University of Limerick power into Sigerson Cup semi-finals following dramatic extra-time win over Maynooth:
By Oisín Nolan Limerick Leader Sports
Both sides found the windy and wet conditions difficult to navigate in the first half but that didn’t stop either team notching some fine scores.
Maynooth raced into an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead thanks to points from Harry Plunkett, a two-pointer from Eoghan Freyne and another lovely score from Aaron Browne.
UL responded minutes later in the best possible way. The industrious Cathal Brosnan saw his distance effort drop into the square and full-forward Cian McHale was on hand to flick home to raise the first green flag of the day.
The goal sparked the home side into life and points from Charlie King, Frank Irwin (x3) and Jack Melvin followed to give UL a 1-6 to 0-4 lead after a quarter of an hour.
Maynooth responded through a couple of points from their corner forwards, Conor Duke and Eoin Cully, to leave just a goal in it on the 20 minute mark.
Conal Dawson nudged the home side four points ahead before the visitors would reply through James Harris and Eoghan Freyne to leave the score at 1-07 to 0-8 at the interval.
A Conor Duke free was the first scoring action of the second half to leave just a point between the sides on 32 minutes and the Kildare college began to turn the screw for the following ten minutes or so.
Points from Cully Browne and Duke, paired with a Frank Irwin penalty miss, which was expertly saved by Cian Burke, gave Maynooth a two-point lead and plenty of momentum.
A Browne effort nudged the visitors further ahead but pointed efforts from Cathal Keavney and Conal Dawson kept UL interested.
Maynooth looked to have successfully kept their UL opponents at arm’s length and seemed certain to secure a final four berth when points from Cully and Luke Crowley put them 0-15 to 1-09 ahead.
However, there was to be late drama as the rain poured down in Castletroy when Daithí Hogan blasted home for the hosts to draw the game with little to no time left and extra-time beckoned.
In truth, UL bossed proceedings in extra-time. Irwin got the hosts up and running before David Power’s side were pegged back by an Aaron Browne free.
UL managed to raise their second green flag of the day in the first period of extra-time when midfielder Ugh O’Loughlin palmed home smartly from close-range.
A Cian McHale two-pointer paired with a fine effort from Hogan ensured that the hosts would not be caught and David Power’s charges held firm to win on a scoreline of 3-16 to 0-17.
Scorers for UL: C McHale 1-5 (2f), F Irwin 0-4 (1f), D Hogan 1-1,H McLoughlin 1-0 each, C Dawson 0-2, C King, C Keavney, M Freaney and K Butler 0-1 each.
Scorers for Maynooth: A Browne 0-4 (1f), E Freyne, E Cully and C Duke (1f) 0-3 each, H Plunkett, J Harris, L Crowley and D Scahill 0-1 each.
UL: T O’Callaghan (Clane, Kildare); T Walsh (Kanturk, Cork), T Ross (Curry, Sligo), B Dempsey (Portlaoise, Laois); P O’Driscroll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), S Morohan (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo), C King (Ballina, Tipperary); B McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare), C Brosnan,(Currow, Kerry); C Dawson, (Westport, Mayo), J McCabe (Corofin, Galway), C Ryan (Rathmore, Kerry); J Melvin (Davitts, Mayo), C McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), F Irwin (Ballina Stephanites, Mayo).
Subs: C Keavney (Parke KC, Mayo) for King (37), D Hogan (St Patrick’s, Tipperary) for McCAbe (38), H O’Loughlin (Kilmaine, Mayo) for Melvin (43), M Freaney (Kilsheelin-Kilcash, Tipperary) for Brosnan (53), D Buckley (Newcestown, Cork) for Ryan (53), K Butler (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary) for Dempsey (74).
Maynooth: C Burke (Clane, Kildare); R Fitzgerald (Naas), B O’Halloran (Ballivor, Meath), R Burke (Caragh, Kildare); L Killian (Sallins, Kildare), C Daly (Coralstown-Kinnegad, Westmeath), J Harris (Castlemitchell, Kildare); C Duke (Dunshaughlin, Meath), C Gray (Dunshaughlin, Meath); A Browne (Celbridge, Kildare), D Scahill (Shandonagh, Westmeath), D Finn (Garristown, Dublin); E Freyne (Summerhill, Meath),H Plunkett (Tullamore, Offaly), E Cully (Carbury, Kildare).
Subs: R Kinsella (Dunshaughlin, Meath) for Finn (38), L Crowley (Glenflesk, Kerry) for Killian (45), S Greene (Emo, Laois) for Daly (59), M Gibbons (Kilcock, Kildare) for Gray (75), S Walsh (Oran, Roscommon) for Browne (76).
Referee: J Molloy (Galway) & C Maguire (Clare).