NUI Galway 1-15 Athlone IT 0-9: Substitute Mark Gottsche's goal killed off Athlone IT's hopes in yesterday's Sigerson Cup clash at Dangan.

Gottsche's cool finish extended Galway's lead to nine points with five minutes remaining as Athlone were left to rue three missed goal chances.

In a star-studded Galway attack, David Conway of Laois hit four points (two frees) while Galway's Matthew Clancy and Mayo's Mark Ronaldson hit three points apiece.

NUIG led 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with Westmeath's David Duffy superb in the middle of the field. Offaly's James Coughlan scored four points for Athlone.

NUI GALWAY: L Grant; P Healy, S Drake, J Healy; C Barrett, I Kilbride, P Dormican; D Duffy, B Guckian; F Breathnach (0-1), M Clancy (0-3), M Ronaldson (0-3); P Broderick (0-2, two frees), S Armstrong (0-1), D Conway (0-4, two frees). Subs: G Cafferky for Kilbride (24 mins); J Connellan (0-1)for Armstrong (34 mins); E Hoare for Guckian (36 mins); M Gottsche (1-0)for Broderick (51 mins); K O'Neill for Domican (69 mins).

ATHLONE IT: D Bryan; S Higgins, F Reilly, A Murtagh; D McInerney, D Flynn, D Murphy; C McHugh, A Arandelovic; J Durkan (0-1), T Phelan (0-2), P Walsh; D Glennon, J Coughlan (0-4, two frees), R Galligan (0-2, both frees). Subs: P Foy for Galligan (43 mins); P Massey for Walsh (52 mins); G Hanrahan for Durkan (56 mins).

Referee: D Hunt(Roscommon).