SEAN MCVEIGH was on form this afternoon at O’Donnell Park as he took Letterkenny Institute of Technology to the Independent.ie HE Hurling Championship Division 3 All-Ireland final.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 4-7 University of Ulster Magee 3-6
The St Eunan’s dual player scored an excellent personal total of 3-6 to ensure his side will be taking part in Fitzgibbon Cup weekend, where Paddy Lennon’s team will face Robert Gordon University – the British champions – from Aberdeen in the Padraig MacDiarmada final at Cork Institute of Technology.
Throw-in on Saturday is at 11am.
LyIT were four up at half-time, 2-3 to 0-5, with McVeigh (pictured above in action for Donegal in the Allianz NHL Division 2B clash with Armagh on Saturday) and Shaun Anderson getting the goals – but then within 10 minutes of the restart the visitors to Letterkenny had scored 3-1 to lead 3-6 to 2-4.
However, the Derry side failed to score in the final 23 minutes of the contest as McVeigh scored two more goals to seal the win.
McVeigh got off and running with two early frees, either side of a Patrick Meehan effort for Magee.
Sean Harrigan levelled it up for Magee on 13 minutes before Meehan’s two frees left Magee 0-4 to 0-2 on 16 minutes.
The game burst into life on 17 minutes when McVeigh scored a brilliant individual goal. He ran some 45 metres, beat three defenders to tap past Aaron Devine.
On 20 minutes, Meehan, though, levelled it at 1-2 for LyIT and 0-5 for Magee.
Two minutes later, LyIT score their second goal. McVeigh’s long ball found Conor Canty, who got past two defenders before slipping the ball inside to Anderson. Although goalkeeper Devine got a block the ball sneaked in over the line.
In the last minute of the half, McVeigh scored another point – which brought his first half total to 1-3 – to leave his team four points to to good at the interval.
In the third quarter, things went off the rails. Magee came roaring back into the match.
A penalty from Meehan set the tone after Shannon McFetridge had been fouled and Magee were back to just a point down, 2-3 to 1-5.
McVeigh replied with a 45-metre free but Magee continued on the front foot.
A long free from Declan Dillon was flicked into the LyIT net by substitute Rian Greene on 38 minutes. Magee were now 2-5 to 2-4 up and that advantage was to broaden.
Paddy Sharpe scored and excellent long-range point and then, in the 40th minute, Magee scored a third goal to really turn the contest on its head.
It cams when Meehan’s shot flew past ‘keeper Sean McBride, who might’ve done better in his attempt to stop it. Magee led 3-6 to 2-4. But that was as good as it would get for Magee.
In the 43rd minute, McVeigh smashed a close range free past half the Magee team on the line to give LyIT some hope. Three minutes later they were level when Conor Harkin pointed and another McVeigh free.
It was 3-6 apiece but LyIT had the momentum. In the 48th minute, McVeigh scored his third goal, although in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. His long-range effort, aiming for a point, dropped shot but goalkeeper Devine spilled it over the line.
A minute later, McVeigh completed the scoring with an angled free. With Magee pushing forward for scores, McVeigh and Lee Scanlon had great goal chances but Devine in goal atoned for his earlier mistake.
LyIT: Sean McBride; Mark Diver, Conor McVeigh, Prionsias Ó Leannáin; Bernard McMenamin, Gearóid O’Connor, Kieran O’Leary; David White, Conor Harkin (0-1); Seán McVeigh (3-6, 1-5f), Conor Gallen, Lee Scanlon; Shaun Anderson (1-0), Dale Byrne, Conor Canty. Subs: David Grant for Byrne (20), Eoin Scanlon for Gallen (29), D Byrne for Scanlon (50).
University of Ulster Magee: Aaron Devine; Ronan McCusker, Liam Mulvanna, Connor McCurry; Joseph McQuillan, Sean Duggan, Ronan Campbell; Noel Flood, Shane Harrigan (0-1); Patrick Sharpe (0-1), Adrian Kennedy, Patrick Meehan (2-4, 1-0 pen, 3f); Ronan McAfee, Shannon McFetridge, Declan Dillon. Subs: Ryan Greene (1-0) for McAfee (25).
Referee: Bernard Sweeney (Cavan).
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