Dundalk IT fall to TUD defeat in Sigerson Cup

Dundalk Institute of Technology lost out to TU Dublin in the opening round of the Sigerson Cup. A scoring spree down the home straight by TUD meant that the Dublin college emerged with plenty to spare at the end.

However, this scoreline does not tell the whole story. DKIT led their opponents by two points with almost 40 minutes on the clock, thanks mainly to the scoring exploits of Monaghan player Stephen Mooney.

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The Cremartin clubman, who finished with 1-33 in DKIT’s Trench Cup winning campaign of last year, kicked 0-7 on the night in another impressive showing from the young forward.

With 38 minutes on the clock, a gallant DKIT led their fancied opponents by 1-9 to 0-10, thanks to a beautifully crafted goal before the break from the Dreadnots’ Conor Clarke, who impressed through the contest at both ends of the pitch, while fellow corner back Craig Callanan from Naomh Mairtin also impressed in defence, as did half back Jason Duffy.

Clarke’s goal had coincided with the Dundalk college being reduced to 14 players following the first half dismissal of Dara McDonnell for two bookable offences.

Despite being a player down, DKIT battled on, coping quite well with a talented TUD attack, which included Meath’s Jordan Morris, and Westmeath’s Danny McCartan.

Eventually, the Dublin side made their extra player count, blitzing their opponents for 2-7 without reply to take a nine point victory, a result which arguably flattered them overall.

Early on, TUD punished DKIT in transition, as they led by 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes. DKIT did open the scoring through a Stephen Mooney free following a foul on Niall McKenna, before the lively Turlough Farrelly and Cathal Baker combined in a patient TUD move which saw Conor Fee equalise from play.

Points from Ollie Brooks and Danny McCartan gave TUD that early lead. Dundalk IT did close that gap when Stephen Mooney fire over the bar after a Niall McKenna shot dropped short.

Having set up Ollie Brooks for their fourth point, the talented Jordan Morris left his side ahead by three after the first quarter, despite the home side shooting into a strong breeze early on.

Following a turnover in their defence, DKIT moved the ball sharply, with Jason Duffy and Niall McKenna combining to set up Kieran McArdle to clip over the bar.

TUD came close to grabbing a goal when a hand pass across the square deflected off DKIT defender Craig Callanan, before keeper Kian Mulligan scrambled the ball off the line. Ollie Brooks picked up the loose ball to steer over the bar to leave TUD ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 after 21 minutes.

Despite facing that red card minutes later, DKIT enjoyed a mini purple patch to stun their opponents and take a two point lead into the half time break.

A Kian Mulligan 45 was cancelled out by a Jordan Morris free, before a splendid two pointed strike from former Meath under 20 star Jamie Murphy left DKIT just a point in arrears approaching half time.

A few minutes later, DKIT left TUD stunned with a goal of the highest quality. A delightful Kian Mulligan kick pass found the hard working Oisin McGorman in space on the right wing.

McGorman combined with his Farney County colleague Stephen Mooney who took his pass on the burst before setting up the onrushing Conor Clarke to bury the ball to the net, leaving DKIT ahead at half time at 1-6 to 0-7.

Second Half:

Thanks to the free taking of Stephen Mooney, DKIT held onto that advantage early on the second half, with Mooney (3 frees), responding to Jordan Morris, Sean McEvoy and Joe Prendergast points for TUD.

Eventually, TUD made that extra player advantage count, as they outscored DKIT by 2-7 to 0-2 in that last 20 odd minutes.

TUD’s Cian McBride’s presence in the middle of the field was a huge outlet for kickouts, as the Meath man justified his status as a former AFL player.

Having teed up Conor Fee to put his side ahead, Cian McBride got the telling touch to punch the ball to the DKIT net after a Jordan Morris long range shot dropped short.

Alongside McBride, Wicklow’s Joe Prendergast also saw plenty of possession in that second half, setting up Ollie Brooks to score from play.

Moments after Stephen Mooney went close to landing a second DKIT goal, TUD fired in a quickfire 1-1 to effectively take the game away from their opponents, thanks to Conor Fee point, followed by a Danny McCartan goal to leave their side 2-13 to 1-9 ahead after 51 minutes.

DKIT who were chasing the game at this stage, were denied another goal when sub DD Reilly’s strike was kept out by TUD keeper Jack Rodgers.

Further points from Sean Hanfin, Ollie Brooks, as well as subs Darragh Lovett and Ben Casey, concluded the scoring for TUD.

DKIT did end their wait for a score thanks to cleverly judged Stephen Mooney two pointed free from a tricky angle to leave nine between the sides at the finish.

Despite this defeat, it could be argued that the deficit did not reflect the manner in which DKIT acquitted themselves on the night, having led for almost three quarters of that contest against highly fancied opponents.

Eamon McEneaney’s side face TUS Midlands in a do or die contest next week, as they bid to keep their Sigerson Cup campaign alive.

DKIT: Kian Mulligan (0-1) (one ’45); Conor Clarke (1-0), Cormac McKeown, Craig Callanan; Fintan Brady, Ryan Duffy, Jason Duffy; Dara McDonnell, Pearse Blessing; John Joe Hughes, Kieran McArdle (0-1), Oisin McGorman; Jamie Murphy (0-2) (1 x tp), Stephen Mooney (0-7) (5f) (1 x tpf), Niall McKenna.

Subs: Shane Halpenny for Blessing (46), DD Reilly for McKenna (51), Euan Crossan for Brady (51), Adam McKeown for Murphy (59).

TU Dublin: Jack Rodgers; Jamie Smith, Cormac Brady, Emmet Brady; Cathal Baker, Turlough Farrelly, Joe Prendergast (0-1); Cian McBride (1-1), Liam Coleman; Conor Fee (0-3), Danny McCartan (1-1), Sean Hanfin (0-1); Jordan Morris (0-3) (2f), Sean McEvoy (0-1), Ollie Brooks (0-5) (1f).

Subs: Darragh Lovett (0-1) for McEvoy (48), Ben Casey (0-1) for Farrelly (48), Thomas Doran for McCartan (58).

Referee: A. Smith