First half goals from Niall Loughlin, Oisín McCann and Ben McCarron proved decisive as Ulster University overcame UCD 3-12 to 0-15 at Austin Stack Park last night to claim their first Sigerson Cup since 2008.
A five-point haul from Darragh Canavan was also central to UU's success, which was achieved without the Glen Alll-Ireland winning duo Conor Glass and Ethan Doherty. The winners led by nine points at the break, but had to withstand a second half fightback by the 34-time champions before eventually prevailing by six.
Following an early exchange of points between the Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairí, and UCD's Daire Cregg, Loughlin and McCann scored two goals in as many minutes to put Barry Dillon's men in the driving seat. A third major from McCarron left UU perched on a 3-5 to 0-6 lead at the break.
The Canavan brothers extended UU's advantage to 11 points after the restart before UCD rallied with six unanswered points. Roscommon's Cregg finished with 0-9 as the Dublin students narrowed the gap to four, but Eamon Brown and Darragh Canavan had the final say for the team formerly known as UUJ.
TweetTears of joy for Tommy Joe!
— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) February 14, 2024
See 'Mr Ulster University GAA' celebrate at the final whistle of tonight's @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup Final in Tralee.
Emotions ran high after @UlsterUniGAA won the Cup for the first time in 17 years after beating UCD. pic.twitter.com/APhQ411vJw