Sigerson Cup Round 2A: TU Dublin V St Mary’s University College – Independent.ie – January 15 2025

Posted on January 16, 2025 by admin

TU Dublin withstand St Mary’s fightback to make Sigerson Cup quarter-finals

TU Dublin 3-14 St Mary’s University College 3-11

Daire Walsh

TU Dublin held off a spirited challenge from a Niall McKenna-inspired St Mary’s University College at Grangegorman to earn a spot in the quarter-finals of the Sigerson Cup.

While traded scores between St Mary’s attacker Callum Lagan and Jordan Morris ensured there was little to separate the teams in the early exchanges, a quick 1-1 salvo from midfielder Cian McBride helped TU Dublin to assert their authority on the game.

Mary’s were firmly back in contention when McKenna rifled a penalty to the net on the first-quarter mark, only for TU Dublin to respond immediately with a spot kick finish of their own from Jack Lundy.

The Dublin hosts were playing with great confidence and went on to bag a third goal when full-forward Conor Fee fired home from close-range.

Although Seán Rock shook the net at the end of the opening period to leave the Belfast-based Mary’s just five points adrift (3-5 to 2-3), TU Dublin had the luxury of introducing established Dublin star Colm Basquel off the bench in the second half.

His fellow substitutes Seán Jones and Ollie Brooks also made strong impacts upon entering the fray and with Morris in fine form throughout the course of the action, they largely kept their Ulster counterparts at arm’s length.

McKenna did bring his personal haul up to 2-7 with a goal from a free deep into stoppage-time, but Mary’s ultimately fell short and will now face into a round-three encounter against the winner of a Round 2B clash.

Scorers – TU Dublin: J Morris 0-7 (2f, 1m), C McBride 1-1, J Lundy 1-0 (pen), C Fee 1-0, S Jones 0-3, S Hanafin 0-2, O Brooks 0-1. St Mary’s University College: N McKenna 2-7 (1-5f, 1-0 pen), S Rock 1-2 (0-1f), C Lagan, F O’Brien 0-1 each.

TU Dublin: J Rodgers; C Reilly, M Nolan, N Carolan; D Fee, C McGeough, J Prendergast; C McBride, S Hanafin; D Rooney, J Lundy, D McCartan; J Morris, C Fee, S Reynolds. Subs: S Jones for Rooney (h-t), C Basquel for Reynolds (34), O Brooks for Fee (44), D Lovett for McCartan (57), D Finneran for Lundy (62).

St Mary’s University College: S Magill; J Donnelly, F Murdock, M McCallan; D Haigney, M Hynes, F O’Brien; D Treanor, S Quigley; D Mooney, S O’Donnell, S Rock; N McKenna, C Lagan, D Loye. Subs: N Burns for McCallan (44), C Reavey for Hynes (49), C Burns for Mooney, S Rooney for Quigley, C Walsh for Treanor (all 58).

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).

Posted in Colleges GAA, Gaelic Football | Comments Off on Sigerson Cup Round 2A: TU Dublin V St Mary’s University College – Independent.ie – January 15 2025

Leinster Build-Up To Bath Home In European Champions Cup: Jacques Nienaber – The Irish Times – January 15 2025

Posted on January 15, 2025 by admin

Jacques Nienaber wary of the threat Bath can pose for Leinster

‘Premiership leaders versus URC leaders. It’s going to be a proper Test match-intensity game’ says Leinster’s senior coach

Daire Walsh

Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber is expecting a “proper Test match-intensity game” when he reunites with a former colleague at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Just before moving to these shores in 2016 to work with his fellow countryman Rassie Erasmus at Munster, Nienaber found himself alongside Johann van Graan as part of South Africa’s coaching set-up for a compelling three-Test summer series against Ireland.

When Nienaber and Erasmus returned to the South African system in 2017, Van Graan subsequently took over from the latter as Munster head coach and remained there until assuming the reins of current English Premiership table-toppers Bath in 2022.

Despite earlier defeats to La Rochelle and Benetton, last Sunday’s triumph over Clermont keeps the Somerset-based side in contention for a Champions Cup knock-out spot in advance of their Pool Two final round clash with Leinster in the Aviva this weekend.

“The challenge for us this week is Bath are putting up scores on average just shy of 40 points, so it’s going to be a massive test for us defensively to try and keep them at bay,” said Nienaber.

“They’ve got a very good squad with experience across the board and then they are also the stingiest team in the Premiership. They don’t concede points. They score the most and concede the least, so it’s going to be a big challenge if you think they are two different competitions. Premiership leaders versus URC leaders. It’s going to be a proper Test match-intensity game. Tactically, physically. That’s what I expect.”

In addition to his side already being assured of a home draw in the Champions Cup round of 16 in advance of Saturday’s fixture – albeit the Blues will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions this season to 13 games – Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be greatly encouraged by the latest squad update.

As well as Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Ciarán Frawley all coming through last weekend’s win away to La Rochelle with flying colours, James Lowe, Will Connors and Dan Sheehan are all due to step up their respective rehabilitations this week and will be further assessed before a final decision is made on their availability for the Bath game.

Sheehan, in particular, is making excellent progress from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained playing for Ireland in last July’s tour of South Africa.

While this has raised the possibility that the hooker could feature in the upcoming Six Nations, Nienaber acknowledged it remains to be seen if this will be the case.

“I don’t know, to be honest. I’ll put myself in the Springboks [position], as an international coach who probably would like to see him get through a game. Not necessarily always. I mean, things change. If you pick up an injury, you might just throw him in straight away. So, I don’t know. I’m not sure,” Nienaber added.

Posted in European Rugby | Comments Off on Leinster Build-Up To Bath Home In European Champions Cup: Jacques Nienaber – The Irish Times – January 15 2025

Ireland U20s Squad Announcement: Neil Doak – The Irish Examiner – January 15 2025

Posted on January 15, 2025 by admin

Ian Costello comfortable with inclusion of just five Munster players in Ireland U20 Six Nations squad

Daire Walsh

Ahead of his debut Six Nations campaign with the side, Ireland U20s head coach Neil Doak has heaped praise on team captain Éanna McCarthy.

A native of Cork, McCarthy is set to lead out his country in this year’s championship – beginning with an opener against title holders England in the familiar surroundings of Virgin Media Park on the Leeside on January 30.

When you consider six players are returning from last year’s set-up, it is quite a feat for McCarthy to be tasked with this key leadership role in his maiden season at this international grade.

Yet on the basis of what he has seen to date from the Connacht Academy star (particularly in the recent warm-up game against a Leinster Development side), Doak believes he has the ability to lead his Irish side into battle.

“You look at that game last week, Éanna led from the front. When we put the squad together and put the management together, and tried to build what we were about… for me I’m a bit more action orientated. I want to get in the middle, I want to do things,” Doak remarked at a squad announcement in PwC’s headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday.

“I want to give the players the best opportunity to deliver. Éanna last week, he was physical, he was direct. We’re going to need that in abundance against England first up. If he can lead from the front, we can get the rest of the squad in behind him and we’ll be in a good spot

Posted in International Rugby, U20 Six Nations Rugby | Comments Off on Ireland U20s Squad Announcement: Neil Doak – The Irish Examiner – January 15 2025

Three Players To Watch In Ireland U20s Squad: The Irish Examiner – January 15 2025

Posted on January 15, 2025 by admin

Three players to watch in the Ireland U20s squad

Éanna McCarthy has been selected as captain by new Ireland head coach Neil Doak for this year’s Six Nations.
DAIRE WALSH

Éanna McCarthy (Connacht/Galwegians)

A native of Ballygarvan in Cork and a newcomer to this grade, McCarthy has been selected as captain by new Ireland head coach Neil Doak for this year’s Six Nations.

This will make the Championship opener against defending champions England on January 30 in the Leeside venue of Virgin Media Park particularly special for the former CBC Cork student and he is expected to have a substantial impact from the Irish back-row throughout the course of the tournament.

Having captained the Munster U19s in 2024, last summer saw McCarthy joining the Connacht Academy and he currently represents Galwegians in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League.

Ciaran Mangan (Leinster/Blackrock College)

By making the cut for this year’s Championship, Mangan is following in the footsteps of his older brother Diarmuid – a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and 2023.

From Sallins in Kildare, the younger Mangan won a Leinster schools junior cup with Newbridge College in 2021 before being coached on their senior team by former Munster back Johne Murphy.

Capable of playing at outside centre or on the wing – where he featured for the Ireland U19s last year – he should be well suited to the attacking style that Neil Doak wants to deploy at this age grade in 2025.

Alex Usanov (Leinster/Clontarf)

One of six players in the current squad who is returning to the Ireland U20s set-up for a second consecutive year, loosehead prop Usanov has made great strides since he last donned the green jersey at this level.

A member of the Leinster Academy, Usanov was called up to the Emerging Ireland squad that toured South Africa last October, featuring in all three games that Simon Easterby’s side won in the southern hemisphere.

Given title holders England are noted for having a physical pack, the Ireland coaching staff will be looking for the Clontarf club man to deliver a big performance in their Championship opener in Cork.

Posted in International Rugby, U20 Six Nations Rugby | Comments Off on Three Players To Watch In Ireland U20s Squad: The Irish Examiner – January 15 2025

Ireland U20s Squad Announcement: Eanna McCarthy – The42.ie – January 15 2025

Posted on January 15, 2025 by admin

‘It’s a dream growing up to play for Ireland – and I’m captaining them’

Eanna McCarthy came up through Dolphin RFC and will ‘take good pride’ in leading the Ireland U20 team onto his home pitch.

EANNA McCARTHY WILL find himself in familiar territory when the Ireland U20s kick-start their Six Nations Championship campaign against defending champions England at Virgin Media Park on 30 January.

McCarthy, a native of Ballygarvan in Co Cork, played his underage club rugby with Dolphin.

While it has become a regular home venue for the Ireland U20s since 2019 – and has also hosted a number of Ireland senior women’s internationals in recent years – Virgin Media Park (or Musgrave Park as it is more commonly known) is also where Dolphin are based.

Making his international debut at the U20s grade on his home patch is the stuff of dreams for McCarthy and he is virtually guaranteed to feature against the English in their Championship opener at the end of this month. This is due to the fact he has been selected as captain of this year’s squad by new Ireland head coach Neil Doak.

“It’s a huge honour for me and my family. It’s a dream as a young fella growing up that you’re going to play for Ireland and I’m captaining them. I’ll take good pride in it now when I’m wearing the jersey on the 30th,” McCarthy remarked at the Ireland U20s squad announcement for the Six Nations in PwC’s headquarters in Dublin yesterday.

“I was captain last week against Leinster [Development] when we played them. The thought was in the back of my mind, but I wasn’t 100% sure or I wasn’t sure what the story was. I was delighted when I got the call after.

“It is massive, because I grew up playing rugby in Dolphin. It was more or less my home of rugby. It’s going to be good now, I’m looking forward to it. I think we have the capabilities to go out and beat England down there as well.”

Although he captained the Munster U19s last year – and was also skipper for Christian Brothers College in the Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2023 – McCarthy won’t be alone in the leadership stakes as Ireland seek to reclaim the U20s Six Nations title under the stewardship of former Ulster scrum-half Doak.

In addition to Sale Sharks’ Will Wootton and Ulster hooker Henry Walker, the Leinster quartet of Alex Usanov, Alan Spicer, Mikey Yarr and Billy Corrigan were included in the 31-player squad for the Championship yesterday after featuring for Ireland at the same age grade in 2024.

“Captain is only a label at the end of the day. There’s leaders all over the field. I think the lads are going to drive it on as well as me. I won’t be the only fella.”

Although he did don the red of Munster at underage level, last summer saw McCarthy making a move out west after he was offered a spot in the Connacht Academy for the 2024/25 season.

This switch has also led to him lining out for Galwegians in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League alongside his housemates – former Ireland U20s star Finn Treacy and Argentinian native Gonzalo Alvarez.

He may have to bide his time before breaking into Peter Wilkins’ senior squad, but McCarthy has already played for the Connacht Eagles since making the move to Galway. This included an outing against Leinster in the Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship that took place towards the end of 2024.

While this proved to be a baptism of fire for a number of reasons, it was just what McCarthy needed in advance of becoming a bona fide member of the Ireland U20s set-up.

“You aren’t really exposed to that kind of physicality if you’re not after playing 20s last year. It’s a different speed game as well. Leinster had a few older lads playing, Will Connors and a few more like that. You wouldn’t be used to getting hit by lads like them,” McCarthy added.

“I played the full 80, I was fairly bate out after it! I was meant to start 8, but the second row pulled out in the warm-up. I had to go to second row then. I actually done my neck. I got injured for a few weeks after it!”

Posted in International Rugby, U20 Six Nations Rugby | Comments Off on Ireland U20s Squad Announcement: Eanna McCarthy – The42.ie – January 15 2025

Post-Match Reaction: Sigerson Cup Round One – ATU Donegal Manager Maxi Curran – Donegal Live – January 11 2025

Posted on January 11, 2025 by admin

‘Our boys will take a lot learnings for the next round’ – Maxi Curran

Maxi Curran praises his young ATU Donegal side’s resilience despite facing a physically dominant opposition in MYU Cork in the opening round of the Sigerson Cup

By Daire Walsh

Despite acknowledging his side were second best to their Leeside opponents on the night, ATU Donegal manager Maxi Curran was able to take some positives from a Sigerson Cup round one defeat to MTU Cork in Abbotstown on Friday night.

In a game that was initially set to take place two days earlier in the National Games Development Centre, ATU found themselves 1-6 to 0-0 adrift after facing into a stiff breeze for the duration of the opening half.

The Donegal college gave themselves a fighting chance on the resumption with three unanswered points from Luke McGlynn, Reid Kelly, and Daniel Marley before their Cork counterparts ultimately prevailed on a score of 1-10 to 0-6.

Curran felt their Munster rivals were the more ‘physically mature’ of the two sides on show in Abbotstown, but with the likes of McGlynn and Fionnan Coyle enjoying a considerable impact off the bench, he remained upbeat ahead of his charges entering the Sigerson Cup round two losers section next week.

“Our boys will take a lot out of that tonight, there will be a right bit of learning as we head for round two now next week,” Curran remarked after the game.

“Luke McGlynn played the second half there and made a massive difference when he came on. He and Fionnan Coyle added a real injection of pace in our half-forward line.

“That definitely caused Cork a few problems. I just think ultimately we left ourselves with too much of a mountain to climb after going 1-6 down and they just put us to the sword as the game went on then. There was a very, very clear difference in the physique level of the two teams.

“They were a much bigger, more physically mature team. We just watched them coming out here and there’s an awful lot of huge men, whereas we have a lot of kids.

They [ATU Donegal] are first and second years in college and that. They [MTU Cork] are maybe second and third year, so it doesn’t help matters. Listen, the best team won on the night, we’ve no complaints.”

Posted in Colleges GAA | Comments Off on Post-Match Reaction: Sigerson Cup Round One – ATU Donegal Manager Maxi Curran – Donegal Live – January 11 2025

The Big Interview: Ciara Whyte (Mayo/Kilmoremoy) – Media West Ireland – January 11 2025

Posted on January 11, 2025 by admin

Ciara Whyte back in green and red of Mayo after Aberdeen adventures

By Daire Walsh

Following a prolonged absence, Mayo’s Ciara Whyte has spent the past few weeks gradually readjusting to the life of an inter-county footballer.

A regular fixture for the Connacht county over the course of several years, Whyte subsequently journeyed across the water in 2023 to study for a masters in physiotherapy at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

She also worked part-time in the Scottish city as a sports massage therapist in a private physio clinic, before returning home on a permanent basis after her graduation from Robert Gordon towards the tail end of 2024.

It was around this point that Whyte spoke to Mayo ladies manager (and her fellow Ballina native) Liam McHale about rejoining the county panel and she soon found herself back in pre-season training for the green and red’s forthcoming campaign in Division One of the Lidl National Football League.

“I came back to Ballina and I always knew I was going to see if they’d have me back, when I came back. I was chatting to Liam and I said I’d give it a go. I was a bit apprehensive because I hadn’t been there for two seasons, so I knew my body probably would be in a bit of a state of shock initially,” Whyte explained.

“I went back in and it’s looking good so far. The body was in a little bit of a state for the first few weeks, but I’m getting back into things now. I actually never worked with Liam before and there’s a good few now from Ballina in there, which didn’t used to be the case.

“When I came in, I didn’t really know him, I had never met him before. He’s really open and he’s really friendly. I think that works really well with the team we have at the minute. It’s a learning environment and it’s really open. There’s just not a lot of negativity, it’s very positive.”

While she did transfer from her home club of Kilmoremoy to Dalriada GFC in the north east of Scotland in June 2023, Whyte’s main focus was on studies and work rather than football during her time in the UK. Yet as she explains, the former TUS Athlone student found ways to maintain an active lifestyle in Aberdeen.

“I never played any games with them. I had been training with them, but the nature of my course that I was doing, I genuinely just felt that I didn’t have the time to do it and give my 100% to it. I just kind of went a few times, but then just said I’d take a step back instead of coming in and out.

“You don’t want to string anyone along. I just said I’d take that time to just focus on studying and everything like that. You find yourself as an adult and you find out what you like and what you don’t like doing. I got into things like rock climbing and finding other sports that you wouldn’t get a chance to do really if you’re playing football all the time.”

Despite still being eligible for minor football the following year, Whyte was introduced to the Mayo senior panel in 2017 and quickly found her feet at the highest grade of the LGFA. On September 24 of that year, she was named at left half-forward as the westerners lost out to Dublin in a TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship final that was played in front of a then-record crowd of 46,286 at Croke Park.

Having been one of the newest additions to the squad back then, Whyte is remarkably the only one of the 19 players that featured for Mayo on that day to still be part of the current set-up. It is a relatively young panel of players that McHale is calling upon for 2025 and Whyte is looking to be a guiding force for them as they attempt to navigate their way through the upcoming season of action.

“It’s almost a shame in a way that I was so young at the time when that experience happened. Because looking back on it, I’d do anything to be able to relive it and appreciate it. I came up mid-season and then all of a sudden, ‘Oh boom, we’re into championship. All-Ireland semi-final, grand okay’ and then an All-Ireland final in Croke Park.

“I’m thinking, ‘I’ve never played in front of more than maybe 200 people in my life’ and then there was [just under] 47,000 at the final. I’m lucky I have that experience to want to go back to and to know what it’s like.

“I don’t think anyone else on the team has, so I suppose that gives me the confidence to really step up as a leader this year and be able to take the girls through it. Against the big teams like Dublin and help out in terms of how not to let it pass you by in a way.”

Whyte and her youthful colleagues will get an immediate test in that respect at the end of this month as they are set to kick-start their Lidl NFL Division One campaign away to Dublin on 25 January.

There will be plenty of eyes on this game as the Jackies are now under the new joint management of Paul Casey and Derek Murray after their predecessor Mick Bohan brought a trophy-laden eight season spell at the Sky Blues helm to a close last November.

Although this might seem like a difficult challenge on paper for McHale’s young guns, Whyte – whose last championship appearance was in an All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry in July 2022 – is excited to see how Mayo shape up against high-calibre opposition.

“No better way than going back straight into playing Dublin the first match. Honestly, really looking forward to it. Obviously I went back just this year and I was a bit tentative going back because obviously it’s a new environment,” Whyte added.

“It’s actually nice to have quite a new amount of faces there just to push us on a bit and realise there is a new generation coming up. You can’t just be complacent. That is exactly what we needed coming into the Dublin game. Preparation is going well, feeling good. It’s coming together nicely.”

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Ciara Whyte (Mayo/Kilmoremoy) – Media West Ireland – January 11 2025

Sigerson Cup Round One: MTU Cork V ATU Donegal – The Irish Examiner – January 11 2025

Posted on January 10, 2025 by admin

First-half burst carries MTU Cork past ATU Donegal

Gabriel Rangers ace Keith O’Driscoll helped himself to a 1-1 salvo as the Leeside college laid down a marker for this year’s competition.
DAIRE WALSH, ABBOTSTOWN

Sigerson Cup: MTU Cork 1-10 ATU Donegal 0-6  

A powerful first-half performance provided the catalyst at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown last night as MTU Cork kick-started their Sigerson Cup campaign with an accomplished victory over ATU Donegal.

In addition to Edward Myers and Alan Dunwoody amassing a combined haul of 0-7, Gabriel Rangers ace Keith O’Driscoll helped himself to a 1-1 salvo as the Leeside college laid down a marker for this year’s competition.

After an initially tentative start to the contest, MTU Cork eventually broke the deadlock when centre-forward 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 Dunwoody.

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.

While the Donegal side did have a number of scoring chances – both from open play and frees – they were struggling to find their target shooting into the elements.

Although their Cork counterparts also had some wayward efforts, 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 O’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: K O’Driscoll 1-1, E Myers 0-4 (2f), A Dunwoody 0-3, C O’Neill, C Hanlon 0-1.

Scorers for 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).

Posted in Colleges GAA | Comments Off on Sigerson Cup Round One: MTU Cork V ATU Donegal – The Irish Examiner – January 11 2025

Sigerson Cup Round One: MTU Cork V ATU Donegal – Independent.ie – January 10 2025

Posted on January 10, 2025 by admin

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).

Posted in Colleges GAA | Comments Off on Sigerson Cup Round One: MTU Cork V ATU Donegal – Independent.ie – January 10 2025

Sigerson Cup Round One: MTU Cork V ATU Donegal – Donegal Live – January 10 2025

Posted on January 10, 2025 by admin

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).

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