University of Limerick suffer dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat in Sigerson Cup

AFTER their shock first round win away to UCC, last year's Sigerson Cup finalists, University of Limerick, were brought back to earth when they lost on penalties to Technological University of Dublin (TUD) in the bitter cold of Maguire's Field on Tuesday night,  despite almost totally dominating the first 40 minutes of an intense and intriguing clash.

The result sends TUD straight into the quarter-finals, but UL get a second bite of the cherry to make it to the last eight when they meet one of the first round losers group winners.

The game finished on a scoreline of TUD 3-11, UL 1-17 after extra-time, with the sides tied 3-8 to 1-14 at the end of normal time.

A five-minute blitz coming up to the three-quarter mark changed the course of a game as TUD rattled off 1-4 without reply to draw level and, while their scores dried up after the equaliser, a third goal gave them a lead of four heading into injury time.

At that point, UL woke from their slumber, shot over four unanswered scores to draw level and canelled out three TUD scores in the two periods of extra time. However, their end product then deserted them as failed to convert their three opening penalties in the shoot-out.

Paul Walsh's free and Mark Lenehan got UL quickly off the mark but they had to wait through a long scoreless spell and Fintan O'Shea's opener for TUD before they replied in a move from the kickout that ended with Darragh Cashman collecting Paul Matthews's lay-off to drill; to the net.

Play evened out after that as Mathews's follow-up was met by Cathal Hickey but, after they conceded another point to Emmet McMahon, TUD powered back into contention when Kevin Callaghan collected off Ryan Deegan forcing the turnover and shot to the far corner.

Plassey responded immediately with quickfire points from Lenehan, Paul Keaney and Walsh and, following Seán Golden's reply from a free, frees from Keaney and Walsh left them leading 1-9 to 1-3 at the break.

When they resumed with Walsh's free, UL were continuing their dominance but their intensity dropped and, despite their possession game frustrating the Dubs, their composure was shaken by Callaghan's reply. Golden and Callaghan immediately following up and it was game on when Darragh Campion's long delivery fed Cian Grimes to blast past past Conor Flaherty.

Killian McGinnis followed up with an immediate equaliser as the kickout was turned over but TUD let the initiative slip for another ten minutes before Golden gave them the lead.

When Callaghan leapt highest to fist home Robbie McAllister's speculative shot, it looked as if they'd closed out the result but UL switched into resuce mode, all-out attack yielded a free for McMahon, Saint Kieran's John Hayes striking from play and a '45' from from Keaney before Ciarán Downes snatched the equaliser after six injury time minutes.

Extra time resolutley failed to separate the sides as Hickey was met by Brian McNamara to end the first period at 3-9 to 1-15 and an exchange of frees between Golden and Keaney followed by Golden's free being met by Aaron Griffin set up the OK Corral finish.

Although Fionn Murray smacked TUD's first penalty off the crossbar, UL failed to convert their first three and, despite Keaney drilling home their fourth, the spot kicks of Golden, Shane Cunnane and McGinnis shot TUD into the last eight.

SCORERS: TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN: Kevin Callaghan 2-2, Seán Golden 0-5 (3 frees), Cian Grimes 1-0, Cathal Hickey 0-2, Fintan O'Shea, Killian McGinnis 0-1 each; UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Paul Walsh (2 frees), Paul Keaney (1 free, 1 '45') 0-4 each, Darragh Cashman 1-0, Mark Lenehan, EmmetMcMahon (1 free) 0-2 each, Paul Matthews, John Hayes, Ciarán Downes, Brian McNamara, Aaron Griffin 0-1 each.

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN: Darragh Brooks (Wexford); Seán Ryan (Meath), Andrew Daly (Westmeath), Fintan O'Shea (Wicklow); Cian Hanley (Mayo), Cathal Hickey (Meath), Cian Grimes (Kildare); Ryan Deegan (Dublin), Killian McGinnis (Dublin); Ryan O'Dwyer (Dublin), Shane Cunnane (Roscommon), Seán Golden (Dublin); Kevin Callaghan (Dublin), Robbie McAllister (Monaghan), Darragh Campion (Meath). SUBS: Michael O'Keeffe (Dublin) for Cian Grimes (22 minutes), Niall Carolan (Cavan) for Andrew Daly (27 minutes), Josh Finlay (Louth) for Darragh Brooks (injured, 38 minutes), Fionn Murray (Dublin) for Robbie McAllister (59 minutes), Ciarán Murphy (Dublin) for Ryan O'Dwyer (59 minutes), Ryan O'Dwyer for Ciarán Murphy (extra time), Cian Grimes for Cian Hanley (68 minutes), Robbie McAllister for Ryan O'Dwyer (69 minutes).

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Conor Flaherty (Galway); Colm Moriarty (Kerry), Mark Dempsey (Kildare), Donal Casey (Leitrim); Darragh Cashman (Cork), Daniel Walsh (Clare), Eoghan McLoughlin (Mayo); Emmet McMahon (Clare), Paul Keaney (Leitrim); Ciarán Downes (Clare), Brian McNamara (Clare), Mark Lenehan (Cork); Paul Walsh (Kerry), Seán McDonnell (Cork), Paul Matthews (Louth). SUBS: David Mangan (Kerry) for Seán McDonnell (41 minutes), Eoghan McLoughlin (Mayo) for Donal Casey (44 minutes), Cian Glennon (Roscommon) for Darragh Cashman (52 minutes), Aaron Griffin for Mark Lenehan (52 minutes), John Hayes (Limerick) for Paul Walsh (58 minutes), Seán McDonnell for Emmet McMahon (68 minutes), Jack O'Brien (Offaly) for Colm Moriarty (half-time extra time), Paul Walsh for Eoghan McLoughlin (81 minutes).

REFEREE: Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry).