Galligan goal paves the way for decisive AIT win

The torrential rain that had doused Limerick City on Tuesday evening rendered underfoot conditions extremely difficult for this Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup clash at the UL campus on Wednesday last. Forty-two frees were awarded over the course of the hour by referee Brian Tyrell, in a game that betrayed much honest endeavour for a want of fluidity and style. In the end, it was the men from the midlands who best mastered the muck - Cavan corner-forward Ray Galligan's 41st minute goal being the crucial score - as they saw off the challenge of the home side by a margin of seven. Galligan had opened Athlone IT's account four minutes in with a beautifully-struck fifty yard free. UL answered immediately with a placed ball of their own, converted by Mike Tim O'Sullivan of Kerry. It was the turn of the other corner-forwards to exchange scores next, as Frank Burke of Athlone and Enda Varley of Limerick registered their first points of the day. Mayoman Varley was UL's only consistent scoring threat throughout the game, and would notch four more points before half-time. Fellow countyman Paul Doherty was in fine fettle for the Athlone side, latching onto numerous breaks from big midfielder Brian Connors on his way to scoring two first-half points from play. UL led by the minimum going into the second quarter of play, and another Varley free saw them stretch the lead to two on 18 minutes. Athlone IT responded with four points of their own - one each from Doherty and Galligan followed by two cracking efforts by centre-forward David Egan of Offaly. His opposite number Philip Austin of Tipperary rounded off the first-half scoring leaving the Westmeath side in front at the break by one, 0-7 to 0-6. Nemo Rangers clubman David Niblock saw an effort for a goal screech agonisingly over the crossbar just after the resumption. A green flag for UL at that point may well have altered the course of the game, as Athlone IT capitalised on the reprieve in fine style during the third quarter. Their half-time lead of one had grown to six by the 45-minute mark, punctuated by two Ray Galligan points and another from John Reynolds. Galligan's goal was the central moment in this particular scoring run - a powerful drive that beat UL keeper Shane Thornton low to his right. To their credit, the Limerick side did not dwell long upon the concession of the goal. Enda Varley, who had been subdued somewhat by the Athlone IT backs in the second period, burst onto a loose ball on the twenty-metre line and was bundled over by AIT full-back Diarmuid Masterson. Varley kicked the resultant penalty himself, expertly slotting it past Westmeath netminder Gary Connaughton. The goal gave new hope to the UL challenge, but they still struggled in the middle third of the field against the dominant Athlone IT pairing of Ger Dennigan and Brian Connors. Athlone were playing much better football at this stage, and could consider themselves a tad unlucky to be only three ahead heading into the final quarter. John Reynolds fired them into a four-point lead on forty-seven minutes. The margin was subsequently bettered to six by Ger Dennigan and Paul Doherty before Enda Varley had UL's final score of the hour. Reynolds added another to his tally, and it fell to Galway's Frank Burke to close out the scoring with his second of the day. Referee Brian Tyrell was heavily subject to the conditions underfoot as the large free-count indicates, but to his credit he marshalled the contest well and was compelled to brandish the yellow card on just two occasions - UL's Fintan Coffey and Sean Higgins of Athlone IT both finding their way into the notebook. Athlone will be satisfied that of their total of 1-15, just four points came from frees. They will be encouraged also by the fact that five of the six forwards managed to find the scoresheet, a feat that was testament to the sharpness of their passing from the back. The high-fielding skills of Brian Connors were particularly impressive, and this ability to win primary possession from kick-outs was paramount to the attacking continuity they enjoyed against a UL defence that often struggled. UL's inside forwards did look dangerous during the early stages - full-forward David Niblock dropped deep and functioned more as a fourth half-forward which freed up space for the corner-men to work with - but save for the diminutive Varley none of the host's attackers enjoyed the better of their men. It was an especially impressive outing for Athlone half-backs Matthew Mitchell and Kevin Smith, who comprehensively nullified the threat posed by Mark Cahalane and Paul Larkin respectively. Athlone now progress to meet Sligo IT in the quarter-final to be played on February 17. SCORERS - Athlone IT: R. Galligan 1-5 (0-4f); P. Doherty 0-3; D. Egan, F. Burke, J. Reynolds 0-2 each; G. Dennigan 0-1. University of Limerick: E. Varley 1-5 (0-5f, 1-0 pen); P. Austin, D. Niblock, M.T. O'Sullivan 0-1 each. Athlone IT: G. Connaughton (Westmeath); S. Higgins (Roscommon), D. Masterson (Longford), James Reynolds (Westmeath); M. Mitchell (Offaly), D. Considine (Clare), K. Smith (Longford); G. Dennigan (Longford), B. Connors (Offaly); P. Doherty (Mayo), D. Egan (Offaly), A. Burke (Westmeath); F. Burke (Galway), John Reynolds (Offaly), R. Galligan (Cavan). Subs: C. Blake (Galway) for A. Burke; P Bannon (Westmeath) for D Egan; D. Cash (Kildare) for Dennigan. University of Limerick: S. Thornton (Kerry); F. Fitzgerald (Kerry), P. Codd (Tipperary), R. Brady (Roscommon); S. Lonergan (Offaly), G. O'Donnell (Galway), D. Rattigan (Galway); S. O'Shea (Mayo), A. Moloney (Tipperary); M. Cahalane (Cork), P. Austin (Tipperary), P. Larkin (Meath); E. Varley (Mayo), D. Niblock (Cork), M. T O'Sullivan (Kerry). Subs: F. Coffey (Kerry) for M. Cahalane; B. Fox (Tipperary) for M. T O'Sullivan; J. Lyne (Kerry) for D. Rattigan; P. Kennelly (Kerry) for F. Coffey; P. Carroll (Cork) for P. Larkin. Referee: Brian Tyrell (Tipperary).