MTU Cork 1-10
ATU Donegal 0-6
A powerful first-half performance provided the catalyst at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown as MTU Cork kick-started their Sigerson Cup campaign with an opening round victory over ATU Donegal.
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, the Leesiders subsequently opened up a three-point advantage courtesy of unanswered points by Connor O’Neill and Alan Dunwoody.
Keith O’Driscoll also raised a white flag, before the lively MTU corner-forward went on to secure the only goal of the game by palming a sweeping move to the net in the 21st minute.
Following this score, Myers and Dunwoody also added to their tallies to ensure MTU Cork brought a commanding 1-6 to 0-0 cushion into the interval.
Despite facing this sizable deficit, ATU eventually found some momentum on the resumption with substitute Luke McGlynn, Reid Kelly and Daniel Marley all splitting the uprights in quick succession.
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.
Midfielders Neil Francis Boyle and Oisin Caulfield did kick impressive points for ATU either side of a similar score from Fionnan Coyle inside the final-quarter, but with the dependable duo of Myers and Dunwoody continuing to lead the way, MTU Cork eased towards a seven-point triumph in the end.
Scorers – MTU Cork: K O’Driscoll 1-1, E Myers 0-4 (2f), A Dunwoody 0-3, C O’Neill, C Hanlon 0-1.
ATU Donegal: L McGlynn 0-1 (‘45’), R Kelly, D Marley, NF Boyle, O Caulfield, F Coyle 0-1 each.
MTU Cork: S Kingston; C O’Donoghue, B Thompson, K Murphy; J O’Driscoll, C Deely, S Copps; S Browne, H Murphy; D O’Brien, E Myers, B Comerford; K O’Driscoll, A Dunwoody, C O’Neill. Subs: C Hanlon for O’Brien (42), P Healy for Copps (47), A Myler for Deely, S Andrews for O’Donoghue (both 55), D Roche for Comerford (57).
ATU Donegal: D McGowan; C Bennett, J Kelly, C Brady; S Breen, C Gallagher, A Reel; NF Boyle, O Caulfield; D Marley, K McGettigan, R Kelly; D Gallagher, J Gallagher, K Feely. Subs: F Coyle for McGettigan, O O’Connor for Brady, L McGlynn for Feely (all h-t), K Cooper for Marley (51), J Maguire for Kelly (58).
Referee: I Howley (Dublin).