MTU Cork secure dominant victory over ATU Donegal in Sigerson Cup opener
A commanding first-half performance and a crucial O’Driscoll goal guide MTU Cork to a seven-point win, despite a spirited second-half effort from ATU Donegal
By Daire Walsh
MTU Cork 1-10
ATU Donegal 0-6
There was disappointment for ATU Donegal at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Friday night as the Letterkenny-based side fell to a seven-point defeat against MTU Cork in the opening round of the Sigerson Cup.
After an initially tentative start to the contest, MTU Cork eventually broke the deadlock when centre-forward Edward Myers knocked over a 30-metre free on the stroke of 10 minutes.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, MTU largely dominated the proceedings in the opening period and established a three-point advantage just past the first-quarter mark courtesy of unanswered points by Connor O’Neill and the industrious Alan Dunwoody.
Keith O’Driscoll also raised a white flag as the action progressed and the lively MTU corner-forward went on to secure the only goal of the game by palming a sweeping move to an empty net in the 21st minute.
Whereas the Donegal men were struggling to find the target shooting into the elements, central attackers Myers and Dunwoody added to their personal tallies to ensure MTU brought a commanding 1-6 to 0-0 cushion into the interval.
Despite facing a sizable deficit, the fact that ATU had the wind to their advantage on the resumption offered them hope of forging a dramatic fightback.
After substitute Luke McGlynn finally opened their account with a successful ‘45’ on 34 minutes, wing-forwards Reid Kelly and Daniel Marley contributed quickfire scores to give Maxi Curran’s outfit momentum for the very first time in the action.
MTU Cork didn’t panic, however, and they convincingly reinforced their authority when a Myers free was followed by an excellent point from close-range by their own impact player – Conor Hanlon.
Inside the final quarter in Abbotstown, midfielders Neil Francis Boyle and Oisin Caulfield kicked impressive points either side of a similar score from Fionnan Coyle as ATU – whose Sigerson journey for 2025 isn’t at an end just yet – continued to battle in admirable fashion.
Yet MTU Cork maintained a firm stranglehold on the play and with the dependable duo of Myers and Dunwoody continuing to lead the way, they eased towards a seven-point triumph in the end.
Scorers for MTU Cork: Keith O’Driscoll 1-1; Edward Myers 0-4, 2fs; Alan Dunwoody 0-3; Connor O’Neill and Conor Hanlon 0-1 each.
Scorers for ATU Donegal: Luke McGlynn 1‘45’, Reid Kelly, Daniel Marley, Neil Francis Boyle, Oisin Caulfield, and Fionnann Coyle 0-1 each.
MTU Cork: Shane Kingston; Cian O’Donoghue, Brian Thompson, Kane Murphy; Jamie O’Driscoll, Cathal Deely, Sam Copps; Sean Browne, Hugh Murphy; Darragh O’Brien, Edward Myers, Ben Comerford; Keith O’Driscoll, Alan Dunwoody, Connor O’Neill. Subs: ConorHanlon for O’Brien (42), Podge Healy for Copps (47), Adam Myler for Deely, Sean Andrews for O’Donoghue (both 55), Dylan Roche for Comerford (57).
ATU Donegal: Damien McGowan; Charlie Bennett, Jake Kelly, Cormac Brady; Sean Breen, Cormac Gallagher, Aaron Reel; Neil Francis Boyle, Oisin Caulfield; Daniel Marley, Kevin McGettigan, Reid Kelly; Daire Gallagher, Jack Gallagher, Keith Feely. Subs: Fionnan Coyle for McGettigan, Odhran O’Connor for Brady, Luke McGlynn for Feely (all h-t), Kian Cooper for Marley (51), James Maguire for Kelly (58).
Referee: Ian Howley (Dublin).