Mayo GAA star helps college team into Sigerson Cup final

MAYO defender Sam Callinan helped UCD into the Sigerson Cup final when they defeated TU Dublin on penalties following a thrilling semi-final in Abbotstown on Wednesday night.

The Ballina man came off the bench during the first half and made a telling contribution as the 34-times champions came from behind to win the game when Roscommon's Ben O'Carroll blasted home the decisive penalty kick.

Holding his nerve having earlier missed a penalty in the first round of kicks, the St Brigid's clubman slammed the ball to the net to conclude a sudden death epic.

READ: ‘We need to get better’ - Kevin McStay reacts to Mayo’s ten-point defeat to Galway

Between the teams they took 16 penalties with just nine of them scored and seven wasted.

Barry McNulty was another hero for the winners as he slotted one of the crucial penalties and earlier converted a point from an advanced mark in the 82nd minute to take the game to penalties.

The match, played under the old rules, was a defensive war for long periods.

At half time, UCD led 0-3 to 0-1 at half time but TUD came back into it and went ahead as the game reached a conclusion. However, Leitrim star Barry McNulty kicked a point at the death for UCD to send the game to penalties.

The penalty shootout saw TU Dublin convert their first two spot-kicks, while UCD scored their first and missed their second.

READ: Anne Marie Flynn: A day of deep dissatisfaction for Mayo

UCD's goalkeeper Killian Roche then kept UCD in it when he denied Sean Jones the opportunity to extend TUD's lead, but UCD had their next penalty saved and seemed to be on the way out.

They were on the brink of elimination when TU Dublin’s Jordan Morris coolly slotted home to make it 3-1 and Barry McNulty had to score to keep UCD alive. He did so and it was then down to his goalkeeper Roche, to write himself in Sigerosn lore.

First, he saved Darragh Lovett's effort and then stepped forward to score his own penalty to leave it 3-3 and send the game to sudden death.

Roche pulled off another save at the start of sudden-death and then had the chance to win it himself but his second penalty was saved by his opposite number Jack Rodgers.

However, TUD missed their next penalty and Ben O’Carroll drilled the ball to the net to send UCD to the final.

The Dublin students will now have high hopes of making up for last year's final defeat to Ulster University.

Next Wednesday's decider could even be a repeat of the 2024 showpiece as Ulster University will take on DCU in the second semi-final this evening in Cavan.

The reigning champions will hope to have Tyrone star Ruairi Canavan available for tonight's game while DCU will have tow Mayo men in their ranks, Darragh Joyce from Claremorris and Westport's Finbar McLaughlin.