NUI Maynooth 2-19 IT Blanchardstown 1-5

NUI Maynooth booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Sigerson Cup after a comfortable victory over IT Blanchardstown in the opening round yesterday.

Meath’s Eamonn Wallace led the way for the winners with seven points from play as Maynooth controlled the game from start to finish. Donegal star Paddy McBrearty got Maynooth off the mark in the opening minute and, with the wind at their backs, they were 7-1 clear by the end of the first quarter.

Wallace and McBrearty had scored four points apiece by the time Blanchardstown netted in the 29th minute. Meath legend Graham Geraghty provided the final pass for Ciarán Gilheaney as he blasted a stunning shot to the top left corner.

That left Val Andrews’ side seven points adrift at the interval – 0-13 to 1-3 – but they failed to make any inroads after half-time. Instead Maynooth continued to dominate as Wallace added three more points.

With the result beyond doubt, Maynooth finished in style. Current footballer of the year Michael Darragh McAuley netted the first of two goals while sub Lorcan Doolan slotted their second in the final minute. Maynooth will now face either Queens or GMIT in the quarter-finals.

NUI MAYNOOTH: M Donnellan; C O'Shea, P Faulkner, D Hyland; E Lowndes (0-1), F Conway, J Gonoud (0-1); MD McAuley (1-0), D Kelly; P Cribbin, P Brophy (0-3), E Wallace (0-7); D Duke, P McBrearty (0-5), D McNicholas (0-1). Subs: S Mattimoe for McNicholas (37), F Toolan (0-1) for Duke (40); E Mullen for Conway (45), R Kennedy for Brophy ( 52), D McMahon for McNicholas ( 55), L Dolan (1-0) for Wallace (55).
IT BLANCHARDSTOWN: M Carey; C Reddy, D McGill (0-1), D Stephens; E O'Connell, C McGill, J Meehan; J Comerford, E Mac Philbin; D Slattery, F Andrews (0-1), C O'Hara; C Gilheaney (1-1), G Geraghty (0-2, 1f), C Wilson. Subs: C Jennings for O'Hara, 47; Gavin McCoy for Meehan, 47; B McNamara for Slattery, 53; K O'Donohue for Comerford, 53.
Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)