Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC make light work of Maynooth University

UCC: 4-21 

Maynooth University: 0-13 

UCC have revitalised their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup campaign following a stylish win over Maynooth University in their Group A encounter at the Mardyke on Thursday evening.

After last week’s eight-point defeat to Mary Immaculate College in the opener, the Skull and Crossbones knew this joust was do-or-die and they delivered in a pressure scenario.

The reward for UCC is a last eight meeting with UL next week, which will be away.

On a perfect evening for hurling, it was a very competitive start with the sides level at 0-2 each after 11 minutes, before Colm Fogarty converted a free for Maynooth. UCC registered eight wides inside the first 14 minutes.

After a frustrating opening, UCC got a bit of luck with their goal after 15 minutes when Brian Hayes' tame effort wasn’t dealt with by the Maynooth goalkeeper Kevin Bracken, and the ball ended up in the back of the net, 1-2 to 0-3.

That wasn’t a launchpad for the home side to push on though. It was nip and tuck for the remainder of the half. UCC led 1-6 to 0-6 after 23 minutes with Cathal McCarthy’s long range point the pick of the scores. Maynooth tacked on two points before UCC sub, Peter McGarry, on for the injured Ben Cunningham, raised a white flag, 1-7 to 0-8 with three minutes to the break. A Fogarty free left just a point in it at half-time, 1-7 to 0-9.

On the resumption, the home side landed the first five points with William Buckley influential in a couple of the scores. The sides traded points before Shane Barrett billowed the back of the net, a lovely finish after 41 minutes, into the roof of the net, 2-13 to 0-10.

That was the cushion that was required and with ten minutes left, UCC led 2-16 to 0-12. The students were 2-18 to 0-13 ahead before Barrett raised UCC’s third green flag with five minutes remaining. The winners landed 1-3 in the closing stages, sub Fionn Coleman, who impressed when he came on, with the goal.

UL in the last eight for Tom Kingston's side, that will be a tasty one.

Scorers for UCC: S Barrett 2-2 (0-1 f), P McGarry 0-5, D Flynn 0-4 (0-3 f), B Hayes, F Coleman 1-1 each, W Buckley 0-3, B Cunningham 0-2 (0-1 f), C McCarthy, C O’Brien, B Keating 0-1 each.

Maynooth University: C Fogarty 0-7 (0-5 f), C Drennan 0-4, P McDonald, C Hackett 0-1 each.

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): B Saunderson (Midleton); Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields), S Kingston (Ballinora), G Millerick (Fr O’Neills); J Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), I Daly (Lismore, Waterford), C O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); D Flynn (Ballygiblin), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); B Keating (Ballincollig), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), B Hayes (St Finbarr’s); S Barrett (Blarney), D Hogan (Sarsfields), B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: P McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary) for B Cunningham (24, inj), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick) for D Hogan (h-t), F Coleman (Blackrock) for W Buckley (45), R Cotter (Blackrock) for B Keating (50), M Carey (Éire Óg Nenagh, Tipperary) for C McCarthy (54).

MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY: K Bracken; D Fogarty, N Bolger, M Donnelly; E Cunneen, P McDonald, C Boran; C Hackett, P Blanchfield; A Hickey, D Dooley, C Drennan; C Fogarty, L Hogan, D Fogarty.

Subs: B Drennan for D Fogarty (h-t), C Boyle for C Hackett (44), L Cassin for P Blanchfield (46).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).