Football

Friday night’s Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup round-up: DCU lay down marker as University of Galway beaten

Daire Cregg picked up from where he left off last year in the third level competition, as he notched almost half of UCD’s final tally.

Queens University Belfast v DCU - Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup Round 1 9 January 2024; Rory Donnelly, centre, supported by Queens teammate Joe McDaid, competes for a high ball with Shane Walsh of DCU during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup Round 1 match between Queens University Belfast and DCU at The Dub at Queen’s Sport in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile (Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE/SPORTSFILE)
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup results

UCC 0-07 0-12 UCD

DCU 2-22 0-11 MTU Kerry

TU Dublin 0-08 0-05 University of Galway

University of Limerick 3-17 1-10 ATU Galway

ATU Donegal 0-06 1-10 MTU Cork

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There were big wins for UL and DCU and a shock loss for the University of Galway as the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup finally kicked into gear after a host of postponements due to the cold snap.

Daire Cregg picked up from where he left off last year in the third level competition, as he notched almost half of UCD’s final tally in a 0-12 0-07 win over UCC in the big clash of the day.

Billy Morgan’s charges conceded four of the last five points, having failed to fully maximise the advantage of a first-half breeze.

The sides went in 0-04 apiece at the break, and the Dublin outfit rallied in the second half, with the league champions restricted to just three scores.

Aidan Clarke
Tyrone's Aidan Clarke and Roscommon's Conor Cox and Daire Cregg in action during the Allianz Football Division one Round one between Tyrone and Roscommon

Roscommon forward Cregg struck 0-5 in all, with fellow member of the 2024 Higher Education Team of the Year Aaron Lynch amongst UCD’s seven scorers in all.

Having had their crown taken by Ulster University last year, University of Galway (formerly NUIG) began their campaign with a surprising loss to TU Dublin.

The home side started with a Breffni stamped XV, with three of their six defenders from Cavan and Kingscourt’s Jordan Morris operating at his usual corner forward position.

And it was the Meath man who top scored with four points in an 0-08 0-05 win.

Michael Fitzsimons and Jordan Morris
Dublin’s Michael Fitzsimons and Meath’s Jordan Morris keep an eye on the ball during yesterday’s Leinster SFC clash at Croke Park, which the Dubs won 16 points (David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILE/SPORTSFILE)

Their opposition had much experience in the shape of intercounty trio Cian Hernon, Liam Ó Conghaile and Cillian Ó Curraoin, with Offaly wing-back Rory Egan one of just four starters from outside Galway.

While Ó Curraoin was to the fore, scoring three points, it was a first-half that featured just six points from both teams combined.

And the University of Galway scored just once in the latter period as they were resigned to an opening night defeat.

In the northside of Dublin, DCU were comfortable 2-22 to 0-11 winners over MTU Kerry.

Skerries’ Greg McEnaney was among the stars on show, coming up trumps with the opening goal, with talented Westmeath prospect Senan Baker at full-forward for the dominant hosts.

DCU - who have just five Sigerson Cups in their history - last won this competition in 2020, but the manner of this evening’s victory was a statement of intent.

Elsewhere, UL had a comfortable win over ATU Galway. Having held a 1-07 0-04 lead at the break, the Limerick outfit - captained by Cork’s Darragh Cashman- grabbed another brace of goals in the latter period en route to a 3-17 to 1-10 victory.

And in the night’s final encounter, MTU Cork had a comfortable 1-10 to 0-06 over ATU Donegal.