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UUJ storm past rivals

UU Jordanstown1-12 Queen’s University1-6: HOLDERS UUJ stormed past their northern rivals Queen’s University in yesterday’s entertaining…

Thu Feb 05 2009 - 00:00

UU Jordanstown1-12 Queen's University1-6:HOLDERS UUJ stormed past their northern rivals Queen's University in yesterday's entertaining Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup clash at The Dub in Belfast.

The winners cleared their first hurdle deservedly as they produced the better brand of fast-moving football and took some excellent points from far out. In centre back Darren Hughes, who got in on the scoring with a point, UUJ had a real star. “Whether or not you win the Sigerson Cup, there is always one match in the competition that you really want to win and this was it,” enthused UUJ manager Adrian McGuckin.

When Ciarán Donnelly crashed home a goal from the penalty spot nearing the end of the first quarter, UUJ were 1-2 to 0-0 ahead but within 60 seconds Queen’s struck back with a goal of their own from Seán Leo McGoldrick.

Points were swapped over the next quarter hour but three in a row from Donnelly and the excellent Colm Cavanagh (two) left the winners 1-7 to 1-2 up at the break.

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On the restart Niall McKeever narrowed the gap but it was 1-10 to 1-5 when a flare-up in midfield, with 10 minutes to go, resulted in the dismissal of Joe O’Kane (Queen’s) and McKeever (UUJ). Paul Courtney (Queen’s) also got a “straight red” three minutes from time. Two late points by Cavanagh, in reply to a pointed free by James Kielt, polished off the home side who were denied two goal chances by great saves from UUJ goalkeeper Greg Kelly.

QUEEN’S: F Murphy; H Gallagher, N McGovern, L Howard; R Dillon, J O’Kane, J Crozier (0-1); C Vernon, B McArdle; J Loughrey, C Maginn, SL McGoldrick (1-0); J Kielt (0-5, three frees), S O’Neill, C Baynes. Subs: P Courtney for Baynes (half-time), M Ward for Loughrey (37 mins), D O’Hagan for McArdle (46 mins).

UUJ: G Kelly; A Girvan, P McKeown, D McDermott; D Mulholland, D Hughes (0-1), D Bateson; J Colgan, P Downey (0-1); C Donnelly (1-2, pen goal, one free), R Mulgrew (0-1), N McKeever (0-2); C Cavanagh (0-4), S Forker, T McCann (0-1). Subs: P Hughes for Forker (46 mins), B Beggs for Mulholland (55 mins).

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).