UL suffer second successive Sigerson Cup final defeat as UCC prevail in extra-time

The Cork side avenged the defeat in the first round to claim a 24th-ever title to move into outright second in the Sigerson roll of honour.

For the second successive year, the University of Limerick were pipped in the Sigerson Cup final as their wait for a maiden title continues following a third ever final loss.

UCC prevailed in Waterford after extra-time, securing a 24th title with a 1-16 to 0-16 victory in difficult conditions. A goal in the opening minutes set the tone for College as Dylan Geaney flicked a free into the corner of the UL net.

UL didn’t get going until the third quarter but seven on the bounce from Declan Brouder’s men looked like being enough to end their wait for a maiden title but it proved a false dawn with UCC battling back while the Limerick side needed the score to bring it to extra-time at 0-15 to 1-12.

And in the first ten of ET, UCC pulled clear with scores from Fionn Herlihy, Sean O’Connor and Mark Cronin only replied to by a solitary UL score. Geaney rounded out the scoring in the second period to give the Cork outfit a first title since 2019.

UL struggled in the early stages, as they did in 2022, with Geaney’s goal putting them on the backfoot immediately. They did reply with a pair from but UCC ended a 13-minute spell without a score with four on the bounce.

Emmet McMahon eventually got UL’S first from play following Paul Keaney’s free after 25 minutes and was followed by Darragh Cashman and Ciaran Downes to leave it 1-5 to 0-6 in UCC’s favour at the interval.

The Cork side surged clear after the restart before the UL onslaught came as they turned a five-point deficit into a two-point advantage heading into the final quarter.

Jack Glynn and Jack Coyne both powered up the field from defence to split the posts with the former leveling at 1-8 to 0-11. McMahon had his side in front but Cork had replies from Geaney and Mark Cronin.

McMahon and Coyne then traded scores with their counterparts but it was Michael O’Gara that looked like finding the crucial score, putting UCC in front deep in injury time.

But Cashman had the final say of normal time in the 65th minute to ensure extra-time. However, UCC powered home in the additional twenty to inflict more misery on UL.

Scorers for UL: Emmet McMahon (0-4), Paul Keaney (0-3f), Jack Coyne, Darragh Cashman, Ciaran Downes (0-2), Jack Glynn, Mark Lenehan, Eoghan McLaughlin (0-1)

Scorers for UCC: Dylan Geaney (1-4, 2f), Mark Cronin (0-5, 3f), Fionn Herlihy, Cathail O’Mahony (0-2), Killian Falvey, Micheal O’Gara, Sean O’Connor (0-1)

UL: Conor Flaherty; Jack Glynn, Colm Moriarity, Jack Coyne, Darragh Cashman, Jack O’Brien, Daniel Walsh, Paul Keaney, Emmet McMahon, Ciaran Downes, Ikem Ugwueru, Eoghan McLaughlin, John Hayes, Aaron Griffin, Mark Lenehan.

Subs: Paul Walsh for Hayes (34), Sean McDonnell for Ugwueru (35), Brian McNamara for O’Brien (38), Eoghan O’Sullivan for Keaney (58), David Mangan for Griffin (ET), Cian Glennon for Walsh (ET), Geaoird Hassett for McDonnell (ET), Sean O’Leary for Coyne (ET)

UCC: Dylan Foley; Briain Murphy, Daniel O’Mahony, Damien Bourke, Maurice Shanley, Shane Merritt, Bill Curtin, Ruairi Murphy, Brian Harnett, Jack Murphy, Fionn Herlihy, Killian Falvey, Dylan Geaney, Mark Cronin, Cathail O’Mahony.

Subs: Michael O’Gara for Falvey (48), Liam Wall for Curtin (50), Sean O’Connor for O’Mahony (60), Mark Cooper for Murphy (60), Sean Quilter for Geaney (ET), Dan Peet for Bourke (ET).