The Sigerson Cup is back.
This time, there are no second chances. This it’s straight knock-out.
Eight first round games took place over the weekend and after it all, the reigning champs and the favourites are still standing but already, there are some big guns out.
Ulster University were beaten by an impressive UCD outfit in Belfield, with Kilmacud Crokes club mates Liam Flatman and Cillian O’Shea dominant in defence.
IT Tralee meanwhile, with their dream inside forward line of David Clifford, Tony Brosnan and Barry John Keane, were also eliminated. IT Carlow came from behind to beat the Kerry college in Austin Stack Park, with three goals in a rousing last ten minute spell helping them over the line. Offaly senior Cian Farrell was inspired for them, hitting 1-6.
Elsewhere, DCU withstood a gallant Garda College effort. The trainee Garda deployed a defensive system with Galway’s Paul Mannion often a lonely figure up top but they took their chances and squeezed DCU’s attackers out of the game. Shaun Patton, the Donegal keeper, gave an exhibition of free-taking and kick-outs up until his 50th minute red card while Shane Nerney frustrated Dublin forward Paddy Small to the extent that he was also given his marching orders. Monaghan’s Micheál Bannigan rescued DCU from a bad situation, with some nerveless late frees.
Donegal keeper Shaun Patton has legs the size of tree-trunks and a beautiful, graceful kicking style
The big easypic.twitter.com/g2axmQKwrS
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 12, 2020
Reigning champs UCC had it tough against NUIG in Dangan, with Mayo senior Eoin O’Donoghue keeping Sean O’Shea quiet while the brilliant Galway forward Robert Finnerty hit 1-9, including 1-5 from play from full forward. Billy Morgan’s team showed their mettle though, James McEntee getting forward for 1-1 while Killian Spillane, despite having come through the heartbreak of losing an All-Ireland intermediate semi with Templenoe just 24 hours earlier, hit a crucial late point.
The Kerryman had to be taken off exhausted soon after.
Letterkenny IT won their first ever Sigerson Cup game, a convincing 1-18 to 3-4 win over Athlone IT and both Christian Bonner and Peadar Mogan dazzled for the team managed by Donegal senior captain, Michael Murphy. Mogan hit 1-5 from play while Bonner got forward to kick 0-3 from wing back.
Oisín O’Neill excelled in midfield for St Mary’s in their 2-14 to 0-9 win over Maynooth while on Saturday, Odhran Eastwood helped Queen’s eliminate TU Dublin with a quickfire 1-3.
Odhran Eastwood of @QueensGAA lit up the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup on day One.
The @NaomhEannaCLG club man kicked some delicious scores to knock TU Dublin GAA out of the competition.
📽️ @JeromeQuinn https://t.co/WpOwG2wPHB
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 11, 2020
IT Sligo had a monumental win over a highly rated UL team, and Kevin McBrearty was a powerhouse for them.
Sigerson Cup TOTW
Sigerson Cup quarter final draw (Home team first)
DCU Dóchas Éireann v Queens University Belfast
University College Dublin v St Mary’s University College
Institute of Technology Sligo v Letterkenny Institute of Technology
IT Carlow v UCC
