DCU secure historic win
Tuesday 17 January 2006

Barry Horgan, DCU, shoots goalwards against Carlow

A cold and breezy Sunday afternoon in early January in Carlow is hardly an enthralling prospect for any sports team to find itself in, but it was exactly that scenario in which DCU secured their first senior inter county scalp in competitive fare.

Despite the furore about registrations late last year, as well as the suspended players, more players unavailable due to exams, the scoring boots of Sean Johnstone and Bernard Brogan ensured that DCU easily overcame a disappointing Carlow side in the Quarter Finals of the O?Byrne Shield and will now progress to the penultimate stage where they will face either Wicklow or UCD.

Both sides started out well and swapped scores during the opening stages, but Carlow were unable to break down a resilient DCU defence. Attack after attack were broken down by the DCU defence with the full back line in exceptional form, Gary Mullins, Kevin Reilly and Brian O?Reilly ensured that Colm Munnelly would experience a quiet day between the sticks.

The all Dublin half back line of Paul Casey, Bryan Cullen and Declan Lally were the foundation of the victory. The experience of Cullen and Casey was evident as any loose ball or wayward pass seemed to be attracted to their grasp and comfortably dealt with. Lally?s switch from wing forward to wing back proved a master stroke as he made a number of penetrating runs forward one of which provided the score of the game for Sean Johnstone

Up front the students had to deal with the loss of both Conor Mortimor and Brendan Egan through injury but it proved to be Johnstone and Brogan who stepped up to the mark. Johnstone finished with a personal tally of seven points, and Brogan chipped in with two points of his own.

Liam Moffett ensured that the Carlow goalkeeper Gerry McGill would have to work for his clean sheet when the Donegal born stopper got down well to repel the Mayo mans goal bound effort.

DCU ran out winners by nine points, but one slight worry for the management will be the distinct lack of goal scoring chances with only Moffett?s effort really troubling the former UCD net minders afternoon.

With four weeks to their opening game in the Sigerson Cup, they will be looking for a harder test than that provided by the home side. With potential Sigerson opponents UCD a possibility for the upcoming semi final, should they overcome Wicklow, here is where the mind games will start.

Scorers: Sean Johnstone (0-7, 0-2 frees), Bernard Brogan (0-3), Declan Lally, Barry Horgan, Kevin Devine, Brendan Egan (0-1).

Dublin City University: Colm Munnelly (Laois), Brian O?Reilly (Meath), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Gary Mullins (Mayo), Paul Casey (Dublin), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Declan Lally (Dublin), Eoin Lennon (Monaghan), Ross McConnell (Dublin), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Brendan Egan (Sligo), Ronan Carroll (Louth), Conor Mortimer (Mayo), Liam Moffett (Mayo), Seán Johnson (Cavan). Subs: Michael Savage (Dublin), Kevin Devine (Dublin), Rónán Flanagan (Cavan), Barry Horgan (Dublin), John Geoghegan (Meath), Tiarnan Diamond (Dublin), Mark McNally (Monaghan), Christopher Guckian (Dublin), Darrach Mooney (Monaghan), Daragh Pelly (Dublin), Brian Carson (Dublin).