Impressive TUS go close to causing a surprise
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup quarter-final
DCU Dóchas Éireann 4-14 TUS Midlands 3-13
TUS Midlands almost caused a major shock in their Sigerson Cup quarter-final against DCU Dóchas Éireann last night (Wednesday).
Five times champions DCU needed four second-half goals, and a super sub cameo from Dublin's Lorcan O'Dell, to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Billed as significant favourites beforehand, DCU were pushed all the way by the Athlone-based outfit on their home soil in Glasnevin in a seven-goal thriller.
TUS Midlands, the 2023 Trench Cup champions who recorded wins over Maynooth and MTU Cork previously, emerged from this encounter with plenty of credit. David Martin's charges led by 1-7 to 0-9 at half-time, with the goal coming from Westmeath's Brandon Kelly.
Two goals early in the second half from Tubberclair's Matthew Whittaker - the second a brilliant solo goal - left TUS Midlands two points ahead. DCU appeared in trouble and an upset looked to be on the cards.
That's when O'Dell entered the fray and one of his first acts was to win a free that was taken quickly to team captain Ciaran Caulfield who struck a DCU goal. O'Dell went one better in the 46th minute when he grabbed a goal himself with a terrific left-footed finish, giving DCU a vital cushion.
The hosts' third goal, from O'Dell, combined with points from Tom Prior and Luke Marren, put the Glasnevin side 3-14 to 3-9 clear.
TUS Midlands refused to throw in the towel and got it back to a two-point game late on, but were caught with a counter attack that ended with Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan lobbing to an empty net for DCU's fourth goal in the 61st minute.
Ulster University also advanced to the semi-finals earlier in the day. The Sigerson Cup holders defeated Maynooth University by 0-12 to 0-10 in their quarter-final played in Jordanstown.
Scorers - DCU Dóchas Éireann: T Prior 1-3; L Marren 0-5 (3f); C Caulfield 1-1; L O'Dell and E O'Connor Flanagan 1-0 each; E Ward and C Dolan (1 45) 0-2 each; E Dunne 0-1. TUS Midlands: M Whittaker 2-1; B Kelly 1-2; M Gibbons 0-5 (5f); B Cooney and D Kenny (2f) 0-2 each; D Flynn 0-1.
DCU Dóchas Éireann: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan (Skerries Harps, Dublin) Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St Enda's, Dublin), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara, Longford); Darragh Joyce (Claremorris, Mayo), Ronan Gallagher (Downings, Donegal), Ciaran Caulfield (Trim, Meath); Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps), Ethan Dunne (Skerries Harps); Conor Heffernan (Killeshin, Laois), Ryan Donoghue (Gowna, Cavan), Conor Dolan (Man O'War, Dublin); Luke Marren (Bunninadden, Sligo), Niall Dolan (Raheens, Kildare), Tom Prior (Ballinamore, Leitrim). Subs used: Eoin Ward (Fuerty, Roscommon) for Joyce (17), Finbarr McLoughlin (Westport, Mayo) for Niall Dolan (h/t), Lorcan O'Dell (Templeogue Synge Street, Dublin) for Donoghue (37), Luke Glennon (Boyle, Roscommon) for McLoughlin (44-f/t, temp.), Evan Crowe (Ballyhaise, Cavan) for Conor Dolan (52), Darragh Swords (Caragh, Kildare) for Marren (54).
TUS Midlands: Eoin Moran (Maryland, Westmeath); Josh Gahan (Coralstown/Kinnegad, Westmeath); Daniel Farrell (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon); Jack Dowd (Annaghdown, Galway); Matthew Whittaker (Tubberclair, Westmeath), Darragh McVann (Summerhill, Meath), Declan Kenny (Padraig Pearses); Sean Kelly (Mountbellew Moylough, Galway), Simon Finn (Ballinabrackey, Meath); Oisin Flynn (Castleconner, Sligo), Shane Fleming (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Brían Cooney (Coralstown/Kinnegad; Mark Gibbons (Garrymore, Mayo), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane, Offaly), Brandon Kelly (Milltownpass, Westmeath). Subs used: Cillian Plunkett (St Loman's, Westmeath) for D Flynn (52), Cillian Hunt (Parnells, Dublin) for Fleming (56), Darragh Finlass (Ballymahon, Longford) for Finn (57).
Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath).