An early goal and two late strikes from Joel Bradley Walsh wasn’t enough for LYIT as they lost in the Sigerson Cup to University of Limerick at the Connacht GAA Air Dome in Mayo.
LYIT 3-15 UL 2-23
Much like the goals, LYIT started superbly and were 5 points up after 10 minutes.
A late push, with 2-05 in the final quarter from the Letterkenny side still wasn’t enough as a David Clifford inspired performance gave UL the win.
Clifford scored an astounding 2-10 for UL as his side pressed on and showed their quality in the middle part of the game.
The Kerry superstar gave UL the lead after just over 2 minutes.
It took LYIT 7 minutes to get their breakthrough point but they built on this quickly as Peadar Mogan burst forward and played a quick 1-2 with Jack Gallagher and scored from a tight angle.
UL played a short kick out and Joel Bradley Walsh was awake to it, he intercepted the pass and smashed it into the near corner for a great goal.
A long ball was well picked out of the air by Rory O’Donnell who turned and scored another point.
LYIT again won the kick out and Liam Gaughan pointed to give LYIT a commanding 1-03 to 0-01 lead with 9 minutes gone.
Jason McGee raced forward with the ball before playing it to Conor O’Donnell who cut in and his left footed strike went over the bar.
Chris Og Jones got UL their first point in 10 minutes.
Jason McGees free went over from just about the 45 metre line to retain the 6-point lead.
Clifford had the easiest of frees as he got his second point of the game and UL’s third and Connell Dempsey scored a brilliant point just on the water break to make it 1-05 to 0-04 after the first quarter.
Dempsey got his second point as LYIT had wides from a Jason McGee free and Jack McSharry.
Clifford made his third score look easy but McGee one upped him by winning the kick out, running half the pitch and scoring a point instantly.
UL started oozing class as Dempsey scored from play just on the 45-metre line and Dan Gray found space before Clifford levelled the game and got UL ahead with two simple frees.
A second great score from Rory O’Donnell got the Letterkenny side level but another easy Clifford point made it UL 0-11 to LYIT 1-07 at half-time.
UL had an immediate goal chance in the start of the second half but it came to nothing.
LYIT would have two wides before Rory O’Donnell got his third point and a first free.
Jones got his second point immediately after and a 45 from Clifford gave UL a 2 point lead.
A misplaced pass let Eoghan McLaughlin race through but shot just over for a point.
The two O’Donnell’s linked together and St. Eunan’s man Conor played in Rory for point number 4 for the Milford man.
Clifford took a brilliant mark and got another score before Emmet Maguire made a brilliant goal stopping save.
However, seconds later a ball over the top landed to Clifford who got to it before keeper Maguire and he tapped in from a yard out to make it 1-15 to 1-09.
A brilliant score from Mogan was well needed for Maxi Curran’s side but Oisin Looney got a quick point back and Clifford quickly scored another 1-01 after a quick long ball was worked well to the Kerry man who scored at the near post.
Donal O’Sullivan made it 2-18 to 1-10 at the water break.
LYIT needed to go long and go for goals as Joel Bradley Walsh scored another goal and point. He did brilliant as he rose highest, quickly turned and smashed in for his second goal of the game. Ryan McFadden went for goal from a free but it was blocked and went over the bar.
However, Clifford pointed again and two more from O’Sullivan before Kieran Tobin’s first point and Joel made it 2-02 for the game for himself.
Joel Bradley Walsh got his hat trick just at the end of the game with a cool penalty but Dempsey completed the scoring as UL advanced with the final score 2-23 to 3-15
LYIT: Emmet Maguire; Dylan Dorrian, Caolan Ward, Sean Doherty, Jack Gallagher, Oisin Langan, Kieran Tobin (0-01); Ryan McFadden (0-01f), Rory O’Donnell (0-04); Conor O’Donnell (0-01), Jason McGee (0-02,1f), Peader Mogan (0-03), Jack McSharry, Joel Bradley Walsh (3-02), Liam Gaughan (0-01).
UL: Conor Flaherty; Paul Maher, Ciaran Donnelly, James McCarthy, Eoghan McLaughlin(0-01), Sean Powter, Gearoid O’Donovan; Daniel Walsh, Connell Dempsey (0-04); Chris Og Jones (0-02), Emmet McMahon, Ciaran Downes, Donal O’Sullivan(0-03) Dan Gray(0-01), David Clifford(2-10,5f/45).
Subs: Sean McDonnell (0-01) Oisin Looney (0-01)
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
