UL start Sigerson Cup in style with victory over UCC in the Mardyk

UL are Limerick’s sole representative in the competition as they seek a first ever Sigerson Cup title.

The University of Limerick kicked off their Sigerson Cup campaign in style as they overcame UCC in the Mardyk in the opening round of the competition on Wednesday evening.

Goals from Paul Walsh and Paul Mathews proved decisive in a 2-7 to 0-10 victory over the 2019 champions.

The result sees UL into the next round against TU Dublin next Tuesday in Limerick with UCC now facing a knockout tie against ATU Galway the following night.

The sides were level at the interval after UL responded to an early onslaught from the hosts. The Cork outfit kicked the opening three scores of the evening with Fionn Herlihy, Killian Falvey and Sean Quilter on target.

Ciaran Downes briefly replied for UL after ten minutes but the next two scores came from UCC as they moved 0-5 to 0-1 clear with a quarter of an hour played.

But a purple patch followed from UL as they hit 1-3 without reply to find the lead, Mathews finding the net in that time. Kerry’s Dylan Geaney had the final score of the half to leave it 0-6 to 1-3 at the turn of ends.

Three from Sean Quilter pushed UCC back in front after the restart but a goal from All-Ireland minor winner Walsh restored UL’s lead and while UCC did level with ten to play, scores from Paul Keaney and Aaron Griffin saw UL into the next round.

The Limerick side will play a TU Dublin side that got the better of ATU Galway with a 1-13 to 0-9 victory in the first round. The winner will progress to the quarter-finals with the losers into the third round.

UL are still seeking a first ever title after losing to NUIG in the decider last Spring. That was only their second ever final appearance with Conor Flaherty, Jack Coyne, Eoghan McLoughlin, Connell Dempsey, Daniel Walsh and Ciaran Downes all remaining from the starting team in that defeat.