Sigerson Cup: Ulster University beat UCD by six points to end 16-year wait for Sigerson success
- Published
Ben McCarron scored Ulster's third goal against UCD
Ulster University claimed their first Sigerson Cup in 16 years as they beat UCD 3-12 to 0-15 in Tralee on Wednesday night.
First-half goals from Niall Loughlin, Oisin McCann and Ben McCarron saw Ulster go in with a nine-point advantage at the break.
UCD, who have won the competition 34 times, fought back in the second period with six unanswered points.
However, Ulster held on to claim a six-point victory.
Ulster were missing Glen All-Ireland winning duo Conor Glass and Ethan Doherty for the game, but manager Barry Dillon could still call upon Tyrone's Darragh Canavan, who made his presence known with five points in the final.
He got the scoring underway for Ulster after just two minutes, before two scores from Daire Cregg put UCD ahead.
Ruairi Canavan levelled the scoring and then turned provider for Ulster's opening goal, feeding Derry's Loughlin, who lashed his shot past Killian Roche.
They rattled home a quick-fire second goal just over a minute later with McCann firing home and Loughlin adding a point from play to extend his side's advantage.
Cregg and Davy Garland each added two points to bring the Dublin side back to within three points of Ulster.
Darragh Canavan registered two more scores before McCarron notched Ulster's third goal, beating Roche with a clean strike after being teed up by McCann.
A fine score from Ruairi Canavan stretched Ulster's lead to nine points on the cusp of half-time, but they were thankful to goalkeeper Ronan McGeehin who made a crucial save to deny Aaron Lynch moments before the break.
Tyrone star Darragh Canavan (right) registered 0-5 in Ulster University's victory against UCD
The Canavan brothers - who finished with a combined nine points - both pointed early in the second half to move Ulster 11 points ahead, before UCD began to mount a comeback.
Cregg and Garland exchanged four points between them, with Liam Castello then adding a point from play to cut the gap to six points.
Roscommon's Cregg registered UCD's sixth consecutive point with Josh Largo Ellis replying for Ulster with a much-needed point.
Garland and Cregg kept the chance of a remarkable comeback alive with two more points, before Ruairi Canavan landed a free to move Ulster five points ahead.
Cregg finished on 0-9 when he reduced Ulster's lead to four points, but Eamon Brown and Darragh Canavan registered two late scores to clinch a first Sigerson Cup for Ulster since 2008.