University of Limerick come up short in Sigerson Cup quarter-final against TU Dublin

TU Dublin produced a clinical second half performance to defeat University of Limerick 2-15 to 2-11 in the Sigerson Cup quarter-final on Tuesday evening in Grangegorman. 

In the opening 22 minutes of the second half the Dublin college outscored their opponents 2-4 to 0-4 and that purple patch saw TU Dublin across the line. UL tried depserately to get back into the game but in the end the Limerick college left themselves with too much to do. 

The wait for UL's first Sigerson Cup title continues. Overall it has been a positive campaign where manager Declan Brouder has seen seven of his players line out for their counties in the opening round of the National Football league last weekend.

On seven minutes, the first score arrived when UL's Cian McHale tapped over a neat free from close range. The home side regrouped and their response was impressive where they landed the next five points in a six minute spell. 

Sean Jones, Jordan Morris, Danny McCartan and Jack Lundy all combined to put TU Dublin 0-5 to 0-1 in front after 16 minutes. Declan Brouder's charges rallied through the lively Cian O'Grady, Conal Dawson and Cian McHale. UL had reduced the gap to the minimium. 

Five minutes before the break, it looked as if UL captain Darragh Cashman had levelled the contest but his shot dropped short. Cashman's shot fell into the hands of Cian O'Grady. O'Grady cleverly handpassed ball across the square to Sean McDonnell and the Cork man found the net from close range.

Limerick's Darragh O'Hagan and Daniel Walsh were starting to cause TU Dublin problems in the middle third. Cian O'Grady had UL 1-5 to 0-6 ahead before the break. However, the Dublin college didn't panic. Meath footballer Jordan Morris pointed from a difficult angle and that was quickly followed up by a 45 that was played short to Sean Jones and the Monaghan had the game level. 

2023 All Star Colm Basquel pushed his side in front, as TU Dublin led 0-9 to 1-5 at the interval. 

UL's Daniel Walsh had the sides deadlocked straight after half-time. Three minutes later, Alan Coyne awarded Walsh a black card for an off the ball incident on Jordan Morris. 

TU Dublin made advantage of their extra man during this period. Sean Jones raced through the University of Limerick defence on 35 minutes and Jones smashed the ball into the back of the net. The Castletroy college battled back once again, a 45 from Frank Irwin and an inspirational effort courtesy of Cian McHale meant UL trailed 1-11 to 1-9 as the final quarter approach. 

Jones and the lively Joe Prendergast popped over points in quick succession for the 2013 Sigerson Cup champions. On 52 minutes, referee Alan Coyne awarded TU Dublin a penalty after Jones was fouled inside the small square. TU Dublin's Jack Lundy stepped up and Lundy made no mistake from the penalty spot. 

UL showed tremendous charcater once again. On 54 minutes, Sean McDonnell had scored his second goal of the evening and Mayo man Jack Fallon then landed a spectacular  effort to make it 2-13 to 2-10. It looked as if a late comeback from UL was on the cards. The victors had other ideas, scores late on from Joe Prendergast and Jordan Morris late on sealed TU Dublin's place into the Sigerson Cup semi-finals. 

SCORERS: 

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Sean McDonnell 2-0, Cian Mchale (0-4, 0-3 frees), Cian O'Grady 0-2, Conal Dawson, Padraig O'Driscoll, Jack Fallon and Daniel Walsh 0-1 each, Frank Irwin (0-1,0-1 45)

TU DUBLIN: Sean Jones 1-3, Jack Lundy (1-1, 1-0 pen), Jordan Morris 0-3, Joe Prendergast and Danny McCartan 0-2 each, Colm Basquel (0-2, 0-2 frees), Sean Hannifin and Conor Fee 0-1 each

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Billy Hogan (Longwood, Meath); Paddy O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), Caelim Keogh (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Fenton Kelly (Davitts, Mayo); Eoin Clifford (Laune Rangers, Kerry), Darragh Cashman (Capt) (Millstreet, Cork), Conal Dawson (Westport, Mayo); Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane, Clare), Darragh O’Hagan (Mungret St. Paul’s, Limerick); Thomas O’Donnell (Castlegregory, Kerry), Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephenites, Mayo) , Darragh Heneghan (Michael Glavey’s, Roscommon); Cian McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), Sean McDonnell (Mallow, Cork), Cian O’Grady (Castlegregory, Kerry).

SUBS: Padraig White (John Mitchel's Kerry) for Dawson (45 minutes), Jack Fallon (Mayo Gaels, Mayo) for O'Donnell & Cathal Ryan (Rathmore, Kerry) for O'Hagan (48 minutes), Jack McCabe (Corofin, Galway) for Clifford (55), Charlie O'Sullivan (Adrigole, Cork) for Heneghan (63 minutes).

TU DUBLIN: Jack Rodgers (Kildare); Cian Reilly (Cavan), Matt Nolan (Wicklow), Niall Carolan (Cavan); Darragh Fee (Wicklow), Cormac McKeogh (Cavan), Joe Prendergast (Wicklow); Cian McBride (Meath), Sean Hannifin (Kildare); Colm Basquel (Dublin), Jack Lundy (Dublin), Danny McCartan (Westmeath), Jordan Morris (Dublin), Conor Fee (Wicklow), Sean Jones (Dublin). 

SUBS: Sean Reynolds (Louth) for Darragh Fee (44 minutes), Darragh Rooney (Leitrim) for Conor Fee (48 minutes), Ollie Brooks (Dublin) for McCartan (56 minutes) and Darragh Lovett (Cavan) for Lundy (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)