University of Galway safely advanced to the Semi-Final of the Sigerson Cup with this comfortable win over an out-matched Queen’s side at Templeport, Co Cavan.
The westerners dominated the first half and held a deserved 1-5 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
They got off to the perfect start when Ruaidhrí Fallon drifted in at the back post and palmed a high delivery to the net and they kicked on from there. A mark from Mayo star Ryan O’Donoghue extended their lead before Queen’s opened their account with a superb score from the left wing from Liam Downey.
A long-range effort from full-back Cian Hernon made it 1-2 to 0-1, with Queen’s struggling badly to break down the opposition defence.
A converted mark from Fallon, a terrific effort from O’Donoghue and a free, won and converted by Cillian Ó Curraoin, made it 1-5 to 0-1 on 20 minutes, with Ryan McQuillan and Luke Donnelly (free) cutting the gap to five at half-time.
A free from Matt Thompson, a lovely score from Jack O’Neill and a free from Brian Cogger made it 1-7 to 0-4 on the resumption and the winners kicked on from there. An excellent goal from impressive full-back Cian Hernon on 43 minutes ended the game as a contest and further majors from Ó Curraoin and Hernon again saw the 2022 champions win pulling up.
Scorers – University of Galway: C Hernon 2-1, R Fallon 1-1 (1m), R O’Donoghue 0-4 (1m), C Ó Curraoin 1-1 (1f), M Thompson 0-3 (1f, 45), J O’Neill, J McLoughlin, L Ó Conghaile, B Cogger (f), E Colleran 0-1 each.
Queen’s: L Donnelly 0-2 (2f), L Downey, R McQuillan 0-1 each.
Teams – University of Galway: J Egan, J McMonagle, C Hernon, C Murray, R Egan, R Fallon, J O’Neill, S Hansberry, J McLoughlin, M Moughan, M Thompson, R O’Donoghue, L Ó Conghaile, C Ó Curraoin, B Cogger. Subs: D Lowry for S Hansberry, C Mulligan for R Egan, S McGrath for J O’Neill, E Colleran for C Ó Curraoin (all 50 mins), J Foley for R O’Donoghue (55)
Queens: O McGrath, D Foy, J McErlaine, B Conway, P McGrane, L McBride, L Downey, D Higgins, J Lenehan, R Boyle, F O’Hara, J O’Hara, C Love, R McQuillan, L Donnelly. Subs: A Crimmins for D Foy (40), R Cassidy for C Love (45), P Purcell for J O’Hara (48), L McManus for F O’Hara (50), M Laverty for L McBride (55)
Referee:J McQuillan (Cavan)