Second bite at the cherry for QUB and NUIG in Sigerson Cup backdoor

Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup 2019 Round Two

Wednesday January 23rd, The Dub, Belfast

Queen’s University Vs NUIG

From Odhrán Crumley

In a break from tradition both Queen’s and NUIG will have a second chance in the Sigerson Cup through the introduction of the backdoor.

Both sides will feel short-changed from their first round ties after narrowly losing out in games they will feel they could have won.

NUIG led at the break after Sligo’s Nathan Mullen struck a first half major to cancel out Aaron Boyle’s penalty goal.

The Galway side were beaten by Belfast college, St.Mary’s after being pipped twice at the death with Daniel McKinless landing a late score to send the game to extra time before Stephen McConville repeated the feat to send the game to extra time.

Maurice Sheridan’s side then lost the resulting free-taking competition 4-2.

Queen’s recovered from a slow start but fell short kicking seven wides in a one point loss at home to Maynooth spearheaded by Padraig Fogarty.

Shane Mullholland’s side looked comfortably defensively holding the Leinster men to nine points with Armagh’s, Oisin Lappin alongside the Derry duo of Conor McCluskey and Niall Keenan.

“The game is back here and that is a positive for us. Looking at their last game and the result, they are a really good side. I said to the boys three month ago that we are probably going to be underdogs in every game we play.

“I wanted that to be part of our identity, that we knew that we were going to have to dig in and that we knew we would have to make ourselves hard to beat. That we had to work hard and outwork teams all over the pitch,” Mullholland told the Gaelic Life after the game.

The Belfast college lacked a little firepower in the transition from defence and attack which may have been down to the screen applied by the Maynooth men.

It is believed that once again, Queen’s will be without Odhran Eastwood and James McAuley who will be with their club, Naomh Eanna who qualified for the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Final on Saturday February 9th.

Another close contest is expected with both sides setting up with systems that ensure they are very difficult to break down and beat however, last year’s finalists will travel north with the favourites tag.

The winners of the tie will meet Garda College in Round Three after they overcame Sligo IT in the first round.