DCU show sharper edge to cut for victory

Sigerson Cup Final/DCU 0-11 QUB 1-14: DCU captured their first Sigerson Cup at Parnell Park on Saturday night and, in doing so, consigned Queen's to their third final loss in a row. It was hard on the management team of Donal O'Neill and James McCartan, but the latter maintained his magnanimity in defeat.

"DCU put a lot into this campaign and we knew they would. The calibre of players they have is there for all to see, but the question marks surrounded whether or not they could get together and we got the answer.

"I couldn't have asked for any more for any of our guys - especially the lads who are not playing county football to the same level that many of the players in opposition were and I thought they went toe to toe with them before they pulled away."

DCU's strong Dublin contingent shone and with Conor Mortimor hitting form in the forward line in tandem with the electric Seánie Johnston, the hosts looked likely winners.

Captain Bryan Cullen was keen to praise the panel as a whole: "With the calibre of player we have in the squad, we knew we'd be in with a shout. The lads have all put in a phenomenal effort over the whole year and this win reflects that work."

It was Cullen, relocated to centre back, who lead the team admirably throughout the competition. His tireless, selfless running was just as necessary to DCU's drive as his skill and intelligence on the ball.

Also spurring the team on from the sideline was Ross Munnelly. The long dragged-out eligibility saga finally ended days before the competition with a suspension from Sigerson action, but his enthusiasm never waned.

"Ross and the other lads are as much a part of the panel as anyone," Cullen reiterated. "He put in as much effort as anyone else and he deserved to be on the pitch with the rest of us."

Those who did make it on to the pitch looked sharper than their northern opponents early in the game. Bernard Brogan got the scoring under way in the first minute with a left foot shot which swung over the bar. Brian Mallon levelled moments later with a short free, but the opening exchanges belonged to the hosts.

Cavan's Seánie Johnston, star of the semi-final victory over UCC, repeated the trick with a brace of points early in each half. His first-half offering caused panic in the Queen's defence.With Mortimor sniping in one corner and Johnston kicking points off either foot early in the first half, McCartan's side had every reason to worry.

But they dragged DCU back with a long-range point from Michael O'Rourke and in the 25th minute, Eoin McCartan levelled after a long solo run.

At that stage, the game had become disjointed, with some big hits and niggly fouls slowing the game down. This suited Queen's immeasurably. In fact, they went ahead for the first time in the last minute of the half when O'Rourke notched his second free. Ronan Flanagan replied before the half-time whistle after a dashing run from the electric Declan Lally.

It was level pegging at half-time, with DCU having played most of the football and Queen's showing the fighting spirit which saw them edge out UUJ in the semi-final on Friday.

The second half hinged on two decisions. The first, a Queen's penalty after Paul Casey had fouled Eoin McCartan and Kevin McCourty's subsequent conversion looked to light the touchpaper for a Queen's victory, but of more significance was Conan O'Brien's dismissal for a second booking.

From there, DCU seized the advantage. Owen Lennon won a lion's share of ball in the middle of the park and Declan Lally continued to break from deep. Mortimor upped his game with three points in the closing stages to seal the historic win.

Manager Niall Moyna echoed Cullen's sentiments and his optimism for the future: "Nine students from last year's team started and four first years - that's 13. People talk about buying players, but four freshers and nine players from 2005 speaks for itself. We're building a programme in the university and that's what we're most proud of."

DCU: S Cluxton; B O'Reilly, K Reilly, P Casey; D Lally, B Cullen, G Mullins; E Lennon (0-1), R McConnell; B Brogan (0-1), B Egan, R Flanagan (0-1); C Mortimer (0-4, 2 frees), S Smith, S Johnston (0-4, 1 free). Subs: N Cooper for Reilly half-time, L Moffat for Smith 37 mins, C Hanratty for Cooper 52 mins, C Healy for O'Reilly 63 mins.

QUB: D Alder; R Dillon, D McCartan, J O'Kane; C Vernon, G O'Kane, K Gunn; C O'Brien, P Turley; M O'Rourke (0-2, 1 free), A Carr, K McGourty (1-0, pen); J McGovern, E McCartan (0-1), B Mallon (0-1, free). Subs: F Murphy for Alder half-time, M Ward for O'Rourke 44 mins, P O'Hea for Vernon 56 mins.

Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).