Gaelic Games

Sigerson Cup: Well-drilled DCU make UUJ pay for defensive errors

DCU will face UCD in all-Dublin final after seeing off hosts

UUJ’s Kieran Hughes sees his path closed by the DCU duo of Killian Daly and Stephen Attride during the Sigerson Cup semi-final at Jordanstown. Photograph: Stephen Hamilton/Inpho/Presseye
Fri Feb 19 2016 - 22:03

UUJ 0-13 DCU 1-14

DCU are one game away from winning a fifth Sigerson Cup after stifling hosts Jordanstown on Friday to set up an all-Dublin final against UCD in Belfast on Saturday.

DCU led from start to finish and Shane Carey’s 14th-minute goal was the crucial score, the Monaghan forward scoring 1-8 for Niall Moyna’s side.

UUJ hit nine wides, seven in the first half, and dropped half a dozen balls into the goalkeeper’s hands. They couldn’t penetrate a well-drilled DCU defence with danger-man Paddy McBrearty being starved of the ball for long spells.

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DCU led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time, having scored the first three points through Ultan Harney, David Mannix and Carey inside six minutes.

Long-range scores from Richie Donnelly and Kieran Hughes brought UUJ to within 0-4 to 0-2 behind. However a defensive lapse by Donnelly allowed Carey to score the only goal after 14 minutes.

The Tyrone midfielder lost possession inside his own 45 and Enda Smith burst forward and fed Carey who buried the ball low from close range. Ill-discipline McBrearty kicked three frees in the opening half for UUJ, but the home side gave the ball away far too cheaply. Carey punished their ill-discipline with unerring accuracy.

DCU led by 1-11 to 0-8 midway through the second half, following two points inside 60 seconds from Davy Byrne and Stephen Attride. The home side mounted a comeback and had their best spell in the last 10 minutes with four points.

Kieran Hughes nailed two superb long-range scores into the wind, with Ryan McHugh also getting forward for a for a point and McBrearty landing a free.

However with just two points between the teams, referee Pádraig Hughes spotted an off-the-ball foul by Ricky Johnston on Carey, allowing the latter to halt UUJ’s momentum with a close-in free.

DCU: P O'Donnell; K Daly, K Feeley, J Smyth; S Attride (0-1), C Moynagh, C Begley; S O'Brien, E Smith (0-2); D O'Connor, M Quinn, D Byrne (0-1); D Mannix (0-1), U Harney (0-1), S Carey (1-8, seven frees).

Subs: C McGraynor for Mannix (35 mins), S Carthy for Smith (45 mins), D Ward for Byrne (51 mins), S McCoey for O'Connor (black card, 54 mins), C McGonagle for Harney (59 mins), R Connor for Harney (60 mins).

UUJ: S Fox; R Johnston, R McNamee, K Clarke; R McHugh (0-1), R Brennan, S Sheridan; N McKeever, R Donnelly (0-2); C Grugan, R McAnespie, M Argue; P McBrearty (0-5, four frees), K Hughes (0-4), C O'Boyle.

Subs: E Regan for O'Boyle (40 mins), G McKinless for Grugan (43 mins), S Heavron (0-1) for Argue (48 mins), P Hughes for Johnston (58 mins).

Referee: Pádraig Hughes (Armagh).