QUB 1-9 NUI Maynooth 0-13:NUI Maynooth came, saw and conquered Queen's University, Belfast last night, stealthily pick-pocketing the home side for a deserved win with a last-minute point in this Sigerson Cup clash at the Dub.
Michael Newman provided the winning score but it was the disciplined team performance from the Maynooth students that will please manager John Divilly most as he watched his side overturn a three-point deficit at the break.
QUB held the early advantage and led by 0-3 to 0-1 on the quarter-hour mark with Caolan Rafferty getting the pick of the scores for the home side from a tight angle.
Maynooth, however, were winning the midfield battle and three points without reply had them ahead for the first time on 26 minutes.
The game’s only goal had QUB ahead once again when Niall McKenna blasted to the net after Donal O’Hare had levelled matters.
The sides swapped scores before the break with QUB holding a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage, but the home side would add just four more points in the second half.
Within eight minutes of the restart the sides were level with Newman, Paul Calahane and James Califf all pointing for Maynooth.
Gavin McIntyre was winning a huge amount of ball round the middle of the field and it was his hard work that led to the score of the game from Cian Mullins on 46 minutes.
Maynooth were unable to put much daylight between themselves and QUB and when McKenna levelled for the fourth time in the second half in the 61st minute, extra time looked on the cards. However, Newman’s fourth point of the night sealed the win for the visitors.
QUB: M Jackson; N McGovern, B Cox, O Costello; T Hanna, P McGuigan, S Finch; M Sweeney, S Burke (0-1); J OReilly, J Kielt (0-3f), A Murnin; C Rafferty (0-1), N McKenna (1-1), D OHare (0-2f) Subs: M Armstrong (0-1) for A Murnin, E Clarke for J Kielt, J Kielt for M Armstrong
NUIM: S Connolly; K OBrien, K Lynch, D Dalton; T Moolick, J McDermott, C Brophy; C Berrigan (0-2), C Mullins (0-1); J Califf (0-3, 2f), G McIntyre, S Denvir; M Newman (0-4, 3f), P Calahane (0-1f), D Quinn. Subs: P O Griofa for G McEntyre, S Fahy (0-1) for S Denvir, F Toolan for C Berrigan
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh)
