SIGERSON CUP QUARTER-FINALS: UCD 0-18 NUI GALWAY 2-3:UCD ARE on course to successfully complete their Sigerson Cup mission after an emphatic victory over a deeply disappointing NUIG in Belfield last night.
Winners of the inaugural competition 100 years ago, there is additional pressure on hosts UCD to mark this jubilee event.
But they could have done with a better test. While their opponents today, UCC, showed their class to beat favourites DCU, things were far too easy for UCD.
In a shockingly one-sided encounter, the Galway students managed only one point in the second half, with their second goal coming in injury-time.
Once they settled to their task after 20 minutes, a power-packed UCD were relentless in their pursuit of scores.
Westmeath teenager John Heslin was their midfield dynamo. At the back, captain and Dublin defender Michael Fitzsimons was calm and assured.
In attack, there was no shortage of threat from Dr Malachy O’Rourke’s men, with Ciarán Lyng, Kevin McGourty, Donie Kingston, Rob Kelly and John O’Loughlin all availing of the chance to sharpen their finishing.
John Maughan’s NUIG had intercounty experience of their own in men like Mayo duo Alan Dillon and Peadar Gardiner, but they couldn’t handle UCD’s raw power.
Jason Doherty was NUIG’s main threat, and after forcing a good save from Dublin goalkeeper Michael Savage in the 19th minute, from the resulting 45 he flicked the dropping ball into the roof of the UCD net.
The phenomenal Heslin drove UCD forward and they were 0-11 to 1-2 up at half-time and barely broke a sweat in the second half.
UCD:M Savage; J Hayes, C Forde, M Fitzsimons (0-1); M McGowan, S Redmond, J Fitzpatrick (0-1); J Heslin (0-3), C Murphy; C Kenny (0-1), J O'Loughlin (0-4), K McGourty (0-1); C Lyng (0-3,two frees), D Kingston (0-1), R Kelly (0-3, one free). Subs: C Dyas for Kenny (22 mins), D St Ledger for Kingston (42 mins), T Warburton for Fitzsimmons (50 mins), M Brasil for McGourty (54 mins), M Coughlan for O'Loughlin (56 mins).
NUIG:N King; C McDonald, K O'Connor, R Rochford; K Conlon, P Gardiner, J Moore; S Gilmartin, D Coroon; B Geraghty, A Dillon, A Mullin; N Douglas, F Deasmhunaigh, J Doherty (1-2). Subs: G Higgins (1-0) for Coroon (36 mins), C Mimnagh for Douglas, S McHale for Moore (40 mins), S McWeeney for McDonald (48 mins), M McHugh (0-1) for Mullin (50 mins).
Referee:J McQuillan (Cavan).
