Donnelly strikes late to send NUI Galway crashing out

UUJ 0-12 NUI Galway 1-6:HOSTS NUIG will have to watch from the sidelines as the battle concludes in Galway the weekend after next for the Sigerson Cup after UUJ edged this quarter-final with three injury-time points.

Both sides had opportunities to win it in an exciting finish but it was the Ulster college who came good with Mattie Donnelly putting them ahead in the second minute of stoppage.

They regained possession from a quick kick-out and when Shay McGuigan was hauled down by Kieran McDonald, Donnelly tapped the penalty over the bar before Diarmuid McNulty added another point. NUIG had seemed poised for victory but they were unable to finish good chances with the wind at their backs, with Kevin Conlon blasting a great goal chance wide after 40 minutes.

At that stage John Maughan’s men led after points from Shane Moran, Jason Doherty and Conlon but, remarkably, they failed to score after that.

McNulty levelled with 11 minutes remaining and as both sides missed chances, extra-time seemed likely before Donnelly seized the moment.

NUIG had a great start against the wind with a 10th-minute goal from Doherty but Leo McLoone, McNulty, Kieran Hughes and Donnelly were outstanding for UUJ and having been level at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval, they booked a semi-final spot in the dying moments.

UUJ: S McCormack (Kildare); G McCartan (Down), A McClean (Antrim), R Pickering (Tyrone); E Wade (Donegal), L McLoone 0-1 (Donegal), C McGinley (Tyrone); N McAdam (Monaghan), A McArdle 0-1 (Down); P Devlin 0-1, 1f (Down), P Hughes (Tyrone), M Donnelly 0-5, 1 pen (Tyrone); D McNulty 0-3 (Tyrone), K Hughes 0-1 (Monaghan), R McNabb (Tyrone). Subs: C Clarke (Down) for McArdle, (43 mins), C Sheridan (Leitrim) for Devlin (51 mins), S McGuigan (Tyrone) for P Hughes (57 mins).

NUIG: D O’Sullivan (Limerick); L Healy 0-1 (Clare), G Sweeney (Galway), K McDonald (Tipperary); R Rochford (Mayo), J Maloney (Offaly), R Kiely (Tipperary); S Guing (Offaly), S Moran 0-1 (Leitrim); F Deasmhunaigh 0-1 (Cork), S Gilmartin (Sligo), K Conroy (Mayo); N Douglas 0-1, 1f (Mayo), J Doherty 1-1 (Mayo), I Galvin (Kerry). Subs: K Conlon 0-1 (Leitrim) for Conroy (25 mins), G Higgins (Galway) for Galvin (40 mins), D Newcombe (Mayo) for Healy (50 mins).

Referee: Michael Rock (Clare).