Message is loud and clear from DCU

SIGERSON CUP QUARTER-FINALS/ DCU 1-14 DIT 0-7:THE MESSAGE is clear – 2010 champions DCU are going all out to regain the Sigerson Cup they lost last year, and it's going to take a seriously good team to stop them.

They started this match slowly enough at the DCU Sportsgrounds, but once they found their rhythm they played with a majestic authority. By the end, they were toying with a DIT team that had looked formidable on paper.

DIT started the match brightly, but the longer the first half wore on, the more dominant DCU became.

By the 15th minute they’d edged 0-5 to 0-2 ahead, but then missed a chance to take a firm grip on the game when Dean Rock’s penalty was well saved by DIT goalkeeper, Alan O’Mara.

The momentum was now with DCU, and five minutes later they found the net when Antóin McFadden ended a superb passing move with an excellent finish.

Rock and Eoghan O’Gara tacked on two more points before the break to leave DIT trailing by 1-8 to 0-2.

Any chance of DIT generating early second-half momentum passed when Alan Freeman’s penalty was saved by Michael Boyle shortly after half-time.

The game became a tame enough affair, DIT no longer believing they could claw back the deficit while DCU were content to pick their opponents off on the break.

DCU closed out the match in clinical fashion, and the quality of their late substitutes further emphasised how difficult they’ll be to beat from here on in.

DCU: M Boyle (Donegal); P McMahon (Dublin, 0-2), K Gavin (Westmeath), E Culligan (Dublin); N Collins (Roscommon), J Cooper (Dublin, 0-1), J McCarthy (Dublin); F O’Curraoin (Galway), C Belgey (Laois, 0-1); P Flynn (Dublin), D Rock (Dublin, 0-5, all frees), D Keenan (Roscommon); J Brady (Cavan, 0-1), E O’Gara (Dublin, 0-2), A McFadden (Donegal, 1-1). Subs: F O’Shea (Cork, 0-1) for E O’Gara (50), C Cafferky (Roscommon) for J Cooper (55), P Dooney (Monaghan) for P Flynn (57), L Bree (Sligo) for K Gavin (57), C Cregg (Roscommon) for D Keenan (60).

DIT: A O’Mara (Dublin); P Cunningham (Wicklow), A McLoughlin (Wicklow), D Nelson (Dublin); E Reilly (Meath), B Menton (Meath), D Hughes (Monaghan); A O’Shea (Mayo), G McKiernan (Cavan, 0-1); P Sharry (Westmeath, 0-1f), T Parsons (Mayo), H Dawson (Dublin, 0-1); B Allen (Offaly), A Freeman (Mayo, 0-4, all frees), J McGrath (Wicklow). Subs: P McGuire (Dublin) for J McGrath (25), M Reilly (Cavan) for P Maguire (44), N Devereaux (Dublin) for D Hughes (58), R Hazley (Dublin) for H Dawson (60).

Referee: B McCormack (Dublin)