DCU's power packed bench crush UUJ

DCU: 0-17

UUJ: 1-05

A powerful second half performance from DCU’s star studded side ended UUJ’s  chances of reaching the final for the second year running.

The O’Byrne Cup winners have an unrivalled strength in depth and they were able to call on the services of inter county stars David Kelly and Michael Murphy to help them turn around their performance in the second half.

The first half was evenly contested and a well taken shot by UUJ’s Antoin McFadden gave fellow Donegal start Michael Boyle no chance in the DCU net. The northern team went into the break a point ahead, 1-3 to 0-5, with no hint of what was to come.

Jordanstown faded badly in the second half and could only manage to add two more points to that tally. DCU’s ability to spring inter county stars from the bench contributed to that.

A power packed DCU performance helped them to take control in midfield with Fiontán O’Curraoin running the show. All-Ireland winning Dublin star Paul O’Flynn had another good day scoring four points.

His Dublin teammate Eoghan O’Gara was causing problems for the Jordanstown defence, winning frees which the reliable boot of Dean Rock converted with metronomic precision.

UUJ reverted to piling bodies behind the ball but they looked bereft of ideas in attack and the loss of Tyrone forward Matty Donnelly early in the second half was a huge blow to their chances of winning.

DCU are now overwhelming favourites to win today’s final.

Scorers – DCU: D Rock 0-8 (6f); P Flynn 0-4; P McMahon 0-1; N Collins 0-1; C Begley 0-1; D Kelly 0-1; M Murphy 0-1 (f). UUJ: A McArdle 1-0; C McGinley 0-2; P Hughes 0-2; D McNulty 0-1.

DCU: M Boyle; P McMahon; K Gavin; E Culligan; J McCarthy; J Cooper; N Collins; F O Curraoin (F O’Shea 46); C Begley; P Flynn (C Sheridan 52); D Rock (D Kelly 55); D Keenan; J Brady; E O'Gara; A McFadden (M Murphy 43).

UUJ: S McCormack; R McNabb; R Pickering; A McClean; E Wade; G McCartan; C McGinley; N McAdam; A McArdle; M Donnelly (C Donnelly 41); L McLoone; P Hughes; P Devlin; K Hughes; D McNulty.

Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).