Queen’s finally get back to winning ways

Queen's University 0-13
University of Limerick 0-11


Queen's University won their first Sigerson Cup match since 2008 yesterday, beating UL in Belfast by two points.

The Limerick visitors led by 0-2 to 0-1 early in the game after Kerry forward James O’Donoghue scored the first of his four points.

Queen’s reeled off the next four points in a row, however, and managed to stay ahead for almost the entire game.

Donegal’s All-Ireland winner Martin McElhinney dispossessed his marker and scored the first of Queen’s four unanswered points while Ryan Rafferty got two points in two minutes as they raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 19 minutes.

Although they were chasing the game for long spells, UL hung in and had their best spell either side of half-time.

JP Spillane and David Dolan both scored from play to reduce the deficit at half-time to 0-6 to 0-5.

Rory Grugan stretched Queen’s lead 20 seconds after the restart but UL briefly drew level at 0-7 apiece in the 37th minute through Shane O’Callaghan’s point.

Queen’s went on another four-point scoring burst, with Darren O’Hanlon, Ryan Murray, Ryan Jones and the impressive Ryan Mallon all on the scoresheet.

UL showed great persistence and despite dropping a few shots short, a O’Donoghue brace and a fine score by Denis Daly brought them to within a point again.

Mallon was the most influential player in the closing stages and helped Queen's through to next week's home tie against GMIT.


QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY: M Cunningham; P Quinn (0-1), C Cullen, C McNulty; R Mallon (0-2), D O'Hanlon (0-1), C McCartan (0-1); M McElhinney (0-1), H Og Conlan; C Maginn, R Grugan (0-2), R Jones (0-1); G Collins, N McKenna, R Rafferty (0-2) Subs: R Murray (0-2) for Collins (half-time), S McArdle for Jones (48 mins), R McGarry for Rafferty (50 mins), R Jones for Conlan (60 mins).
UL: R Byrne; E Kiely, T Clancy, B Harrison; D Dolan (0-1), J O'Rourke, L Mulligan; P McHugh, C McNamee; JP Spillane (0-1), D Daly (0-1), E Carroll; S O'Callaghan (0-1), J O'Donoghue (0-4, 2f), B O'Shea (0-3, frees).
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).