CIT are knocked out of the Fitzgibbon Cup at home to NUIG

Cork IT 0-11 NUI Galway 1-15

There was no joy for Cork IT last night in their final group game in the Fitzgibbon Cup at their home ground. Following their defeat to UCC on Sunday, this was a winner-takes all and it was the Galway outfit who secured their quarter-final spot away to IT Carlow next Thursday.

The visitors wrested control as the game wore on, and when Cork IT attacker Ryan Walsh received a second yellow card midway through the second half, it left them with too much to do.

NUIG held a four-point lead at the interval, 0-10 to 0-6, and while battling Cork IT did reduce the margin to two points, a goal from Sean Loftus 10 minutes from time decided the outcome.

Cork IT edged the opening quarter 0-4 to 0-3, Liam O’Shea landing two of these from placed balls. Seven unanswered points – six from NUIG top-scorer Evan Niland – left the westerners well on top. Darragh Lyons and Jack Doyle points in stoppage closing the gap to four at the break.

The hosts restarted brightly but crucially a couple of goal chances went amiss. Points from Doyle and O’Shea (2) made it a two-point match soon after Walsh’s dismissal.

The green flag from Loftus left the Cork team chasing the game, 1-12 to 0-9. Cork IT tacked on a couple of points but NUIG were never in trouble. Their goalkeeper Sean Manogue saved from O’Shea in injury time.

Scorers for Cork IT: L O’Shea (0-5, 0-4 f), D Lyons (0-3), J Doyle (0-2), C O’Carroll (0-1).

NUIG: E Niland (0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), S Loftus (1-2), S Burke (0-2), M Lynch and C Elwood (0-1 each).

CIT: G Collins (Ballinhassig), S O’Leary Hayes (Midleton), W Hurley (Valley Rovers, c), J Copps (Ballyhea); R Heffernan (Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary), E Heffernan (do), C O’Carroll (Charleville); M Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary), J Doyle (Charleville); D Lyons (Dungarvan, Waterford), R Walsh (Kanturk), B Everard (St Mary’s); L O’Shea (Lisgoold), B Barrett (Causeway, Kerry), J Cooper (Éire Óg).

Subs: N Fives (Tourin, Waterford) for M Ryan (half time), D Harrington (Fr O’Neill’s) for R Heffernan (48).

NUIG: S Manogue (James Stephens, Kilkenny); D Morrissey (Sarsfields), J Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly JC), C Killeen (Loughrea); A Greaney (Craughwell), D Loftus (Turloughmore), M Gill (Castlegar); I Fox (Sarsfields), S Burke (Turloughmore); B Concannon (Killimordaly), C Elwood (Liam Mellows), S Loftus (Turloughmore); J Fleming (Meelick Eyrecourt), E Niland (Clarinbridge JC), S Fletcher (Roscrea, Tipperary).

Subs: M Lynch (KIlnadeema Leitrim) for J Fleming (35), C Caulfield (Kilconieron) for S Fletcher (38), S Kennedy (Kilmaley, Clare) for C Elwood (58), L Forde (Ardrahan) for C Caulfield (58 inj), E O’Donnell (Ardrahan) for A Greaney (60).

Referee: Rory McGann (Clare).