Ait pass trinity test to set up ucd clash

 

Athlone IT 3-10 Trinity College Dublin 0-10

Athlone IT recorded an emphatic win over Trinity College Dublin in their Sigerson Cup preliminary round clash last Wednesday.

In a game played in bitterly cold conditions at the Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA grounds in Ringsend, AIT always looked in control but they will have to improve significantly for the next round against UCD.

The meeting with a formidable looking UCD outfit is due to be played in Belfield next Tuesday, February 3 (throw-in: 3pm). The draw had ordained that the winner of this game would be at home in the next round but, due to a home and away arrangement between the colleges, UCD will have home advantage.

Last year, a John Heslin inspired UCD defeated AIT in Athlone and it will be a very difficult assignment for Tom Coffey's charges to overturn that result next week.

There were five Westmeath players in AIT’s starting line-up on Wednesday last – the half back line of James Dolan, Kieran Martin and Jack Donohue, while team captain Ger Egan and David Whelan were in the half forward line. AIT attacked with purpose from the half back line and Garrycastle’s Donohue was among those to get on the scoresheet in the first half.

Tubberclair’s Alan Coffey sat the game out for AIT as he was suffering from flu, while Ballymore’s Sam Moran was introduced as a substitute in the second half.

Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin was in attendance and he will have been relieved to see his players come through unscathed – as Westmeath take on Laois in the opening round of the Allianz Football League at Cusack Park this Sunday.

Early goals by Kerry’s Cillian Fitzgerald and Roscommon’s Kieran Kilcline gave AIT a 2-1 to 0-2 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

Fitzgerald’s goal came after an incisive move involving Dan Queeney and Ger Egan, while Kilcline’s strike was a superb individual effort.

Indeed, AIT could easily have scored more goals on the day and Trinity were indebted to some excellent saves from Ross O’Hanlon.

Trinity were aided by the biting wind in the opening half but although Tiernan Daly and Eoin Keogh landed long range points, AIT still led 2-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

All doubt was removed about the outcome by virtue of a bizarre goal from Maryland’s Kieran Martin (37th minute).

AIT were rewarded a penalty when midfielder Colm O’Brien was fouled. Ger Egan took the spotkick but his effort was brilliantly saved by Ross O’Hanlon. In the follow-up, Fitzgerald was denied and a ‘45’ eventually resulted. Martin took the ‘45’ and his kick deceived O’Hanlon – who presumably thought the ball was going over the bar – and ended up in the top corner of the net.

Offaly’s Paul McPadden kept Trinity in touch from frees, but as those on the sideline struggled against the severe cold, a comeback was never on the cards.

Three players were shown black cards by referee David Gough – AIT’s James Dolan and Michael Day and Shane Byrne of Trinity.

Scorers – AIT: K Kilcline 1-4 (0-1f); C Fitzgerald 1-1; K Martin 1-0 (‘45’); G Egan 0-3 (2f); J Donohue and D Whelan 0-1 each. TCD: P McPadden 0-7 (7f); T Daly, E Keogh and J Kavanagh (f) 0-1 each.

Athlone IT: Mark Langtry; Eoin Kerins, Stephen Flynn, Darren Farrelly; James Dolan, Kieran Martin, Jack Donohue; Michael Day, Colm O’Brien; David Whelan, Ger Egan, Dan Wharton; Cillian Fitzgerald, Dan Queeney, Kieran Kilcline. Subs: Anton Sullivan for D Wharton (h-t); Jack Wharton for Dolan (BC, 39 mins); Sam Moran for Queeney (43); Michael Kearney for Day (BC, 50); Killian Rudden for Donohue (53).

Trinity College Dublin: Ross O’Hanlon; Gareth Deery, Mick O’Grady, Sean Mulhern; Gary O’Donohoe, Tiernan Daly, James McPadden; Shane Byrne, Eoin Keogh; Mark Regan, John Lane, David Boothman; Paul McPadden, Brendan Murray, John Kavanagh. Subs: Brian Flynn for Boothman (33 mins); Sean Wogan for Byrne (BC, 37); Colm Mac Gearailt for Murray (46); Colin Ryan for Lane (55).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).