE: P O'Connor; C McGill, C McGrath, A Pender; G Dillon, D Mullaghy, E Callaghan; A O'Mahony, A O'Donovan; S Buckley, R Guinan (0-6, three frees, one 45), D Glennon; J O'Brien (1-4, 1-2 frees), M Harrington (0-3), J Keane. Subs: B Brennan for Keane (half-time), J Martin (0-1) for O'Donovan (52 mins).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
