NUIG sent IT Tralee crashing out of the Sigerson Cup with a deserved win after a hard-fought game at Dr Croke's, Killarney yesterday.
The turning point came midway through the second half. NUIG's Brian McMahon was taken down for a penalty which Maurice Sheridan converted to put his side four points clear (1-8 to 0-7) and kill off a Tralee comeback.
Galway goalkeeper David Morris then brilliantly denied Jack Dennehy a goal at the other end to secure victory.
NUIG had disrupted Tralee at midfield where Brian Considine and Darren Rooney denied Donal Daly clean possession while Mike Finn was ineffective.
IT TRALEE: N Hobbert; J Horgan, S O'Sullivan, A Brennan; T Cunningham, T McLoughlin, J Mulvihill (0-1); D Daly, M Finn; A Moynihan (0-1), J Tierney (0-1), J Fleming (0-1); D Henaghan, R O'Connor (0-3, two frees), J Dennehy. Subs: S Hegarty for T Cunnigham; M Kennelly for D Henaghan; W Harmon for T McLoughlin; M Quirke for J Tierney.
NUIG: D Morris; B Donoghue, C Davey, N Gallagher; R Leonard, D Mitchell, M O'Collerain (0-2, frees); B Considine, D Rooney; G Cox, BJ Padden (0-1), M Sheridan (1-5); P Gardiner (0-2), D Dolan, B McMahon (0-1). Subs: K O'Neill for G Cox; R Gibbons for B O'Donoghue; M Keane for P Gardiner; M Hogan for D Dolan; R McCumhaill for D Rooney.
Referee: P Lyons (Laune Rangers).
