Fitzgibbon Cup: MTU Cork lose narrowly to SETU Waterford in opening game

SETU Waterford 0-11

MTU Cork 0-9

MTU Cork fell narrowly short in their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup opener as SETU Waterford ground out victory at Carriganore on Thursday night.

Down to 14 players for the final quarter, MTU – without star forward Alan Connolly, still short of full fitness – did lead by 0-8 to 0-7 after a free by Sam Quirke but Waterford drew level through Carrigtwohill’s Seán Walsh.

While the heavy pitch and crosswind contributed to the low scoring rate, Waterford were also guilty of wastefulness for much of the evening but in the heel of the hunt they found the scores needed.

A huge free from Ruben Halloran – his fifth of the night – had them in front and while Brian Lynch levelled for MTU after hard-working substitute DJ Twomey was fouled for a free, Waterford continued to press.

When MTU coughed up two late frees, Halloran was on hand to punish them, finishing with seven as Fintan O’Connor’s side secured top spot in Group C. MTU will now face DCU Dóchas Éireann in Bishopstown next Thursday night to determine second place and an away tie against University of Galway in the last eight.

They will take much encouragement from the hard-working performance. Ciarán Joyce was deployed in the full-back line to curb Waterford danger-man Patrick Fitzgerald and the early stages were attritional with little in the way of goal opportunities – Waterford defender Pauric Wicham got a good block on James Mulcahy for the only thing approaching a half-chance.

The score was 0-3 then and, while Halloran made it 0-4 to 0-3 for Waterford, an excellent point from MTU’s Seán Walsh – from Fourmilewater in Waterford, while his SETU namesake hails from Cork – was followed by the lead score, a Mark Tobin free after the ball was brought forward for dissent.

Walsh made it 0-6 to 0-4 inside the opening half-minute of the second half but Waterford looked to have found form as three straight points – two from Seán Walsh sandwiching a Halloran free – put them in front again.

MTU refused to yield though, not even when wing-back Evan Murphy was sent off following an off-the-ball tangle with Pádraig Fitzgerald. Waterford eventually secured the win but MTU will be positive ahead of the decisive game next week.

Scorers for SETU Waterford: R Halloran 0-7f, S Walsh 0-3, T Barron 0-1.

MTU Cork: B Lynch (0-2f), S Walsh 0-2 each, C Joyce (0-1f), R Walsh, B Keohoe, S Quirke (0-1f), M Tobin (0-1f) 0-1 each.

SETU WATERFORD: B Hennessy; C King, P Wicham, J Harkin; R Hanley, T Barron, G Cullinane; W Beresford, B Power; R Halloran, S Walsh, G Fives; Pádraig Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, J Foley.

Sub: J Fitzgerald for Foley (46).

MTU CORK (Cork clubs unless stated): C Wilson (Newcestown); S Keoghan (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), P O’Sullivan (Newtownshandrum); E Murphy (Causeway, Kerry), D Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks), E Collins (Newcestown); S Quirke (Midleton), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry); R McCarthy (Carraline), B Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary), S Walsh (Fourmilewater); M Tobin (Mallow), B Lynch (Ballinhassig), J Mulcahy (Carrigtwohill).

Subs: DJ Twomey (Courcey Rovers) for Tobin (35), D O’Sullivan (Ballincollig) for Collins (42), P Dorney (Ballymartle) for McCarthy, C O’Keeffe (Blackrock, Limerick) for Mulcahy (both 53).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).