ST Mary’s may be big underdogs to claim only their second ever Sigerson title when they come up against UCD in Mayo today – but at this stage who would dare bet against them?
While their first-round match with NUIG was deemed a 50-50 affair, there was no doubting that they were expected to make their exit against both DCU in the quarter final and, again, in yesterday’s semi-final against UCC.
Paddy Tally’s men were 2-7 to 2-6 winners against the Cork side at the Connacht GAA Centre though, ensuring a combined winning margin of four points across those three games. If there’s a battle this afternoon, the Ranch will not be found wanting.
Tally believes that his side have already done themselves justice, but he is hopeful that there is one last mammoth performance in them.
“We can say this is bonus territory now, but it is going to be another massive game against UCD tomorrow,” he said. “The key was to come up here and get to the final.”
It is the university’s first final since their 1993 loss to Belfast rivals Queen’s at Casement Park, and they are trying to add to their sole title collected in 1989.
UCD, by contrast, are aiming for title number 34 and are attempting to win successive tournaments for the first time since 1979 when they completed a famous four-in-a-row.
A 19-point win over IT Sligo and an eye-catching 13-point hammering of UU brought UCD to the weekend event, but, like today’s opponents, John Divilly’s side really had to dig in to advance to the final.
UL weren’t expected to push them too hard in yesterday’s semi-final, but the Munster side had a chance to cause a shock at the death. Gearoid Hegarty found himself through on goal as he chased the match-winning score, but his shot hit the side-netting, allowing UCD to advance on a 1-10 to 0-11 scoreline.
Given how St Mary’s have performed throughout the competition, UCD might be forced to dig in once again if they are to successfully defend their title. You wouldn’t bet against it.
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ST Mary’s definitely deserved their spot in the final, after they showed fantastic battling qualities to get back into the game, when Ian Maguire and Cathal Bambury struck the early goals for UCC and put them in control.
The Cork side could have expected St Mary’s to roll over after such a flying start but Matthew Fitzpatrick’s tonic goal in the 17th minute gave Tally’s side a chance and they took a one-point lead into half-time.
When Killian Spillane scored his second free in the 48th minute, St Mary’s were two points down and facing into a strong breeze for the closing minutes of the game.
But their senior players stood tall once again, and the ball was worked up-field for Corrigan to score the crucial goal.
Despite two late free-scoring opportunities for Cork county player Brian O’Driscoll, he missed both, and St Mary’s lived on.
“I am relieved, I would have been very disappointed if we hadn’t have won the game because if you take the two goals out of it St Mary’s are the better team,” said Tally.
“If you give a team a six-point start on you it takes an immense amount of courage and belief to come back from it. And they showed that, and they played super football after that.
St Mary’s had Conall McCann and Kieran McGeary black-carded before Corrigan’s goal in the second half but they somehow kept their heads.
Instead it was the Cork side who fell apart in the closing minutes. Adrian Spillane saw red, after an earlier yellow, for a black card for a frontal charge on Conor Meyler in the 58th minute.
Then, as the game ticked into injury-time Alan O’Donovan got a straight red for UCC when he was involved in an incident with Corrigan.
Corrigan’s goal remained the difference, and Tally said it was a wonderful score worthy of winning any game.
“The second goal was class. It was stereotypical football, working the goal out of nowhere,” he said
“And that goal was crucial because I don’t think we would have held out the game apart from the goal.
“It gave us that cushion and Cork were coming back at us hard in the second-half, and we had to have that wee cushion. The game was probably the winning of the game for us.”
St Mary’s: M Reid; K Mallon, A McKay, R Mooney; C Byrne, C Meyler, K McGeary (0-2 frees); B Og McGilligan, O O’Neill (0-3, 0-2 frees); C Corrigan (1-0), C McCann, S McConville; K McKernan, C McShane, M Fitzpatrick (1-1); Subs: D Kavanagh for McGilligan (49),
A Nugent for McConville (60); Yellow cards: McKernan (28), O’Neill (33), Mallon (34); Black cards: McCann, replaced by C Quinn (0-1) (31), McGeary, replaced by C Mac Iomhar (47).
UCC: M Martin; C Begley, F Clifford, J Foley; K Crowley, S Cronin, T O’Sullivan; I Maguire (1-0), R O’Toole; B O’Driscoll (0-3, 0-1 free), A Spillane, J Kennedy; R Buckley, K Spillane (0-2 frees), C Bambury (1-1); Subs: K Flahive for Begley (h-t), A O’Donovan for O’Toole (41), S Sherlock for Buckley (45); Black cards: A Spillane, not replaced (58); Yellow cards: Foley (14), A Spillane (20), Kennedy (39), B O’Driscoll (49), I Maguire (50); Red cards: A Spillane (58), O’Donovan (60)
Referee: J Molloy (Galway)
