Fleming and Kelly shine as TUS Midlands claim another victory
MTU Cork 1-12 TUS Midlands 0-17
TUS Midlands have been drawn against DCU Dóchas Éireann in the quarter-finals of the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup.
The match is scheduled to take place next Wednesday night, January 29 with the Dublin side having home advantage (see full draw at end of article).
Caulry's Senan Baker is part of the Dublin City University Dóchas Éireann squad but it remains to be seen if he will be involved in next week's game, having sustained an injury recently.
TUS Midlands made it two wins from two games as they defeated MTU Cork in their Sigerson Cup clash at MTU Cork on Wednesday night of last week.
A late goal from Cathal Deely gave MTU a chance of getting back on level terms but it wasn’t to be, despite the best efforts of the impressive Edward Myers in the second half.
TUS Midlands were worthy winners in an impressive team display, with Westmeath duo Brandon Kelly and Shane Fleming outstanding in their attack. Defensively, they made life difficult all through for MTU, with the returning Daniel Farrell rock solid at full-back.
The Athlone based side had the first real opportunity to take the lead but Ronan Cashman saved well from Oisin Flynn. The first score came after seven minutes when Alan Dunwoody opened the scoring for MTU and David Buckley added a second from the restart.
TUS got off the mark after 10 minutes when a sweeping move, involving Matthew Whittaker and Brian Cooney, set up Brandon Kelly to score. From the restart they should have taken the lead when Shane Fleming pounced on a poor kick-out, but his effort hit the side netting.
Buckley increased MTU’s lead and a second from Dunwoody saw the home side in front by 0-4 to 0-1, after 16 minutes. Mark Gibson and Fleming were on target for the visitors, with Keith O’Driscoll replying to put the home side two up again, 0-5 to 0-3.
But TUS finished the half strongly, with Darragh Flynn setting up Gibson to score. Just on the stroke of half-time, Brían Cooney scored to see the sides level at 0-5 apiece.
Kelly put TUS in front just 30 seconds in the second half as they started the better of the two sides after the break.
Edward Myers had the sides level for the second time with a well taken point. But it didn’t take TUS long to retake the lead, with Gibson scoring from a free after 36 minutes. Another free from him and a third from play put TUS three to the good, 0-9 to 0-6 with 40 minutes gone.
Dunwoody pulled a point back for MTU but Whittaker replied at the other end to keep TUS in control. Myers and Gibson exchanged frees, before the former scored to make it 0-12 to 0-9.
Myers made it three in a row for him to put two between the sides, but again David Martin's charges responded with Kelly scoring to keep three between them.
With time running out TUS were 0-17 to 0-12 to the good, before a late goal from Cathal Deely gave MTU a chance, but time was against them and the visitors held out for the win.
Scorers - TUS Midlands: M Gibson 0-6 (3f), B Kelly, S Fleming and B Cooney 0-3 each, M Whittaker and D Flynn 0-1 each. MTU Cork: C Deely 1-0, E Myers 0-6 (2f), D Buckley 0-2 (1f), A Dunwoody 0-3, K O’Driscoll 0-1.
TUS Midlands: Eoin Moran (Maryland, Westmeath); Darragh McVann (Summerhill, Meath), Daniel Farrell (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon), Jack Dowd (Annaghdown, Galway); Oisin Kenny (Ferbane, Offaly), Declan Kenny (Pádraig Pearses), Matthew Whittaker (Tubberclair, Westmeath); Sean Kelly (Mountbellew-Moylough, Galway), Simon Finn (Ballinabrackey, Meath); Oisin Flynn (Castleconnor, Sligo), Shane Fleming (Coralstown-Kinnegad, Westmeath), Brían Cooney (Coralstown-Kinnegad); Brandon Kelly (Milltownpass, Westmeath), Mark Gibbons (Garrymore, Mayo), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane). Subs used: Cillian Plunkett (St Loman’s, Westmeath) for O Flynn (52), Cillian Hunt (Parnells, Dublin) for S Fleming (59).
MTU Cork: Ronan Cashman (Kanturk, Cork); Cian O’Donoghue (St Mary’s, Kerry), Sean Brady (Ballygarvan, Cork), Mark Casey (Templenoe, Kerry); Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins, Limerick), Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary), Sean Dore (Ballincollig, Cork); Hugh Murphy (Éire Óg, Cork), Sean Browne (Castlehaven, Cork); Conor O’Neill (Canovee, Cork), Edward Myers (Noamh Aban, Cork), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler, Tipperary); Keith O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), Alan Dunwoody (Kilcrossanty, Limerick), David Buckley (Newcestown, Cork). Subs used: Kane Murphy (St Vincent’s, Cork) for C O’Donoghue (26 inj), Charlie Keating (Dr Crokes, Kerry) for D Buckley, Darragh O’Brien (Glanworth, Cork) for B Comerford (both ht), Adam Myler (Parnells, Dublin) for K O’Driscoll (44), Jamie O’Driscoll (Castlehaven, Cork) for S Browne (55).
Referee: Eoin Morrissey, Waterford.