NUI Galway 3-10 Queens University 2-7
NUI Galway defeated Ulster opposition for the second time in the space of six days at Whitehall Colmcille GAA grounds in north Dublin to safely progress into the quarter-final stage of the Sigerson Cup.
Courtesy of goals from Mayo attackers Fionn McDonagh and Tommy Conroy, the westerners developed an early 2-3 to 0-1 lead over Queen’s University. Maurice Sheridan’s side had the measure of Ulster University in the same venue last week and, despite Conor Turbitt rattling their net off a 14th-minute penalty, they led 2-6 to 1-2 at the interval.
A second goal from Sean Kelly in as many games helped NUIG to establish an 11-point lead (3-9 to 1-4) on the third-quarter mark, before Queen’s enjoyed a mini resurgence in the closing minutes.
A 1-2 salvo from Armagh star Turbitt – bringing his final tally to 2-4 – wasn’t enough to rein in the NUIG challenge, but Conor Deegan’s men can take some solace as they seek to bounce back in the round three of the competition next week.
Scorers – NUI Galway: F McDonagh 1-2, T Conroy, S Kelly 1-1 each, M Tierney 0-3 (2f), T Culhane (f), E Kelly, C Donoghue 0-1 each. Queen’s University: C Turbitt 2-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f, 0-1 ’45’), K Hughes 0-2, P Brooks 0-1.
NUI GALWAY – C Carroll; C Murray, N Mulcahy, G Burke; R Egan, E Kelly, N Mullen; P Kelly, S Kelly; F McDonagh, M Tierney, C Donoghue; T Culhane, T Conroy, C Sweeney. Subs: T Gill for Donoghue (20), C Monaghan for Egan (48), P O’Donnell for McDonagh (50), R Monaghan for Mullen (58), D Hunt for Culhane (61)
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY – E Mulholland; S Bolger, R Conroy, S McCarthy; M Murnaghan, P Fagan, P Brooks; T Bogue, D Guinness; C Gorman, P Finnegan, R Donnolly; K Hughes, C Turbitt, J Tunney. Subs: G Brown for McCarthy, O Mallon for Tunney (both h-t), J Smyth for Gorman, C Love for Finnegan (both 42), C O’Hare for Bolger (58).
REF – B Cawley (Kildare).