Finnerty puts on a show as ATU Donegal well beaten by DCU in Sigerson Cup opener

DCU were comprehensive winners at ATU Donegal in their Sigerson Cup opener on a bitterly cold night in Convoy.

ATU Donegal 1-7 DCU 4-15

With Rob Finnerty turning in a stylish performance for DCU with 2-3 and Conor Corbett having also scored an early goal, there were nine points between the sides even after an early Keelan McGroddy goal for ATU. Lorcan O’Dell was another who impressed and he added a third goal on 42 minutes before Finnegan rounded it off.

The pitch and indeed the secondary field at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy went under intense inspections from match referee Kieran Eannetta and his team, with throw-in delayed for half-an-hour.

Eventually, the decision was made to narrow in the main pitch, with one sideline particularly wet, with even Michael Murphy - the former Donegal captain, DCU student and Head of Sport at ATU Donegal - doing his bit to sweep off the excess water.

When the action did get underway some 35 minutes late, it was the home side who managed to fashion a goal as early as the fourth minute. DCU claimed a foul in the lead-up but play was waved on and Keelan McGroddy cut inside and slipped a goal underneath David O’Hanlon.

Home from home as Glenfin's Ross Marley helps DCU overcome ATU Donegal

Ross Marley from Glenfin is one of six Donegal men in the DCU Sigerson Cup panel and tonight they opened their campaign in impressive style in Convoy against ATU Donegal

However, as early as the eighth minute, Conor Corbett of DCU rasped home a goal following a pass by Matthew Costello and it was 1-2 to 1-0 to Paddy Christie’s team. They added another goal just two minutes later, with Finnerty seeing Jonathan Toye off his line and lobbed in a superb second DCU goal, which brought a warm applause on the cold night, regardless of who was supporting who.

That put DCU 2-2 to 1-0 in front and the gulf could’ve been more when Walsh broke through and shot, only to see Toye in the ATU Donegal goal save well. At the other end, Liam Gaughan and Jack McSharry scores brought the hosts back to within a goal. However, DCU then spun off six points in succession to reaffirm their control, 2-8 to 1-2 in front by the 23rd minute.

Conor O’Donnell finally put an end to that run with a fine score three minutes before the break, only for Lorcan O'Dell to post his second of the half having evaded a series of challenges at the other end. At half-time, DCU were comfortable, with an advantage of 2-9 to 1-3.

Late in the half, St Eunan’s Shane O’Donnell came off the bench for DCU to join Termon’s Jamie Grant on familiar territory. Ross Marley from Glenfin would get a run.

ATU Donegal made their exit from the HE Senior Football League Division 1 campaign following a dramatic encounter against Dublin City University at the quarter-final stage at St Claire’s in Drumcondra in November. Maxi Curran’s side looked to be crashing to a heavy defeat as they trailed by 10 points at the break but managed to produce a stirring second half to tie the game up at 2-15 to 3-12 to force extra-time.

However, it was DCU who prevailed on a 4-14 to 2-18 scoreline. In Convoy, it looked as though ATU Donegal needed to pull a similar rabbit out of the hat with a nine-point deficit. However, when O’Dell worked himself into a scoring position to score a third DCU goal 12 minutes into part two, it made for a 3-10 to 1-4 cushion.

Finnerty, seven minutes later, rounded off a flowing move to smash past Toye, with ATU Donegal at that stage looking like they wished it was postponed as they trailed 4-13 to 1-6, with McSharry scoring a couple of McSharry points.

ATU scorers: Keelan McGroddy 1-0; Jack McSharry 0-2; Liam Gaughan, Conor O’Donnell, Mark McAteer 0-1; Joel Bradley Walsh 0-1, 1f.
DCU scorers: Rob Finnerty 2-3, 1f; Lorcan O'Dell 1-4; Conor Corbett 1-2; Shane Walsh 0-2, 2f; Alex Beirne, Matthew Costello, Paraic Hughes, Sean Jones 0-1,

ATU Donegal: Jonathan Toye (Naomh Padraig); Ferdia Doherty (Naomh Muire), Dylan Dorrian (Milford), Aaron Gillooley (Sean MacCumhaill’s); Kealan Dunleavy (Glenswilly), Kieran Tobin (St Eunan’s), Keelan McGroddy (Downings); Jason McGee (Cloughaneely), Ryan McFadden (Termon); Jack McSharry (Na Cealla Beaga), Conor O'Donnell (Carndonagh), Liam Gaughan (Tourlestrane, Sligo); Mark McAteer (Gaeil Fhánada), Joel Bradley Walsh (Sean MacCumhaill’s), Beanón Corrigan (Geraldines GFC, Louth). Subs: Eoin Dowling (St Eunan’s) for Corrigan (half-time), Jack Gillespie (Naomh Muire) for McFadden (52), Conal McDermott (St Mary’s Convoy) for Doherty (56), Blake McGarvey (Cloughaneely) and Cian Rooney (Aodh Ruadh) for O’Donnell and McGee (58), Darragh McMenamin (Red Hughs) for McGroddy (60).

DCU: David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna); Tomas Crean (Creggs, Roscommon), (Sean Fitzgerald Barna, Galway), Jamie Grant (Termon, Donegal); Paraic Hughes (Kilanerin, Wexford), Conor Brady (Gowna, Cavan), PJ Masterson (Abbeylara, Longford); Bill Carroll (Cappincur, Offaly), Matthew Costello (Dunshaughlin, Meath); Keelin McGann (Kenagh, Longford), Shane Walsh (Na Fianna, Meath), Alex Beirne (Naas, Kildare); Lorcan O'Dell (Templeogue Synge Street, Dublin), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers, Cork), Robert Finnerty, (Salthill Knocknacarra, Galway). Subs: Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s, Donegal) for McGann (29), Ross Marley (Glenfin, Donegal) and Sean Jones (Inishkeen Grattens, Monaghan) for Grant and Corbett (52), Mark Cully (Carbury, Kildare) for Walsh (57).

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)