Sport

Garda have that bit extra to make play-off

SIGERSON CUP SEMI-FINAL/Garda College 2-12 GMIT 1-14 (After Extra-time): GARDA COLLEGE powered through to their first Ulster…

Wed Apr 16 2008 - 01:00

SIGERSON CUP SEMI-FINAL/Garda College 2-12 GMIT 1-14 (After Extra-time):GARDA COLLEGE powered through to their first Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup final thanks to a slender one point extra-time win over GMIT in Athlone last night.

It was a second goal from top-scorer John O'Brien which stole the game at the death for the Templemore-based students.

Garda College lined out without the influential Michael Cussen of Cork and they were certainly given a testing time in this game by a GMIT side who were also aiming for their appearance in the competition's final.

It was a Garda College goal from O'Brien after 24 minutes which proved to be the difference at the end of the opening half, with the Templemore students holding onto a 1-4 to 0-4 lead at the end of the first half.

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O'Brien latched on to a pass from full forward Denis Glennon and the Dublin man's dipping shot went to the net, although a point opportunity looked the more likely result, as the ball skimmed off the fingers of GMIT goalkeeper Rory Cullen and spilled to the back of the net.

GMIT corner back Donal Vaughan popped up to take a fine score to ensure just a point separated the sides with eight minutes of the game remaining.

Miraculously GMIT continued their comeback and points from Paul Conroy and Stephen Griffin, ensured the lead as injury-time approached, but Garda forced injury-time with O'Brien kicking his fifth point.

Garda College made the better of the first half of extra-time and although GMIT looked to have stole victory with a late Paul Conroy goal, O'Brien found the net for Garda College to book a final spot.

GARDA COLLEGE: P O'Connor; E Callaghan, C MCGrath, A Pender; A Dermody, D Mullahy, G Dillon; A O'Mahony, A O'Donovan; S Buckley (0-1), R Guinan (0-4, three frees), M Harrington; J O'Brien (2-6, 0-2 frees), D Glennon (0-1), J Keane. Subs: S McGrath for Keane; N Leydon for Harrington; J Keane for Leydon.

GMIT: R Cullen; P McGrath, D Vaughan (0-1), R McTiernan; C Garvey, T Cunniffe, J Hayes; K Conroy, P Conroy (1-3, 0-2 frees); A Campbell (0-2), P McGinley, N Darby (0-2); E Concannon (0-1), S Griffin (0-2), M Conroy (0-1). Subs: M Martin (0-1) for Darby (BS); J Kilcullen for McTiernan; M Martin (0-1) for Concannon; S Hughes for Garvey; W Fallon for McGinley; E Concannon for Griffin; P McGinley for Concannon.

Referee: Derek Fahy (Longford).