DCU 1-14 UCC 2-10 (AET)

DCU maintained their unbeaten record in Sigerson Cup finals, following a 1-14 to 2-10 win over 2014 title holders UCC after extra-time at the Mardyke.

Niall Moyna’s side held their nerve in the second period of extra-time, as points from Donal Smith and Conor McGraynor secured a fourth title.

The sides were tied at 0-05 apiece at the end of the first half of normal time, with a Donal Wyrnn goal handing DCU a 1-06 to 0-06 lead after 41 minutes.

However, UCC never gave up and spurred on by an Alan O’Donovan goal they took a late lead.

DCU dug deep with a Tadhg Lowe-pointed 45 forcing extra-time, with the Dublin side the better in extra-time.

This afternoon’s Sigerson Cup decider was the second final meeting between the sides, with DCU claiming a four-point win in the 2010 decider at Maynooth.

DCU had never lost a final, while UCC had won six of the 19 deciders played at the Mardyke and with the Leeside University as reigning champions, a cracking encounter was in prospect.

The game began at a frantic pace, with the sides tied at 0-03 apiece after 15 minutes, with Conor Cox, Thomas Clancy and Sean Keane claiming the hosts scores, while Leitrim’s Wyrnn and Dublin’s Conor McHugh accounted for the DCU tally.

A brace of Cox points pushed UCC into a 0-05 to 0-03 lead after 25 minutes, but DCU rallied to tie the game at the break.

Enda Smith and Alan O’Donovan swapped scores to tie the game six minutes after the restart, but DCU broke through for a 41st-minute goal, finished by Wyrnn following a speculative Smith shot.

Leading 1-06 to 0-06, DCU were worked hard in defence after Paul Geaney fed David Harrington, but Roscommon man Lowe pulled off a fine block.

UCC rallied with points from Luke Connolly and Gary O’Sullivan, but DCU kept on top thanks to a 56th-minute Conor Boyle score.

UCC never gave up with Alan O’Donovan sneaking through for their first goal, after a pass from Connolly to edge them 1-08 to 1-07 ahead in the 56th minute.

But DCU remained composed with Lowe slotting over a 45’ in the third minute of injury-time to force extra-time.

Conor Dorman gave UCC the first score in the opening period of extra-time, but DCU rallied with three unanswered points before the break, with Steven O’Brien, Lowe and Louth’s Eoin O’Connor on target.

DCU relinquished their lead on the restart, after David Culhane gathered the ball and finish it to the net, within 10 seconds of the throw-in.

Conor Daly and Kevin Davis traded points, but DCU finished strongly with points from Donal Smith and Conor McGraynor to earn a famous win.

Tomas Flynn hoisted the cup for DCU, while Lowe picked up the man of the match award.

DCU: T Lowe (0-02, 1 ’45, 1f); C Begley, C Boyle (0-01), C Moynagh; J Smith, C Daly (0-01), S O’Brien (0-01); C McHugh (0-02, 2f), D Wrynn (1-01); D Ward, C McGraynor (0-01), E O’Connor (0-02); D O’Connor, C Meredith, E Smith (0-02).

Substitutes: D Smith (0-01) for McHugh (HT); M Quinn for Ward (HT); R Connor for D O’Connor (43); B Donnelly for Meredith (53); S Carey for Wyrnn (53); S McCoy for E Smith (58); E Smith for Connor (ET); N Murphy for E O’Connor (69); T Lahiffe for E Smith (76);

UCC: M Martin; F McNamara, J McGuire, P O’Connor; C Dorman (0-01), D Culhane (1-00), T Clancy (0-01); S Kiely, G O’Sullivan (0-01); S Keane (0-01), L Connolly (0-01, 1 ’45), B O’Driscoll; D Harrington, P Geaney, C Cox (0-03, 1f).

Substitutes: A O’Donovan (1-01) for B O’Driscoll (29); E Ó Conchuir for G O’Sullivan (49); K Davis (0-01) for Keane (53); S White for A O’Donovan (59 BC); J Davis for McNamara (HTET); T Hickey for Connolly (78); L Connolly for Geaney (81).

REFEREE: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)