The sublime skill of Micheal Meehan helped NUI Galway to the Sigerson Cup at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.The Galway forward converted two wonderful kicks early in the second half to prise the teams apart.
This game turned in the opening 12 minutes of the second half when Galway and Meehan upped the tempo, wiping out UCD's 0-6 to 0-3 half-time lead in the process.
That advantage was cut to a single point within two minutes of the restart after excellent points from the impressive Colm McFadden and Brendan Colleran.
Three minutes later Meehan angled over a point from deep out on the right sideline to tie the game, and then, in the 41st minute, he swapped wings to kick an identical score from the left.
However, the goal that ultimately decided the contest owed more to fortune than finesse.
There seemed little danger when Meehan's 35-metre free from the hands dropped in the UCD square, but it slipped through the grip of full back Conor Evans and by the time goalkeeper Gerry McGill recovered the ball it was adjudged to have crossed the line.
The decision was met with fierce protests from UCD, who believed that McGill had been shouldered over the line.
UCD, faced with a strong wind and a five-point deficit, came back into the game in the final quarter, but their Dublin forward Alan Brogan spurned two goal chances, while corner-forward Peter Lawless was wide.
UCD had the better of a scrappy opening half, with wing-forward Liam Ó hEineachain always looking dangerous - it took him just 15 seconds to kick the game's opening score.
Despite that bright start, the game descended into an intense affair, dominated by the defences.
Neither Meehan nor Brogacould make much of an impact from open play, although when the Dublin star did register his only score of the game in the 21st minute to edge UCD ahead, it visibly lifted his team-mates. They finished the half strongly with points from Lawless (free) and Ray Ronaghan.
However, by the time they got their next score, a point from Brendan Ó hAnnaidh seven minutes from the end, the game was beyond them.
NUI GALWAY: D Morris; C Monaghan, R Murray, D Blake; D Costello, J Donoghue, C O'Neill; B Cullinane, L Colleran; B Colleran (0-1), M Clancy (0-1), R Donnelly; M Meehan (1-4, 1-2 frees, 0-2 sl), M Keane, C McFadden (0-2). Subs: J Rafter for O'Neill (54), G Flanagan for Cullinane (58).
UCD: G Magill; B O hAnnaidh (0-1), C Evans, P Griffin; S Lucey, B Cahill, R Kelly; D McGee, C Murphy; P Curran, J Hanley, L O hEineachain (0-2); A Brogan (0-1), R Ronaghan (0-1, 49), P Lawless (0-3 frees). Subs: J Sheridan for Curran (25), T O'Connor for Ronaghan (48), D O'Connor for Ronaghan (49).
Referee: J Bannon (Longford)
