IT Sligo 1-12 IT Tralee 0-11:A power-packed second-half performance helped NUI Maynooth record a facile home success over an outclassed IT Tallaght in the opening round of the Sigerson Cup yesterday.

Two goals from Enda McCormack and substitute Pat Halligan inside the final 10 minutes provided the scoreline with a more accurate reflection of the winners' dominance than had been the case up to that stage.

Maynooth led by 0-7 to 0-1 at half-time, with the impressive Francis McGee slotting four of those scores.

Despite the promptings of Dublin senior Ger Brennan, captain Seán Cotter and former Kildare Under-21 Pádraig Golden, they did not stretch the advantage to 10 until McCormack calmly side-footed to the net with eight minutes remaining.

It was plain sailing from that point onwards, however, with Halligan getting the final touch to register Maynooth's second goal.

Tallaght had shown plenty of spirit and kept going right to the end, with substitute Shane O'Neill helping himself to a brace of points.

NUI MAYNOOTH:P Cunningham; T McIntyre, S Lawlor, A Nolan; C Lynch (0-1), S Cotter (0-1), G Brennan; P Callaghan (0-2), C Gurn; E Kelly (0-1), P Golden (0-3), M Cahill (0-1); E McCormack (1-0), F McGee (0-4, 2f), N Jordan. Subs: C Lawlor for Nolan; P Halligan (1-1) for Freeman.

IT TALLAGHT:N Dervan; C Owens, D Fitzpatrick, S Larkin; G Browne, C Deasy (0-1), R O'Donnell; C Curtis, J Long; R Clabby, R O'Brien, E Condron; G Hurley, C McCormack, N Costello. Subs: S O'Neill (0-2) for O'Donnell.

Referee:S Carroll (Westmeath).