UCC see off UL in extra time for Sigerson Cup success

UCC 1-16 UL 0-01

UCC have been crowned Sigerson Cup champions after beating UL after extra time at the SETU Arena.

The victory is the university's 24th title overall and this is Billy Morgan’s sixth time winning the competition, with four of those now coming in his tenure as manager.

UL played with a level of intensity coming from their mission to avenge last year’s final defeat to University of Galway.

UCC matched this energy early on, a methodology that paid off when Emmett McMahon kicked UL’s first point from open play in the 25th minute.

Up until that point, their only scores came from frees that Paul Keaney put over against a powerful breeze.

UCC’s forward line produced virtually from the whistle as their first free from Cathail O’Mahony dropped into the penalty area and Dylan Geaney raised a green flag by punching home.

They should have got a second goal through Mark Cronin but he hit the post and as the ball rolled narrowly wide.

That didn’t matter too much to their collective confidence as O’Mahony kicked over UCC’s first point in the 15th minute for a two-point cushion.

UL’s response came down the left flank, with Daniel Walsh cutting inside and forcing a low save from Dylan Foley. The loose ball ended up at the feet of Ciaran Downes and his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line by Briain Murphy.

This defensive work was rewarded with a succession of scores that gave them a five-point advantage.

UL were left with little to lose in the closing minutes of the first half and that sense of freedom lifted the pressure as they suddenly started kicking balls over from open play.

A combined effort from Emmett McMahon, Ciarnan Downes, and Darragh Cashman cut the deficit to just two at the break.

UCC regrouped and raised three