SIGERSON CUP UCD 0-13 Athlone IT 0-4:IT WAS freezing in Belfield last night, and this Sigerson Cup first round match did little to raise the mercury. UCD were comfortably superior to their plucky, but limited opponents, and the match never threatened to ignite into the sort of contest that might have really warmed the cockles.
UCD started brightly with two fine points, but by the 20-minute mark Athlone were still in the contest, trailing 0-4 to 0-3.
UCD upped the intensity before the break to score three unanswered points, and with the benefit of a stiff breeze to come in the second half one knew the favourites would win this without too much bother.
And so it came to pass. Even though they had to toil hard for them, they scored the first four points of the second half to make the win safe as leading lights like Rory O’Carroll, Shane Redmond and Alan Giles set the tone.
Athlone never stopped trying, but a solitary point was all they had to show for their second-half endeavours.
UCD: M Macgfhionnlaoch; J Hayes, C Forde, P Kelly; C Barrett, R O'Carroll, S Redmond (0-2); C Murphy (0-1), M Coghlan; C Carthy (0-2, frees), K Dyas (0-1), C Dias; D Larkin, D Kingston (0-2, frees), A Giles (0-3). Subs: L Smith (0-2) for D Larkin (43 mins), R Mallon for C Carthy (46), L Cawley for Dias (57), L Keaney for R O'Carroll (60)
ATHLONEIT: G Connaughton; R Dunne, C Duignan, D Maleady; A Rowan, M McCallon , T Rahill; D Cash, P Bannon (0-1); E Clarke (0-1, free), J Dolan A Sullivan (0-1); A Caul, F Burke, D Egan. Subs: D McGovern (0-1) for D Maleady, C Duggan for E Clarke (both half-time), P Masterson for D Egan (55).
Referee: M Deegan(Laois)
