No Aidan Walsh, no Michael Boyle, but DCU still had plenty of other big names to call on as they eased into the quarter-finals of the Sigerson Cup.
The pair were informed on Tuesday that they were ineligible to play for DCU in their defence of the competition, but such is the strength-in-depth of Niall Moyna’s squad that the home side hardly broke sweat in overcoming Queen’s.
Michael Murphy, ever the focal point of the DCU set-up, delivered a master class with the right boot, kicking nine points over the hour, but he was well supported by the likes of Dean Rock, Paul Flynn and Antoin McFadden.
The visitors enjoyed the backing of a strong wing in the opening period, but it was DCU who controlled the tempo, edging one clear by the end by the first quarter thanks in the main to Murphy (two free’s) and Dean Rock.
That said, there was little or nothing to separate the sides for the remainder of the half as Murphy, Rock and Antoin McFadden traded efforts with Queens’ Christy Sheerin, Shay McArdle and James Kielt.
Murphy, with his fourth of the afternoon, ensured DCU headed to the dressing room in front and with the elements in their favour for the second thirty, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
Two James Kielt efforts either side of a Michael Murphy free squared matters at 0-8 apiece early in the second half, but DCU almost nonchalantly pushed the acceleration button and eight unanswered points subsequently all but ended the game as a contest.
This was DCU at their enterprising best, winning primary ball all over the field, working it cleverly into shooting positions and popping over a string of points from open play and free’s.
Murphy (3), Paul Flynn along with substitutes Jack McCarron, Donal Smith and Chris McGuinness (2) all got in on the scoring act as DCU romped to a comfortable victory.
UCD provide the quarter-final opposition and even without the services of Walsh and Boyle, the North Dublin University will take some stopping.
Eoghan Cormican at St Clare’s
DCU: J Farrelly, W Lowry, J Cooper, C Daly, J McCarthy, J Brady, M Quinn, F O Curraoin, P O’Hanlon, P Flynn (0-1), B Donnelly, A McFadden (0-1), D Rock (0-2), M Murphy (0-9, 0-3 free’s, 0-1 ’45), P Ryan; Subs: D Smith (0-1) for Donnelly (14 mins), P Dooney for Ryan (41 mins), C McGuiness (0-2) for McCarthy (42 mins), J McCarron (0-1) for Rock (49 mins).
QUB: M Jackson, O Costello, G McGovern, P Quinn, J O’Reilly, B Cox, R Mallon, R Jones, J Kielt (0-5, 0-4 free’s), N McKenna, C Rafferty, C Sheerin (0-1), D O’Hare, E McVerry, S McArdle (0-3, 0-2 free’s); Subs: H Conlon for Sheerin (HT), R Rafferty for McKenna (44 mins).
Referee: N Mooney
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