Round-up: Reiging champs DCU off to flier in Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup

Jack Tumulty impressed for DUC Dóchas Éireann in their Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup victory over University of Ulster. 
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Round 1

ULSTER UNIVERSITY 0-8 (0-1-6) DCU 3-13 (3-0-13)

TUS MIDLANDS 2-12 (2-1-10) MTU KERRY 2-18 (2-0-18)

TU DUBLIN 2-17 (2-0-17) DKIT 1-11 (1-2-7)

Sigerson Cup champions DCU made a sensational start to their defence of the famous trophy when they racked up a comprehensive win over a talented Ulster University side at Burren GAA tonight.

Senan Baker hit two early points for the North Dublin college but it was Roscommon’s Jack Tumulty who was the star of the show, scoring 1-4 to carry on his impressive form from the FBD League last Sunday.

Tumulty hit three early points to help DCU lead by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time, but Charlie Diamond’s two-pointer set up a fascinating second half. That was until Lorcan O’Dell hit two quickfire points and then Tumulty and Conor Dolan each got goals in the space of five minutes. By the time Luke Marren came into the fray to kick a late 1-2, there was no doubt about the winners.

If there’s a better individual performance any time in the competition than that which was produced by Matthew Whittaker in Athlone tonight, it’ll be serious going – but the Westmeath star’s individual tour de force was not able to compensate for his team’s lack of cohesion and depth against a very impressive MTU Kerry team.

Jack Foley gobbled up breaks and was dominant going forward in the early stages while Evan Boyle lorded matters at midfield, with Armin Heinrich and Donagh O’Sullivan also giving the visitors a very strong platform of possession.

Odhran Ferris’ strong run set up Darragh O’Connor for the game’s first goal but Whittaker’s relentless determination, pace and scoring threat kept the midlanders in contention.

He hoisted over a two-pointer after half-time to make it 1-10 to 1-6 and by that point he had scored 1-4 from midfield and been fouled for one of the other two points.

Keith Evans’ move from centre-forward to full-forward proved pivotal however and he racked up most of his 1-5 in the second half, with O’Connor scoring 1-4 into the bargain.

TU Dublin also won well with nine points to spare against 2025 Trench Cup winners DKIT, but the Dundalk side showed enough to suggest that they could rattle some cages through the backdoor.

Conor Clarke’s goal and two points each from Stephen Mooney and Jamie Murphy put them 1-6 to 0-7 ahead at half-time against the side that lost out on penalties at the penultimate hurdle last year, but TUd hit them for 2-6 when the loss of a Dara McDonnell to a second yellow card took a heavy toll.

Ollie Brooks (0-5), Danny McCartan (1-1), Conor Fee (0-3), Jordan Morris (0-3) and Cian McBride (1-0) led the scoring for the winners.