Sigerson Cup: Smith fires DCU into final

February 20, 2015

UCD's Ryan Wylie with Conor McHugh of DCU.
©INPHO/Donall Farmer.

DCU 2-8
UCD 0-11

Enda Smith bagged 2-3 - including an injury-time goal from a penalty rebound - as DCU edged out Dublin rivals UCD at the Mardyke for a place in tomorrow's Sigerson Cup final.

In a dramatic finale, Smith saw his penalty saved by Eoghan Keogh, but the Roscommon sharpshooter made no mistake from the rebound to propel the winners into a two-point lead. Colm Begley tagged on the insurance point from a free as the 2010 and 2012 champions booked their place in the decider against either UCC or IT Carlow.

Niall Moyna's charges dominated the early exchanges and looked set for a comfortable victory when Smith grabbed his first goal in the ninth minute to give them a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.

The northsiders were still five points to the good, 1-6 to 0-4, at the break, with David Byrne's last-gasp block on Conor Meredith in the 26th minute ensuring UCD remained in the game.

After Conor McGraynor had a goal disallowed in the 38th minute - it would have given DCU a 2-7 to 0-5 cushion if it had been allowed - the Belfield boys roared back into the game. They reeled off six unanswered points per Niall Kelly (two), John Heslin (two), Brian Fenton and substitute Jack Barry to take the lead with a minute of normal time remaining.

But DCU weren't finished as McGraynor won a late penalty which Smith converted at the second attempt.

DCU - T Lowe; J Smith, C Boyle, C Daly; C Moynagh (0-1), D Ward, C Begley (0-1f); F Kelly, S O'Brien; D O'Connor, C Meredith (0-1), D Wrynn; E Smith (2-3), D Smith, C McHugh (0-1f). Subs: C McGraynor (0-1) for D O'Connor, R Connor for F Kelly, N Murphy for C McHugh, D Mannix for D Smith, S Carey for C Meredith, M Quinn for S Carey (BC).

UCD - E Keogh; R Wylie, D Byrne, A Murphy; P Harnan, C Mulally, M Cahalane; C Sheridan, J Heslin (0-5, 4f); B Fenton (0-1), J McCaffrey, N Kelly (0-2); E Nolan (0-1), M Hughes, R Basquel. Subs: M O'Hanlon for C Sheridan, C Lenehan (0-1) for E Nolan (BC), R McDaid for C Mulally, S O'Dea for M Cahalane, J Barry (0-1) for R Basquel.

Referee - R Hickey.


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