Sigerson Cup: Galway stalwart Cooke turns up heat on Queen's

Galway midfielder Peter Cooke hit four second-half points to steer NUIG through to the third round of the Sigerson Cup.

The Moycullen man's quality came to the fore in wet conditions in Belfast to inflict a second one-point loss on Queen's in the space of three days. This time it was fatal, with the Belfast side exiting the competition after this back-door qualifier, while NUIG will go on to play Garda College next Wednesday.

NUIG led by just 1-3 to 0-5 at the break at the Dub, with Cein Darcy's 17th-minute goal looking like a big score, but Queen's had the better of things either side of the break.

A goal by captain Calum O'Neill five minutes into the second half, blasting James McMahon's pass high into the net at the back post, put Queen's ahead for the first time.

But NUIG responded brilliantly, scoring five unanswered points to take control with Cooke instrumental with two fine points from play followed by two frees.

Kieran Molloy scored the best point of the game with a slice off the outside of his right boot from a tricky angle to extend their lead to 1-8 to 1-5. Conor Martin kept Queen's in touch with two late frees but NUIG's defence held out.

Scorers - Queen 's: C O'Neill 1-1, C Martin 0-2 (2f), C McCloskey, D Guinness, J McMahon, R Treanor (f) 0-1 each. NUIG: P Cooke 0-4 (2f), C Darcy 1-0, K Molloy, N Mullen, O Gallagher, R Finnerty (f) 0-1 each.

Queen's - A Hasson; C McCloskey, O Lappin, N Keenan; N Rafferty, D McKeever, J McCann; R Campbell, B Crealey; C O'Neill, R Treanor, D Guinness; J McAuley, J Smith, J McMahon. Subs: P O'Connor for Crealey (39), C Martin for Treanor (43), K Hughes for Smith (58).

NUIG - A Brady; S Brennan, S Mulkerrin, K McDonnell; K Molloy, R Greene, P O'Donnell; P Cooke, C Darcy; N Mullen, B Donovan, E Tierney; R Finnerty, J Robinson, O Gallagher. Subs: J Maher for Donovan (h-t), G Canavan for Finnerty (39), K Quinn for Robinson (49).

Ref - M McNally (Monaghan)

Irish Independent