NUI Galway 2-10 UUJ 1-8:NUIG KEPT their best till last to leave UUJ reeling and out of the race to land this year's Sigerson Cup after a robust quarter-final at Kingspan/Breffni Park.
Although they won most of the battles, the westerners looked like losing the war until an unanswered 1-4 salvo in the final 18 minutes ousted long-time leaders UUJ.
The sides were level on just two occasions over the hour but NUIG’s physical superiority, greater experience and Paul Broderick’s 56th-minute penalty eventually wore the northerners down.
Mark Gottsche’s goal, after a terrific run by centre° back Gareth Bradshaw, was just one of many features of a first half that finished 1-7 to 1-5 in favour of UUJ.
NUIG: L Grant; C McDonald, G Cafferkey, D Finnegan; N Ewing, G Bradshaw, P Domican; M Gottsche (1-0), K Conroy; C Kenny (0-2, one free), S Armstrong (0-1), J Connellan (0-3); P Broderick (1-3, pen, two frees), G Begley, C Healy. Subs: Conor Devaney for M Gottsche (58 mins); E Hoare (0-1) for C Healy (58 mins).
UUJ: G Kelly; D McDermott, A Girvan, D Morgan (0-1); K Nolan, D Hughes, D Bateson; J Colgan, P Downey; C Donnelly (0-3, two frees), T McCann (0-3), R Mulgrew (0-1); C Kavanagh (1-0), S Forker, D Mulholland. Subs: P Hughes for D Mullholland (49 mins); C Murray for S Forker (51 mins).
Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).
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