UL pass CIT test to advance in Sigerson Cup

UL made it through to the last eight of the Sigerson Cup with a well deserved 2-13 to 1-11 victory over CIT on the UL grounds. They will now face the winners of UUJ and St Marys University who play today.

The Limerick college started the brighter and had the first two points of the game courtesy of a pair of James Naughton frees. CIT responded well and scored the opening goal of the games after 20 minutes to give them a 1-3 to 0-3 lead in what were tough conditions for football. Two further CIT points gave them a five point cushion on 25 minutes.

Yet, despite CIT’s dominance mid way through the half, UL would finish the half strongly, notching 1-3 without reply. Points from Keelan Sexton, Niall McDermott as well as 1-1 from Conor Finucane gave UL a slender 1-6 to 1-5 lead at the break.

The opening score of the half came from St Senans man Naughton as he tucked away a penalty to give UL a four point advantage early in the second period. CIT closed the gap to one with quarter of an hour left as UL missed numerous goal chances, while the Cork college took their chances when presented to them.

That would be as good as it got for CIT as UL began to dominate the kick outs, with Gearoid Hegarty impressive for the home side. Four successive scores extended their lead to five, from which they saw out the game with relative ease.

The quarter finals are scheduled for next Tuesday where UL will travel north in the hope of booking a third consecutive semi final berth.

Scorers: University of Limerick- James Naughton (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Conor Finucane 1-2 each, Niall McDermott 0-5 (0-4 frees), Keelan Sexton 0-2, Gearoid Hegarty, Fionn McDonagh 0-1 each.

University of Limerick: Brian Redmond (Mayo); Shane Courtney (Kerry), Luke Boland (Tipperary), Daire Quinn (Donegal); Stefan Okunbar (Kerry), Pearse Lillis (Clare), Cian O’Dea (Clare); Fionntán Ó Cuanaigh (Galway), Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick); James Naughton (Limerick), Denis Daly (Kerry), Eoghan O’Connor (Limerick); Niall McDermott (Cavan), Keelan Sexton (Clare), Conor Finucane (Clare).

Subs: Joe Mason (Mayo) for Luke Boland (49 minutes), Nigel Rabbitt (Longford) for Fionntán Ó Cuanaigh (53 minutes), Darragh Bohannon (Clare) for Denis Daly (54 minutes), Eoghan Lawless (Kildare) for Conor Finucane (56 minutes), Fionn McDonagh (Mayo) for Eoghan O’Connor (59 minutes), James Lyons (Mayo) for Cian O’Dea (64 minutes)