The Garda College went down, but they went down fighting.
Going into the Sigerson Cup fresh from a victorious League campaign, the competition’s most successful side, UCC were expected to have few problems against the training Gardaí in Templemore this afternoon.
In their own back garden, the Tipperary based college ripped up that script. They made it fairly clear they weren’t going to be lying down early on in the game when Jonathan Ryan struck the might of the Cork college for an early goal.
From there to the very last minute Andrew Lacey’s side never took a backward step.
33 time champions UCC have a lethal lineup this year. Their starting fifteen is a who’s who of the brightest young stars in the inter-county game. Their bench, for God’s sake is brimming with county seniors like Cork’s Stephen Sherlock and Kerry’s Tom O’Sullivan.
Munster’s finest are in there, from Tipperary’s Jack Kennedy in midfield to An Ghaeltacht’s rising star Brian Ó’Beaglaoích in defence. Billy Morgan has Sean Powter at his disposal, has Kerry’s Sean O’Shea fresh from a 7 point haul against Donegal on Sunday, has Conor Geaney, the highly rated Killian Spillane – son of Pat, Cork’s Stephen Sherlock, Clare’s Eimhin Courtney amongst others top class performers.
Picture credit: @gavcawley (Twitter)
Many of those lads had games at the weekend and were rested for Tuesday’s outing. They still had a strong team out, a strong team who were nearly caught on the hop by the hungry home side.
There were no real household names playing for the Garda College. But what they do have is a united team.
Despite being wild underdogs for this one, they would have been confident in their own skin after putting 7 goals past AIT last week. They started off in a similar vein.
A red card for UCC corner forward Gary Murphy in the first half did them no harm, and the sides went into the interval with the scores level.
Sigerson Cup Half Time Garda 1-5 UCC 0-8 the cork lads down 14 men @HigherEdGAA #SigersonCup
— Gavin Cawley (@gavcawley) January 30, 2018
With 14 minutes left, the home side held a three point cushion, thanks to a goal from corner forward Tommy McDaniel.
UCC gradually clawed their way back into it, but still trailed by one with the clock ticking towards 60.
A late penalty came their way and that put paid to a gallant Garda effort. One they’ll be proud of.
2-7 to 1-12 it ended in favour of the travelling side.
They’re now through to the quarters of this competition.
Sigerson Cup UCC 1.12 Garda College 2.07 Result. Glory College. pic.twitter.com/AcMmNrbxJL
— UCC GAA (@ucc_gaa) January 30, 2018
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