Sport

UUJ progress after penalty shoot-out

UUJ 0-14 IT Sligo 0-14: Never-say-die UUJ Jordanstown ended IT Sligo's bid to retain the Sigerson Cup after a dramatic penalty…

Thu Feb 16 2006 - 00:00

UUJ 0-14 IT Sligo 0-14: Never-say-die UUJ Jordanstown ended IT Sligo's bid to retain the Sigerson Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Ballinode yesterday. Sligo IT battled bravely to the end of 90 minutes of fast uncompromising football.

The home side's chances were dealt a blow early in the first half when influential Mayo footballer Andy Moran was forced off with a shoulder injury. UUJ opened the first-half scoring with a Michael McNamee free after 60 seconds before Michael Doherty replied for IT with a similar score a minute later. UUJ were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at half-time.

The sides were level on six occasions in the second half with Doherty levelling for the home side 0-10 apiece in stoppage time.

Antrim footballer Patrick Cunningham entered the action 15 minutes from the end and he kept UUJ in contention with four superb points. The sides were still level 0-12 apiece after the first 20-minute period of extra-time. Some heated exchanges developed between officials from both sides after Galway referee Gerry Kinneavey indicated the game might go to a replay. Sligo officials were adamant an additional 10-minutes of extra-time be played and following a telephone call to GAA headquarters it was decided a second period of extra-time would be played.

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When the teams were still deadlocked 0-14 apiece at the end of the second period the game went to penalties. Michael McNamee, Patrick Cunningham, Rory Murray and Paul Forker were on target for UUJ in the shoot-out with Seán Purcell and Michael Doherty scoring for IT.

UUJ: B Connell; F Moriarty, P Donnelly, P Mooney; R Murray, P McGuigan (0-1), R McGinley; J Colgan, B McKenna; M McNamee (0-5, 4 frees), M Murphy, R Convery; P Forker, J Bradley, M Lynch (0-3, one free). Subs: E Clarke for McGinley; P Cunningham (0-5, one free) for McKenna; E McNicholl for Murphy; B O'Brien for Forker.

IT SLIGO: S Heraghty; L O'Malley, K Higgins (0-1), P O'Connor; J Murphy, B McWeeney, C Boyle; P Delaney, J McCarthy; B Curran (0-1), R O'Connor, A Moran; A Costello (0-3), G McWeeney, M Doherty (0-5, two frees). Subs: P Begley for R O'Connor; S Purcell (0-3) for Moran; S McGovern for G McWeeney; D Gallagher (0-1) for McGovern.

Referee: G Kinneavey (Galway).