Carey hat-trick leads way in DCU rampage

DCU 6-14 Athlone IT 1-7

Shane Carey helped himself to a hat-trick of goals as reigning champions DCU cruised through.

Niall Moyna’s hosts – who face IT Carlow in the second round – issued an early statement of intent with unanswered points from Monaghan’s Carey and the industrious Michael Quinn.

Athlone opened their account courtesy of a ninth-minute free from Kieran Martin, and even though the hosts responded with well-worked efforts by full-back Dessie Ward and Longford star Quinn, a second point for the excellent Martin kept his side within touching distance approaching half-time.

However, Carey’s first goal on 30 minutes was a hammer blow for the visitors, and after a second major by the imposing Conor McGraynor in stoppage-time, DCU held a 2-6 to 0-2 interval advantage.

Carey found the back of the net for a second time after the restart – via impressive approach work by McGraynor – before a 1-2 salvo from the tireless Martin offered Athlone a glimmer of hope.

However, DCU reinforced their superiority with a quick-fire Shane Carthy goal, before Carey completed his hat-trick in the 47th minute. The razor-sharp corner-forward registered a tally of 3-6, and with Ultan Harney adding a sixth goal from the last play of the game, UCD progressed in style.

Scorers – DCU: S Carey 3-6 (0-4fs), U Harney 1-1, S Carthy, C McGraynor 1-0 each, D O’Connor, M Quinn, D Mannix 0-2 each, D Ward 0-1. Athlone IT: K Martin 1-5 (0-2f), C McMonagle 0-2.

DCU – B Flynn; J Smith, D Ward, P McKenna; S Attride, C Moynagh, C McGonagle; S Carthy, D Byrne; M Plunkett, D O’Connor, M Quinn; S Carey, C McGraynor, C McNally. Subs: R Lyons for Plunkett (h-t), E Smith for Ward (34), U Harney for McNally (43), R Connor for Quinn, C Breheny for McKenna (both 50), D Mannix for McGraynor (54).

ATHLONE IT – D O’Connell; D Monagle, A Claffey, M Kearney; D Wharton, S Flynn, A Byrne; E Quigley, M Daly; D McDermott, K Martin, A Fitzpatrick; C McMonagle, T Watts, A Coffey. Subs: D Petit for Coffey (36), K Rudden for Daly (43).

REF – F Kelly (Longford).