DCU survive later scare to keep Sigerson defence on track

Darragh Canavan’s late goal gave Ulster University hope of turning game around

Daire Walsh

DCU 2-12 Ulster University 2-11

Defending champions DCU survived a late scare from Ulster University on home soil on Wednesday night to earn themselves a spot in the last four of the Sigerson Cup.

Leading 2-12 to 1-11 in the closing moments, the Dubliners subsequently conceded a goal to All-Ireland winning Tyrone star Darragh Canavan and had to dig deep before prevailing.

Thanks to the scoring contributions of Andrew Gilmore and Niall Loughlin, Ulster University took a 0-6 to 0-3 lead into the break.

However, DCU were back into contention when Mark Barry rattled the net on the resumption and it took them just eight minutes to restore parity in the second half.

A Niall Loughlin goal moved Ulster University back into the driving seat on 41 minutes before a Red Óg Murphy penalty acted as the catalyst for DCU to push in front late on. Canavan capitalised on a defensive mishap to cut the deficit to a minimum, but Ulster University ultimately fell short.

DCU: D O’Hanlon; D Corcoran, S Ryan, M Curran (0-1); L Towey, J Morrissey, M Costello; L Coleman, R Óg Murphy (1-0, pen); P Hughes (0-1), S Walsh (0-3, one free), B Carroll; S Tierney, J Bryant, M Barry (1-2, one free).

Subs: S O’Donnell for Carroll, R Finnerty (0-4, three frees) for Bryant (both h-t), K Lynch Bissett for Barry (40 mins), J Hagan (0-1) for Tierney (46), S Byrne for Coleman (56).

ULSTER UNIVERSITY: O Lynch; A Clarke, F McElroy, M Gallagher (0-1); M McKearney (0-1), R Boyle, M McKernan (0-1); T Galligan, M McGleenan; K Gallagher, D Canavan (1-0), R Gormley; L Nugent (0-1), N Loughlin (1-3, two frees), A Gilmore (0-4, three frees).

Subs: D Mulgrew for Gormley (h-t), C Glass for McGleenan (40 mins), J Garrity for K Gallagher (46), S Loughran for Canavan (60).

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).