INDEPENDENT.IE SIGERSON CUP FINAL: UCD 0-10 DCU 2-2

UCD are Sigerson Cup champions for the first time in 20 years after they defeated reigning champions DCU at Jordanstown on Saturday afternoon.

UCD overcame the early loss of star forwards Paul Mannion and Niall Kelly to deservedly win a first Sigerson Cup since 1996 in Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

Dublin ace Mannion limped off with a leg injury after 17 minutes with his side starting brightly and leading 0-3 to 0-1 while Kildare's Niall Kelly received a black card late in the first half, but UCD held firm.

Westmeath forward John Heslin top-scored with 0-6, five from frees, with Monaghan's Conor McCarthy scoring a point from play in each half for John Divilly's side.

2015 champions DCU were behind for most of the game and only scored one point from play in the entire game, a spectacular score from the wing from Stephen Attride in the sixth minute. They did lead at the break, though, having had their best spell just before the break, scoring 1-1 in injury-time.

Tipperary midfielder Stephen O'Brien scored a 30th minute goal and Shane Carey nailed a free to put them 1-2 to 0-5 ahead. After seeing all their good early work come to nothing, and facing into a second half wind without Mannion and Kelly, it looked grim for UCD.

However they reasserted themselves and reeled off four unanswered points in the third quarter, including three Heslin frees, to go 0-8 to 1-2 ahead after 44 minutes. UCD were by far the more fluid side and DCU's penalty came against the run of play.

Conor McHugh went on a good run down the left and passed inside to fellow sub Conor McGraynor, who swivelled and was fouled in the square. Cavan's Conor Moynagh stepped up and buried the penalty in the 52nd minute to draw the holders level at 2-2 to 0-8.

DCU dropped two points balls into the goalkeeper's hands after that and UCD made them pay with Heslin converted a sweet point from the left after 56 minutes. UCD captain Jack McCaffrey, who had hobbled out of Friday's semi-final win over UL with a hamstring injury, started the game but was forced off with three minutes to go with his side one point ahead.

UCD picked up their second black card when McCarthy went late on, but having used all six subs it meant they finished the game with 14 men.

McCaffrey's replacement, Stephen Coen, scored a left-footed point from a tight angle in the first minute of stoppage time to seal victory for UCD.

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**Scorers for UCD: **J Heslin 0-6 (4f), C McCarthy 0-2, P Mannion 0-1 (f), S Coen 0-1

**Scorers for DCU: **S O'Brien 1-0, C Moynagh 1-0 (pen), S Carey 0-1 (f), S Attride 0-1

**UCD: **E Keogh (Laois); R Wylie (Monaghan), D Hyland (Kildare), D Byrne (Dublin), C Mullaly (Dublin), M Fitzsimons (Dublin), J McCaffrey (Dublin); L Casey (Tipperary), R McDaid (Dublin); C McCarthy (Monaghan), J Heslin (Westmeath), C Basquel (Dublin); E Lowry (Laois), P Mannion (Dublin), N Kelly (Kildare). Subs: T Hayes (Cavan) for Mannion (17), J McEntee (Meath) for Kelly (BC, 29), S Coen (Mayo) for McEntee (43), J Barry (Kerry) for Lowry (53), S O'Dea (Limerick) for McCaffrey (57), T Moolick for Casey (58)

DCU: P O'Donnell (Donegal); K Daly (Westmeath), K Feeley (Kildare), J Smith (Dublin); S Attride (Laois), C Moynagh (Cavan), D Byrne (Dublin); S O'Brien (Tipperary), M Quinn (Longford); D O'Connor (Mayo), E Smith (Roscommon), C Begley (Laois); R Connor (Longford), R Lyons (Fermanagh), S Carey (Monaghan). Subs: S Carthy (Dublin) for Quinn (HT), C McGraynor (Wicklow) for Connor (HT), D Ward (Monaghan) for Daly (44), C McHugh (Dublin) for Carey (47), C Breheny (Sligo) for Lyons (47), C McNally (Armagh) for Smith (59)

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

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