UCD justified favouritism in Glasnevin.
The South Dublin college made the trek across the city and up to the north-side of county Dublin on Wednesday afternoon to take on rivals DCU in the Sigerson Cup quarter-finals.
John Divilly’s men came into the game on the back of a convincing victory over Maynooth, and they were hotly tipped to continue their winning ways in this one.
They’ve a strong panel this year, with many well known inter-county stars in their ranks. From former Tipperary underage stopper Charlie Manton in the goals, to their second defensive line of Eoin Murchan, Stephen Coen and Jimmy Feehan.
The aforementioned trio are Dublin, Mayo and Tipperary seniors respectively, and that half back line sets a solid foundation from which the rest of the team builds.
Kerry duo Jack Barry and Barry O’Sullivan are dominant in midfield, while Tipperary’s Liam Casey, Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy and Laois pair of Eoin Lowry and Evan O’Carroll are threatening up top.
DCU, meanwhile, came into the game after struggling over DkIT last week, and despite the presence of Mayo trio of Paddy Durcan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Sharoize Akram in their ranks, they would be underdogs.
They started like underdogs, too.
UCD reeled off 7 unanswered scores in the first fifteen minutes of the game. The home side were stuck to the ground, while the travelling army jumped out of their bus rearing for action.
Jack Barry was at the centre of everything for them in midfield, while Laois full forward Evan O’Carroll got on the end of a lot of his deliveries.
DCU snapped out of it, with Sharoize Akram leading the charge. And explosively. Diarmuid Murtagh rattled Manton’s net after catching a sky-scraping Diarmuid O’Connor delivery over the head of UCD full back Cillian O’Shea and rifling to the net’s roof.
From the looping high ball into the isolated full forward to the lashed finish, it was a refreshing throwback to a bygone era.
It can be seen here via the tremendous coverage of Jerome Quinn Media.
At half-time, there was only one in it.
Sigerson Cup half time @DCUGAAAcademy 1-4 @UCDGAA 0-8 @HigherEdGAA a half of two halves
— DCU Dóchas Éireann GAA Club (@DCUDocEirGAA) February 7, 2018
UCD kicked on in the second half of the game, however, and went onto edge this one with four points in hand. 0-16 to 1-9 being the final score.
They will now march onto the semi-finals where they will take on UUJ.
