Sigerson Cup final: McGraynor wins it for DCU

February 21, 2015

UCC's Paul Geaney is tackled by Conor Boyle of DCU during the Sigerson Cup final.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

DCU 1-14

UCC 2-10

(After extra-time)

DCU are celebrating their third Sigerson Cup success in five years and fourth since 2006 after Conor McGraynor's late point handed them a dramatic extra-time victory over holders UCC at the Mardyke.

The big Wicklow man kicked the winner in the final minute after goalkeeper and man of the match Tadhg Lowe forced extra-time for the Dublin students with a massive free with the last kick of normal time. UCC had a late chance to rescue it, but Luke Connolly's difficult free from over 45 metres out drifted wide of the target.

The hosts opened the scoring through Conor Cox before points from Donal Wrynn and Conor McHugh (free) edged Niall Moyna's side in front. But UCC responded with scores from Tomas Clancy, Shaun Keane and Cox again to open up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

UCC's Shaun Kiely then had a goal disallowed as points from semi-final hero Enda Smith and Eoin O'Connor restored parity, 0-5 apiece, at the break.

DCU's Davey Byrne and Tom Flynn lift the Sigerson Cup at the Mardyke. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Wrynn fisted DCU into a 1-6 to 0-6 lead early in the second half, but the holders rallied and regained the lead with three minutes to go when Connolly set up substitute Alan O'Donovan for a well-taken goal. Cox missed a chance to settle it before Lowe showed nerves of steel to nail the equaliser from a 45-metre free and send the game to extra-time, with the sides level on 1-8 each.

Eoin O'Connor was among the scorers as the visitors opened up a 1-11 to 1-9 advantage in the first period of extra-time before David Culhane scored a brilliant solo goal straight from the restart to put Billy Morgan's men back in front.

But McGraynor and DCU had the final say.

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

UCC - M Martin; F McNamara, J McGuire, P O'Connor; C Dorman (0-1), D Culhane (1-0), T Clancy (0-1); S Kiely, G O'Sullivan (0-1); S Keane (0-1), L Connolly (0-1'45), B O'Driscoll; P Geaney, D Harrington, C Cox (0-3, 1f). Subs: A O'Donovan (1-1) for B O'Driscoll, K Davis (0-1) for S Keane, S White for A O'Donovan, J Davis for F McNamara, T Hickey for L Connolly, L Connolly for P Geaney.

Referee - E Kinsella.


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