Dundalk IT claim emphatic win over TUS Midlands in Sigerson Cup

Dundalk Institute of Technology assured their place in the Sigerson Cup for next year with this emphatic win over TUS Midlands in Athlone on Tuesday evening last.

Following last week’s opening round defeat to TU Dublin, there was a lot at stake heading into this second round clash, but this win means the Dundalk college can also look forward to a place in the next round of this year’s edition of the competition, as well as guaranteeing a place at college football’s top table for 2026/2027.

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Ultimately, DKIT were in control for the majority of this game, leading by eight and nine points on several occasions on a night where they had nine different names appearing on their scoresheet, including each member of their full forward line, while goalkeeper Kian Mulligan can be proud of his night’s work, finishing with 1-2.

Mulligan, whose brother Luke is part of the current Dundalk FC League of Ireland Premier Division squad, followed up his sweetly struck two pointed free, with a 45 which found its way to the back of the TUS net, 14 minutes from time, which all but sealed victory for DKIT, as they led by 2-13 to 0-10 at that stage.

Prior to that, DKIT completely dominated their opponents on kickouts, with Jason Duffy and Pearse Blessing at midfield, supported by half backs Oisin McGorman and Ryan Duffy, while Adam McKeown and John Joe Hughes put in commendable shifts from their wing forward spots.

From this, DKIT established an early platform, as they led by 1-4 to 0-2 after the first quarter. Despite opening the scoring through Westmeath’s Jack Duncan, that was as good as it got for TUS Midlands.

A sweetly struck effort from Emyvale’s Niall McKenna gave DKIT the lead, before TUS levelled things up through Jack Duncan (f) following a 3 v 3 breach.

However, DKIT made their dominance count, as following back to back frees from Stephen Mooney, a slick move through the hands involving Kieran McArdle, Oisin McGorman and the returning Aaron O’Neill, saw Naomh Mairtin’s Craig Callanan fire to the roof of the net to give DKIT that five point lead

Along with the inside line, the return of Crossmaglen Rangers player and Armagh panel member Aaron O’Neill, younger brother of Rian and Oisin, was a huge boost to DKIT, as he finished with 1-2, and had a hand in several other scores over the hour.

As DKIT continued to build attacks off kickouts, especially off their own, more scores followed, with Pearse Blessing finding the range following another flowing move, moments after Sean Birmingham had closed the gap to four points for TUS.

Kian Mulligan curled over a two pointed free, before Kieran McArdle and two Stephen Mooney frees left DKIT 1-10 to 0-3 ahead approaching half time.

Despite being second best, TUS Midlands did land the final score of the half, when Tubberbrclair’s Matthew Whitaker, who was on a tight leash by DKIT’s Craig Callanan, fired over an impressive two pointer to leave eight between the sides at the break.

Second Half:

The gap still remained at eight points by the 40^th minute, with Aaron O’Neill and Kieran McArdle raising white flags for DKIT, while Declan Kenny (f) and the lively Darragh Flynn pointed for TUS.

TUS will still look back and rue missed goal chances, in a game where they amassed 1-6 from 27 shots in open play.

Having missed one goal chance in the first half after Brian Cooney fired wide, DKIT’s Kian Mulligan had to be on his toes to divert two efforts from Declan Kenny in that second period as TUS began to get some joy of the Louth college’s kickout, with Brian Cooney seeing more of the ball here.

Jason Duffy stretched DKIT’s lead to nine, but three TUS points without reply from Brian Cooney, Sean Bermingham and Darragh Flynn left six between the sides at 1-13 to 0-10 after 41 minutes.

But DKIT killed the game off in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, when that Kian Mulligan 45 found its away to the top corner of the TUS net to leave Eamon McEneaney’s side nine clear heading into the final quarter.

Oisin McGorman teed up Niall McKenna to fist over his second point, while Aaron O’Neill converted from close range to stretch that lead to eleven points.

To their credit, TUS did not throw the towel in, and Declan Kenny did at least manage to dash DKIT hopes of a clean sheet with a fine finish to the net for a goal which his own performance merited.

But the outcome had long been decided, and following a point from sub Liam O’Hanlon, DKIT rammed in their third goal, when another neat move with Stephen Mooney, saw Aaron O’Neill calmly find the net to seal a twelve point win for DKIT, who are still alive and kicking in the Sigerson Cup.

DKIT: Kian Mulligan (1-2) (1-0 ‘45) (1 tpf); Conor Clarke, Cormac McKeown, Bobby Butterly; Oisin McGorman, Ryan Duffy, Craig Callanan (1-0); Jason Duffy (0-1), Pearse Blessing (0-1); John Joe Hughes, Aaron O’Neill (1-2), Adam McKeown; Kieran McArdle (0-2), Stephen Mooney (0-5) (4f), Niall McKenna (0-2).

Subs: DD Reilly for Adam McKeown (48), Liam O’Hanlon (0-1) for McKenna (48), Jake Corrigan for Butterly (57), Fintan Brady for Hughes (57), Kian Duffy for McArdle (59).

TUS Midlands: Niall Curran; Josh Kenny, Darragh McVann, Shane Quinn; Oisin Kenny, Declan Kenny (1-1) (1f), Conor Coughlan; Liam Glennon, Brian Cooney (0-1); Jack Dowd, Matthew Whittaker (0-2) (1 tp), Alan Lynam; Darragh Flynn (0-2), Jack Duncan (0-2) (1f), Sean Birmingham (0-2).  

Subs: Thomas McCann for Lynam (half-time), Kevin Marrinan for Flynn (55).

Referee: C Ryan (Co Galway).