Queen’s get Sigerson campaign off to a winning start after late rally

Sigerson Cup Round 1

Queen’s University 1-12 Ulster University 1-11

By Michael McMullan

FOUR late points saw Queen’s claw a deserving victory from the jaws of defeat at home to Belfast rivals Ulster University at The Dub on Tuesday night.

There was a bumper crowd in attendance with over 4,000 viewers tuned into the Jerome Quinn’s live stream.

The sides were level (0-5) at the break before Josh Largo Elis put the visitors in front with the wind at their backs in the second half.

Captain Ryan Magill finished a move to the net, opening a 1-6 to 0-5 lead after 37 minutes,but their joy was shortlived.

Queen’s hit the net in the next attack through Luke Donnelly who show had the ball over the bar to level matters.

Ulster, with Darragh Canavan and Aaron Donaghy hitting points, were 1-10 to 1-8 ahead despite Dan Higgins hitting three points for Queen’s.

Both teams missed chances on a breezy evening before it was the turn of Queen’s to have their spell.

After getting back on level terms, Diarmuid Baker’s late run saw him put the home side in front.

WINNER…Fintan Canavan’s point proved the winning score for Queen’s

Fintan Canavan added the insurance point before corner back Caolan McColgan raided forward to get one back for Barry Dillon’s side.

Ulster had chances late on and when Niall Loughlin’s shot dropped into ‘keeper Brian Cassidy, it was the last action and Queen’s held on for a shock win.

QUB: B Cassidy; S McCarthy, L McBride, D Baker (0-2); R Donnelly, M Murnaghan, L Downey; T Bogue (0-1), C O’Hare; D Higgins (0-3), P Finnegan, K Friel; L McWilliams, O Mallon (0-1), L Donnelly (1-2, 1f)
Subs: P Purcell (0-1m) for L McWilliams (INJ 25), A McAvoy for M Murnaghan (Blood sub 27, reversed 30+5), P McGrane (0-1) for L Downey (38), A McAvoy for O Mallon (44), F Canavan (0-1) for M Murnaghan (47)

UU: O Lynch; C McColgan (0-1), R McCaffrey, R Slane; R Jones (0-1), R Magill (1-0), J Largo Elis (0-1); A Donaghy (0-2), O Murdock (0-1); J Donaghy, D McEnhill, K Gallagher; B McCarron (0-1); A Gilmore, C Cush (0-3f)
Subs: D Canavan (0-1m) for D McEnhill (31), R Convery for R Shane (44), C McCrickard for C Cush (54), N Loughlin for J Donaghy (58)

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)

Queen’s now face DCU next week after their 4-15 to 1-7 win over ATU Donegal in Convoy.

There were 13 Donegal players in the ATU starting team with Jamie Grant (Donegal), Conor Brady (Cavan), Shane O’Donnell (Donegal) and Sean Jones (Monaghan) in action for the winners.

Early goals from from Conor Corbett and Rob Finnerty – who finished with 2-3 – ensured Paddy Christie’s side were in the driving seat.

Keelan McGroddy supplied a goal for ATU Donegal but Lorcan O’Dell added further goals.

Maxi Curran’s Donegal side will now face Ulster University in the back door next week.

There was a convincing win for St Mary’s on their travels at SETU Carlow on a 0-14 to 0-8 margin after leading by a single point at the break.

Sean Rock and (0-4) Conor McConville (0-3) were the key scorers for the visitors.

Elsewhere, league finalists UCD were 2-11 to 0-13 winners over MTU Cork with Monaghan’s David Garland hitting on of their goals.

Sigerson Cup 2023

Round 1
(A) – ATU Sligo v MTU Kerry – Wednesday (IT Sligo 7.15pm)
(B) – SETU Carlow 0-8 St Mary’s 0-14
(C – NUI Galway v Maynooth – Wednesday (Dangan 7.30pm)
(D) – MTU Cork 0-13 UCD 2-11
(E) – Queen’s 1-12 Ulster 1-11
(F)- ATU Donegal 1-7 DCU 4-15
(G) – TU Dublin v ATU Galway – Wednesday (Grangegorman 7.30pm)
(H) – UCC v UL- Wednesday (Mardyke 7pm)

Round 2A (7pm)
(I) Winners A v St Mary’s -Tuesday, January 17
(J) Winners C v UCD -Tuesday, January 17
(K) Queen’s v DCU -Tuesday, January 17
(L) Winners G v Winners H -Tuesday, January 17
Round 2B (7pm)
(M) Losers A v SETU Carlow – Wednesday, January 18
(N) Losers C v MTU Cork – Wednesday, January 18
(O) Ulster v ATU Donegal – Wednesday, January 18
(P) Losers G v Losers H – Wednesday, January 18

Round 3
Winners of Round 2B v Losers of Round 2A – Tuesday, January 24
Winners of Round 2B v Losers of Round 2A – Tuesday, January 24
Winners of Round 2B v Losers of Round 2A – Wednesday, January 25
Winners of Round 2B v Losers of Round 2A – Wednesday, January 25

Quarter-finals
Winners of Round 2A v Winners of Round 3 – Tuesday, January 31
Winners of Round 2A v Winners of Round 3 – Tuesday, January 31
Winners of Round 2A v Winners of Round 3 – Wednesday, February 1
Winners of Round 2A v Winners of Round 3 – Wednesday, February 1

Semi-finals – February 7/8

Final – Wednesday, February 15 7.30pm