DCU impress

Dublin City University 0-9 Cork IT 1-3

14/02/02: DCU reached the semi-finals of the Sigerson Cup - to be played in Sligo next week - with an impressive win over Cork IT in Cork yesterday.

They led by 0-9 to 0-1 at the interval, having played with the benefit of a strong wind, and held on without too much difficulty on the resumption, though substitute Ray Keane managed to find the net for Cork IT 10 minutes from the end.

The Dublin side's first-half dominance was due in the main to midfielders Barry Sheehan and Kevin Devine, while Ronnie Carroll was the pick of a talented attack.

DCU: J Carolan; B McCormack, S Healy, S Carroll; P Casey, B Cullen, Pat Stephens ; K Devine (0-2), B Sheehan (0-1); E Byrne, F McMahon (0-1), T Kelliher; T Quinn (0-3), F Mone, R Carroll (0-2). Subs: N Browne for Quinn, N McGennis for Byrne.

Cork IT: K Murphy; Stephen O'Sullivan, G Canty, R Magean; N Barry, A O'Connor, A O'Mahony; D Kavanagh (0-2), W Hennessy; G McLoughlin, P Foley, Seamus O'Sullivan; T Connors, B Hickey, DJ Fleming (0-1). Subs: J O'Connell for Seamus O'Sullivan, A O'Sullivan for Foley, R Keane (1-0) for T Connors.

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).

Report from the Independent

Quinn points way for DCU

DCU 0-9 ; CORK IT 1-3

THERE was never any doubt about the outcome of this Sigerson Cup tie in Cork yesterday as DCU despite failing to score in the second half brushed aside the home side to book a quarter-final date in Sligo next Thursday.

DCU played with the aid of a strong wind in the opening half and, after a sluggish start, went on a scoring spree, kicking eight points without reply to lead 0-9 to 0-1 at half-time, Thomas Quinn accounting for four of those scores.

In an effort to strengthen their midfield, Cork IT moved out full-back Graham Canty. The move had the desired effect, but the Cork forwards could make little headway against the DCU defence in which Stephen Healy and Brian Cullen were outstanding.

Following a period of sustained pressure, the Cork lads grabbed the only goal of the game in the 50th minute when Ray Keane's shot was deflected into the net, but it wasn't enough to rally the home side.

While they failed to add to their first half tally, DCU remained in control, with Ronnie Carroll and Fergal Mone particularly impressive.

SCORERS DCU: T Quinn 0-4, R Carroll, K Devin 0-2 each, B Sheehan 0-1. Cork IT: R Keane 1-0, D Kavanagh 0-2, DJ Fleming 0-1.

Carroll leads DCU to deserved win over CIT

The strong wind had a huge bearing on the outcome and the home side were bitterly disappointed as they had high hopes of making it to the Sigerson weekend in Sligo next week.

CIT could never come to grips with the pace and slick passing of the Dubliners, who could now make it hard for hosts Sligo IT in next week’s quarter-final.

DCU also won the tactical battle. Ronnie Carroll played his roaming role with devastating effect, was regularly back helping out in defence and was back up in attack to finish off some excellent moves.

His two points were superb efforts and his overall display marked him out as a player of exceptional ability. Close on his heels came midfielder Kevin Devine and full forward Fergal Mone, both making major contributions to DCU’s impressive win.

The home side were hugely disappointing, and only Graham Canty and Alan O’Connor came out of the game with their reputations any way intact.

Canty was head-and-shoulders above the rest with his superb high fielding, while O’Connor battled bravely at centre back.

However, they both lacked support and all their good work regularly went to waste as the forwards failed to make any impression on a hard tackling DCU defence in which Stephen Healy, Pat Stephens, and Brian Cullen were particularly impressive.

The visitors won the toss and elected to play with the strong wind.

Thomas Quinn opened DCU’s account in the second minute but after CIT drew level five minutes later and more than holding their own, it looked as if it was all going according to plan for the home side.

However, it wasn’t to be and with Ronnie Carroll linking superbly with his defence and attack, DCU went on a scoring spree kicking eight points without reply to open up a commanding 0-9 to 0-1 lead at half-time.

In an effort to turn the game around, CIT switched Canty to midfield for the second half, and while the Cork inter-county man succeeded in breaking DCU’s grip, the weakness in attack continued to plague the home side and it took them 10 minutes to add to their tally, a point by Derek Kavanagh.

A period of sustained pressure followed which yielded a goal by substitute Ray Keane in the 50th minute and a second point from Kavanagh eight minutes later. With DCU unable to add to their first half total, there was just a kick of a ball between the sides as the game moved into injury time.

In the two minutes that were added, DCU held firm in the face of incessant CIT pressure.