Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup round one
Ulster University 1-13 University College, Cork 1-10
A TRIO of Tyrone players, the Canavan brothers and Conor Cush, played central roles as Ulster University got their Sigerson Cup campaign up and running with an impressive come-from-behind win.
Trailing holders UCC by five points midway through the first-half, it wasn’t looking pretty for Ulster University but they recovered impressively to lead by half-time and they retained that lead until the final whistle.
Ruairi Canavan was central to the comeback, sniping a couple of terrific points approaching the interval while Danny Fullerton’s 23rd minute goal lent further fuel to their fire.
Canavan’s brother, fellow Tyrone attacker Darragh, was held in reserve until late on but had an immediate impact when he was sprung from the bench, setting up top scorer Cush for a couple of sumptuous scores.
What the result means is that holders UCC will have to repeat last year’s back door heroics if they’re retain the third level title. They will take on ATU Galway in Round 2B next week.
As for Ulster University, they have been handed the opportunity to atone as they will take on UCD in Round 2A next week with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals.
It was UCD that put 7-8 on the board when they knocked Ulster University out of last year’s competition at the Round 3 stage.
UCC’s starting team contained just a third of the players who lined out in last season’s dramatic final win over UL.
Fionn Herlihy and Killian Falvey were among that quintet of players and both got on the scoresheet early on as UCC opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.
Derry man Ben McCarron, in McKenna Cup action for new manager Mickey Harte, struck back with an Ulster University score.
But it was a brief respite for the five-times champions and Division 1 league finalists as UCC tagged on another 1-1, Tipperary’s Sean O’Connor netting.
That left UCC 1-5 to 0-3 clear and Quilter had an opportunity to put his team eight clear but his 22nd minute shot was blocked by ‘keeper Ronan McGeehin.
It was a big turning point as UCC, surprisingly, didn’t score again in the half while UU came roaring back into it with a burst of scoring to take a 1-7 to 1-5 half-time lead.
UU R McGeehin (Donegal); D Curran (Tyrone), R Boyle (Monaghan), S Donaghy (Tyrone); J Largo Ellis (Fermanagh), R Magill (Down) (0-1), P Og McCartan (Tyrone); J Cunningham (Armagh), O McCann (Tyrone); B McCarron (Derry) (0-2, 2f), C Diamond (Derry), C Cush (Tyrone) (0-4, 1 45); D Fullerton (Tyrone) (1-0), N Loughlin (Derry) (0-3), R Canavan (Tyrone) (0-3, 0-1f).
Subs R McCaffrey (Fermanagh) for Cunningham (37); E Magee (Armagh) for Fullerton (49); A McParland (Armagh) for McCartan (49); D Canavan (Tyrone) for Diamond (59); A McAleese (Antrim) for McCann (61).
UCC (Cork unless stated) D Foley; N Lordan, A Dineen (Kerry), D Peet; M Cooper (Kerry), D Bourke (Kerry), D Phelan (Cork); B Curtin, C O Beaglaoich (Kerry) (0-1); E O’Sullivan (Kerry), F Herlihy (0-1), K Falvey (Kerry) (0-1); S Quilter (Kerry) (0-3, 0-3f), D Hayes (0-1), S O’Connor (Tipperary) (1-3).
Subs C Daly for O’Sullivan (46); D O’Callaghan (Kerry) for Peet (47); C Hayes (Kerry) for Hayes (54); C Kenneally for Phelan (60); D Dorgan for Falvey (61).
Referee B Tiernan (Dublin)