GLENSWILLY GOALKEEPER PHILIP O’DONNELL kept a clean sheet to help DCU into tomorrow’s independent.ie Sigerson Cup final.
DCU 1-14 UUJ 0-13
DCU overcame the hosts, Ulster University Jordanstown, who had Donegal players Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh in their starting line-up.
McBrearty kicked five points and McHugh curled over two, but it was DCU, powered by Shane Carey’s 1-8, who advance to meet UCD in the final.
O’Donnell – a two-time winner of the Donegal SFC with Glenswilly – was making his first start in the competition, but the towering Glenswilly ‘keeper didn’t put a foot wrong.
Buncrana’s Caolan McGonagle came on as a late substitute for DCU.
McGonagle played the final five minutes, a time when UUJ were turning the screw in a desperate search for a way back into the contest.
Four-times Sigerson Cup winners DCU also include Gaoth Dobhair’s Cian Mulligan and Sean MacCumhaills player Nathan Gavigan in their ranks.
O’Donnell saved in the first half from Michael Argue and dealt well with anything that went his way.
UUJ entered as the favourites, but Martin McHugh’s team didn’t find their spark, kicking a litany of wides, and were rocked with the concession of a 14th minute goal.
Enda Smith laid the pass on for Carey and the Scotstown man finished neatly into the near corner.
DCU led 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time and with Smith and a Carey brace on the mark, Niall Moyna’s men pushed themselves well clear.
Kieran Hughes and McBrearty inched UUJ back into it, but wonderful points from David Byrne and Stephen Attride widened the margin.
Shane Heavron brought UUJ to within a goal and there was hope still for them when McHugh drilled over, but three late frees from Carey sealed DCU’s place in the decider.
UCD hammered University of Limerick 4-12 to 1-9.
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