Cian Monaghan produces stoppage-time heroics to secure Sigerson Cup win for University of Galway
University of Galway 0-11 St Mary’s University 1-7
Daire Walsh
Cian Monaghan came to the rescue of University of Galway in Abbotstown as his brace of stoppage-time points edged the Connacht college past St Mary’s University in a tense Sigerson Cup third round clash.
St Mary’s had come from four points behind to lead late on by the bare minimum, only for those contributions from Monaghan to squeeze Maurice Sheridan’s side into the Sigerson quarter-finals right at the death.
Thanks to fine contributions from Cillian Ó Curraoin (three) and Liam Ó Conghaile, University of Galway were 0-4 to 0-2 in front just beyond the first-quarter mark. While the Tribesmen suffered a set-back when Ó Conghaile was black carded in advance of Jude Campbell finding the range for their Belfast counterparts, Ó Curraoin subsequently knocked over a superb long-distance free.
Yet Sean Rock raised a white flag to leave Mary’s a single point adrift at the break (0-5 to 0-4) and the gap remained at one as a result of University of Galway substitute Mark McInerney and Campbell trading scores on the resumption.
Even though the westerners reinforced their authority with unanswered points from Diarmuid Kilcommins, Ó Conghaile and Mayo’s Tommy Conroy, they were once again reduced to 14 on a temporary basis when Conor Dunleavy picked up a black card on 49 minutes.
St Mary’s had looked set for a dramatic comeback victory when Rock kicked points either side of setting up Shea Daly for a 57th-minute goal, but there was enough time for Monaghan to come up trumps with a late 0-2 salvo.
SCORERS
University of Galway: C Ó Curraoin 0-4 (4f), L Ó Conghaile, C Monaghan 0-2 each, D Kilcommins, M McInerney (f), T Conroy 0-1 each.
St Mary’s University: S Rock 0-4 (2f), S Daly 1-0, J Campbell 0-2 (2f), S O’Donnell 0-1.
TEAMS
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY: L Brady; C Dunleavy, E Lyons, C Murray; R Egan, C Mulligan, D Flaherty; J McLoughlin, D Kilcommins; L Ó Conghaile, T Conroy, C Monaghan; C Sweeney, R O’Donoghue, C Ó Curraoin.
Subs: M McInerney for Egan (h-t), T Culhane for Ó Conghaile (61), C Corcoran for Murray (64).
ST MARY’S UNIVERSITY: D Croarkin; C Agnew, K Burke, F Murdock; F O’Brien, M McCallan, S O’Donnell; D Treanor, C McGettigan; J Campbell, S Donnelly, S Quigley; M Hynes, S Rock, C Milne.
Subs: J McCormack for Donnelly (34), S Daly for Hynes (41).
Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).