NUIG need extra-time to see off MTU Kerry in Sigerson Cup

Galway book their place in their first Sigerson Cup final since 2018 with the late win

Galway’s Tomo Culhane celebrates after his 0-4 helped NUIG to victory. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Galway’s Tomo Culhane celebrates after his 0-4 helped NUIG to victory. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

NUI Galway 0-18 MTU Kerry 0-15

NUIG booked their place in their first Sigerson Cup final since 2018, following an extra-time victory over MTU Kerry in Rathkeale, Limerick. Scores from Matthew Tierney and Tomo Culhane pushed the western University clear in the extra period, before Dara Moynihan, Jack Savage and Tony Brosnan saw red late on as Aidan O’Mahony’s side finished with 12 men.

Prior to that, NUIG led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval with Tierney joined on the scoresheet by Cathal Sweeney, Eoghan Kelly and Gavin Burke. It looked as though NUIG would seal the deal in the 60 minutes. Having gone five clear thanks to Culhane, they retreated and MTU Kerry found five Jack Savage scores in the final six minutes of play. It ended 0-11 each after 60 tense minutes of action.

Having exchanged four points apiece in the opening 13 minutes of extra-time, Tierney’s frees were added to by the impressive Culhane to seal the win. NUIG are chasing a first Sigerson title since 2003.

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MTU Kerry: K O'Leary; D Carew, T O'Connor, M Potts; E Looney, G Horan, F Mackessy; M O'Shea, D Lyne; P O'Shea, T Ó Sé (0-1), D Moynihan; J Savage (0-6, 4f), T Brosnan (0-8, 7f), M Ryan.

Subs: R O'Grady for O'Shea (50 mins), G Vaughan for O'Connor (59 mins), J Foster for Ó Sé (68 mins), A Darmody for Ryan (70 mins), P O'Shea for Carew (73 mins).

NUIG: C Carroll; C Murray, N Mulcahy, G Burke (0-1); R Egan, E Kelly (0-1), N Mullen; P Kelly, S Kelly (0-1); G Durcan, M Tierney (C) (0-8, 5f), C Donoghue, T Culhane (0-4, 2f), F McDonagh, C Sweeney (0-1).

Subs: T Gill (0-2) for Mullen (41 mins), R Monaghan for Donoghue (59 mins), M McInerney for McDonagh, P O'Donnell for Mulcahy (both 67 mins), F McDonagh for G Durcan (73 mins).

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)