No joy for Keaney & UL in Sigerson Cup Final

After a campaign that earned him a lot of plaudits in the college GAA world, there was disappointment for St Mary's Kiltoghert and Leitrim star Paul Keaney as his University of Limerick side lost to University College Cork after an extra time thriller in the Sigerson Cup Final played at a rainswept SETU Waterford on Wednesday night.

With Keaney's Leitrim teammmate Donal Casey missing out due to a hamstring injury sustained in the opening round of the Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign, the St Mary's clubman was Leitrim's sole interest in the Final as UCC prevailed 1-16 to 0-16 after extra-time on Wednesday evening.

The Cork college led 1-5 to 0-6 at the break, the crucial score seeing Dylan Geaney reacting smartly to fist a low long range free to the UL net. Keaney scored three points during the first half, all from frees, while he also had three misses from placed balls as he started from the middle of the park.

St Mary's Kiltoghert celebrate in style at dinner dance in The Landmark Hotel

Over 300 attend night of celebration

UCC stretched their lead to five points with the first three points of the second half but seven unanswered scores from UL got them back in front as they made good use of the strong wind. UCC came back, hitting three to go in front but with the sides trading injury time points, UL forced extra-time with a dramatic leveller.

Sigerson Cup Player of the Tournament

Paul Keaney is Mr. Consistent

Final (0-3) Vs UCC
SF (0-2) Vs DCU
QF (0-7) Vs Uni of Galway
Rd 3 (0-2) Vs SETU Carlow
Rd 2 (0-3) Vs TU Dublin
Rd 1 (0-2) vs UCC pic.twitter.com/Nutby8h83n

— Score Beo (@Score_Beo) February 15, 2023

In extra-time, UCC hit three points in the first period of extra time with UL, who had withdrawn Keaney with two minutes of normal time remaining, replying with a solitary point. UCC would seal their win with a solitary point in the second period of extra-time as UL finished with 13 players after two black cards in the closing stages.

The St Mary's man ended up as joint third top scorer in the Sigerson Cup with 22 points, 16 from frees and one from a 45, behind UCD's David Garland from Monaghan who scored a remarkable 5-20, 5-7 from play.

However, there is some small consolation for Keaney with his performances earning rave reviews on social media with many sites including him on lists of the top players from the Sigerson Cup Tournament.

9. Paul Keaney - UL - Leitrim

Keaney is definitely one of the contenders for footballer of the tournament. The Leitrim man was UL’s top scorer with a tally of 0-22.

He’s a very reliable shooter, that’s a top class kick passer and an excellent ball winner. pic.twitter.com/6zfsIlnjdM

— GAA Editz (@Gaa_editz) February 16, 2023

Keaney is expected to link up with his Leitrim teammates for next Sunday's trip to Chadwicks Wexford Park where Andy Moran's side take on Wexford in the third round of the Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign.