ATU Sligo produced a gutsy home performance in the Sigerson Cup on Wednesday night to beat Munster Technological University Kerry in dreadful weather conditions at Ballinode on a final scoreline of 4-6 to 0-12.
The result ensures Sligo's participation in next season's blue ribband event of third level gaelic football.
Despite trailing by 0-4 to 0-0 after the opening quarter-final, largely thanks to some excellent long-range free-taking by Kerry's All-Ireland winner Tony Brosnan, ATU found the Kerry net after a couple of near misses which changed the momentum of the game.
The sides were level at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval - but three second-half goals from team captain Joe Keaney, Jack Davitt (penalty) and Aaron Kellaghan propelled the home team to victory.
Davitt, who missed a key part of the club season for St Molaise Gaels due to a shoulder injury, was making his competitive return in this game and his second-half penalty conversion was a key score.
Davitt's clubmate and ATU Sligo team captain Joe Keaney spoke to Austin O'Callaghan after the win.
ATU Sligo will now face ST Mary's (the Ranch) of Belfast in round 2 of the Sigerson Cup next Tuesday (Jan 17th).
Kerry will get a second chance in the competition as they will take on Ulster University in a back-door game.
Team manager Benji Drummond gave this postmatch assessment to Ocean FM Sport.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Sligo duo Nathan Mullen and Evan Lyons were part of the NUI Galway team who began their Sigerson title defence with a 3-10 to 1-6 win over Maynooth.
Wednesday's Sigerson Cup Rd 1 results
ATU Sligo 4-6 MTU Kerry 0-12
NUI Galway (holders) 3-10 Maynooth 1-6
UCC 0-10 UL 2-7
TU Dublin 1-13 ATU Galway 0-9
