Sigerson Cup: NUIG win ends in controversy
February 02, 2012NUIG 0-6
St Mary's, Belfast 0-5
The Downs official and two of his umpires were surrounded and confronted by several players from the Belfast teaching training college as they left the pitch. Up to half a dozen players followed the match officials to the dressing room where they continued to verbally abuse them. None of the officials were injured and they left the ground unhindered about 20 minutes later.
The disgraceful scenes were sparked after Carroll blew for full-time immediately after St. Mary's goalkeeper Niall Morgan's last-gasp '45 dropped short. Only seconds earlier, NUIG goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan had produced a superb save to deny Michael Stephenson the winning goal.
While the referee had issued six bookings during the preceding 60 minutes or so, there had been no hint of trouble before its stormy conclusion. John Maughan's NUIG team led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the break, but had Kieran Conroy sent off for a second yellow card late in the half.
The visitors reduced the deficit to a point on the restart, only for two Neil Douglas points to restore NUIG's advantage. Stephenson and Niall Sludden left just the minimum between the sides with seven minutes to go, but the hosts held on.
SCORERS - NUIG: N Douglas 0-4 (3f), J Doherty, I Galvin 0-1 each. St Mary's, Belfast: B Herron 0-2, P Harte, N Sludden, M Stephenson 0-1 each.
NUIG - D O'Sullivan; G Sweeney, D Gavin, K McDonald; J Moore, J Maloney, R Kiely; S Guing, S Moran; F Deasmhunaigh, S Gilmartin, K Conroy; N Douglas, J Doherty, I Galvin. Subs: R Rochford for Moore (17), C Griffin for Galvin (42), D Newcombe for Deasmhnaigh (51), K Conlon for Guing (55).
St Mary's, Belfast - N Morgan; M Slane, M Murray, D McBride; G Teague, E McArdle, C O'Hara; B Doyle, S O'Neill; J Gilmore, B Herron, D McCusker; R Sexton, P Harte, N Sludden. Sub: M Stephenson for Gilmore (42).
Ref - S Carroll (Westmeath). Tweet
