Sigerson: Maynooth pay penalty for missed chances

University of Galway 3-10 

Maynooth University 1-6

A host of missed goal chances denied Maynooth University the chance to take a huge scalp in the first round of this year’s Sigerson Cup, as they succumbed to a ten-point defeat to University of Galway at the windswept and wet home field of the reigning champions tonight.

Darragh Kirwan (twice), Rúairí Kinsella and Donal Conlon all failed to find the net from good chances in the first half, while Kirwan also send in a high, hanging shot that Galway goalkeeper Conor Carroll did incredibly well to deflect at the other end.

Davy Burke’s side also shot five first half wides despite playing with the aid of the elements for that phase of the game, while at the other end Galway had three goal chances and took two, with Cathal Sweeney and Patrick O’Donnell on the mark as they led by 2-4 to 0-2 at the interval.

Their strong running game and their physicality in the middle on a very scrappy night for football allowed Maynooth to continue to compete well, and when Kirwan leapt up to claim a high delivery from club colleague Paddy McDermott and then slammed the ball to the net, they weren’t without hope. However inaccuracy continued to be an issue, while at the other end, Galway county panelists Cian Monaghan, Paul Kelly and Matthew Tierney all picked off points, making the win safe long before Tomo Culhane finished the ball to the net in stoppage time for a third goal.

Scorers for University of Galway: Tomo Culhane 1-4 (0-2f, 0-1m), Patrick O’Donnell 1-1, Cathal Sweeney 1-0, Matthew Tierney 0-2, Seán O’Flynn 0-1, Paul Kelly 0-1, Cian Monaghan 0-1.

Scorers for Maynooth University: Darragh Kirwan 1-2 (0-2f), Darragh Walsh 0-1f, Ruairí Kinsella 0-1, Shane O’Sullivan 0-1f, Dermot Hanafin 0-1.

UG: Conor Carroll; Conor Dunleavy, Colin Murray, Evan Lyons; Cian Monaghan, Seán O’Flynn, Rory Egan; Paul Kelly, Ger Davoren; Gavin Burke, Matthew Tierney, Cathal Sweeney; Patrick O’Donnell, Mark McInerney, Tomo Culhane.   Subs: Eoin Kelly for McInerney (34), Darragh Heneghan for O’Donnell (49), Cathal Donoghue for Davoren (55).

MU: Cian Burke; Ciarán McCarrick, Colin Walsh, Aaron Brazil; Paddy McDermott, John Lawler, Colm Harnett; Darragh Lyons, Dermot Hanafin; Darragh Walsh, Rúairí Kinsella, Kieran Dwyer; Shane O’Sullivan, Darragh Kirwan, Donal Conlon. Subs: Tom Moran for Harnett (38), Fionn Ó Giolláin for D Walsh (44), Luke Killian for C Walsh (44), Fionn Dempsey for Kinsella (57).

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford)