Four-time champs DCU fend off Carlow in bid to regain title
Sigerson Cup
DCU 1-16
IT CARLOW 0-14
Daire Walsh
DCU Sportsgrounds
DCU held off a spirited showing from IT Carlow last night to book a spot in the third round of the Sigerson Cup.
The four-time champions looked set to cruise home when they developed a 1-11 to 0-3 interval lead, but the Barrowsiders rallied to keep Paddy Christie’s side on the back foot for large stretches of the second period.
After full-forward Brian Reape rattled the net inside the opening minute, Micheal Bannigan (two), Dara McVeety and Darragh Rooney all found the target to give DCU a seven-point cushion.
Jack Walsh pointed a 10th-minute free to get Carlow up and running, before Matthew Ruane, Luke Towey, and David Garland added their names to the scoresheet for the rampant Dublin college.
They struggled to replicate their form on the resumption, however, as Laois attacker Diarmuid Whelan registered seven points off the bench for the visitors.
Pat Critchley’s resurgent outfit managed to bring the gap down to four (1-14 to 0-13) in the closing stages, but Ruane and McVeety pointed late on to get DCU over the line.
Scorers for DCU: B Reape 1-3 (0-2f), M Bannigan 0-3 (1 ’45’), D McVeety, M Ruane, D Garland, D Rooney 0-2 each, S Akram, L Towey 0-1 each.
Scorers for IT Carlow: D Whelan 0-7 (5f), N Gately 0-3, J Walsh 0-2 (2f), C O’Toole, N Hughes 0-1 each.
DCU: E Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams); C Morrison (St Eunan’s), B McCole (St Naul’s), K Dwyer (St Pat’s, Blennerville); C McManus (Teemore), D McVeety (Crosserlough), D Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s); T Galligan (Lacken Celtic), M Ruane (Breaffy); L Towey (Molaise Gaels), D Rooney (Melvin Gaels), S Akram (Ballaghaderreen); M Bannigan (Aughnamullen), D Garland (Donaghmoyne), B Reape (Moy Davitts).
Subs: T Fox (Kilmacud Crokes) for Galligan (30+1, black card), D Marnell (Sarsfields) for Towey, J Bambrick (Arclough) for Morrison (both 51), P McNamara (St John’s) for McManus (54).
IT CARLOW: D Campbell (Raheens); J Casey (Oran), R Hitchcock (Park/Ratheniska), J Mitchell (Mohill); C O’Toole (Tinryland), E Buggie (Stradbally), T Collins (Graigcullen); N Doyle (Starlights), T Griffin (Gerald Griffins); B Carr (Ardagh), N Hughes (Tara Rocks/Kilanerin), D O’Sullivan (Maynooth); Gately (Creggs/St Ciaran’s), S Ryan (Ballinascarthy), J Walsh (Gracefields).
Subs: P O’Toole (Kiltegan) for Ryan, D Whelan (Ballyroan Abbey) for Collins (both h-t), S Crowley (Kilmihil) for O’Sullivan (47), D Lawler (Rheban) for Buggie (55).
Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).