THE main surprise in yesterday's first round of the 1997 Sigerson Cup was the defeat of UCC by UL (0-9 to 0-8) in Limerick. But given the departures of those who had graduated from the recent formidable outfit that won two Sigersons and reached last year's Cork county final, it wasn't that much of a shock.
It was, however, the first time UL had beaten their long-established Munster neighbours. UCC, beaten by UCD in last year's epic semi-final, mounted a late charge to pull back the deficit which had stood at three points at half-time, but couldn't quite manage it. Mark O'Sullivan, the Cork full forward and Sigerson medallist, was sent off in a fraught second half.
UCD's gripping tussle with UCG wasn't the only tie to go to extra time as UUC, hosts of this year's finals' weekend, took a step closer to being present in a playing as well as an administrative capacity this March.
A thrilling one-point victory (3-15, to 3-14) over DCU in Coleraine was secured with an injury-time point from Brendan Powell. UUC had been in apparent control at the interval of normal time when they led by six points but the Dublin side fought their way back to level terms with a point by Eoin Long at the very end of normal time.
The evenly contested two periods of extra time looked to have established the need for a replay until Powell intervened.
The winners will meet their Yellow University of Ulster college, Jordanstown who saw off the challenge of Athlone RTC, 2-9 to 0-11.
Goals from two of their customarily large inter-county contingent, Fermanagh All-Ireland B medallist Kieran Donnelly and Derry's Joseph Cassidy, helped UUJ to a substantial half-time lead.
Athlone rallied in the second half with Westmeath's Rory O'Connell leading the way but Cassidy's calm free-taking, while he compiled a total of 1-6, helped keep the match in Jordanstown's control although the home team had it down to four points by the end.
Waterford RTC made a winning start to their Sigerson career by overcoming a one-point halftime deficit, 0-6 to 1-4, to record a comfortable victory (1-14 to 1-8) over Maynooth. The turning point was a second-half goal by Wexford's Jason Lawlor.
In Dublin, there were wins for the Garda College over St Mary's Belfast (1-10 to 0-6) at Parnell Park and Sligo RTC who beat Trinity in Santry by 0-11 to 0-8. Level at half-time, Garda pulled away after the break with David Earley supplying the goal.
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