Dublin panellist John O'Brien scored 2-6 as Garda College qualified for their first ever Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup final following a one point extra-time win over GMIT at Pairc Chiarain, Athlone on Tuesday evening. Garda College 2-12 GMIT 1-14 aet Forced to field without their Cork full forward Michael Cussen, Garda were made battle all the way by a highly committed GMIT side who looked like prevailing until O'Brien swooped for his second goal in the dying minutes. There was little to separate the sides during the opening quarter, but an O'Brien goal after 24 minutes had the Templemore students ahead by 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval. GMIT resumed in determined mood and they outscored their more fancied opponents by 0-5 to 0-3 in the third quarter to reduce the deficit to the minimum. The Westerners took the lead in injury-time thanks to points from last year's Galway minor Paul Conroy and Stephen Griffin, but O'Brien's fifth point forced extra-time for the Guards. The winners were the better side in the first period of extra-time, but when Conroy netted it looked as though it was going to be GMIT's day. However, O'Brien's late strike assured Garda's place in the final against UUJ. Garda College - P O'Connor; E Callaghan, C MCGrath, A Pender; A Dermody, D Mullahy, G Dillon; A O'Mahony, A O'Donovan; S Buckley 0-1, R Guinan 0-4, M Harrington; J O'Brien 2-6, D Glennon 0-1, J Keane. Subs: S McGrath for Keane; N Leydon for Harrington; J Keane for Leydon. GMIT - R Cullen; P McGrath, D Vaughan 0-1, R McTiernan; C Garvey, T Cunniffe, J Hayes; K Conroy 0-1, P Conroy 1-3; A Campbell 0-2, P McGinley, N Darby 0-2; E Concannon 0-1, S Griffin 0-2, M Conroy 0-1. Subs: J Kilcullen for McTiernan; M Martin 0-1 for Concannon; S Hughes for Garvey; W Fallon for McGinley; E Concannon for Griffin; P McGinley for Concannon. Ref - D Fahy (Longford). Tweet

Most Read Stories