Fitzgibbon Cup: MTU through on scoring difference thanks to late Seán Walsh equaliser

MTU Cork 1-14

DCU Dóchas Éireann 0-17

Seán Walsh was the hero for MTU Cork as his late equaliser against DCU Dóchas Éireann on Wednesday night earned them an Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final spot.

With three minutes of normal time left at MTU Sports Stadium, the home side trailed by 0-17 to 1-11 after Joe Flanagan landed his 11th point of the night. Cork star Ciarán Joyce was pushed forward as MTU sought inspiration and he was fouled for a free, which Brian Lynch converted.

The clock was in the red when Lynch was given another opportunity from a free and, assured there was time for another chance, he scored his seventh point of the game. MTU didn’t panic and Stephen Keoghan and Sam Quirke worked the ball to Waterford native Walsh, who fired over a great effort.

DCU did have a late opportunity with a free from their own 65 but it lacked the distance and pressure from the MTU defence ensured the ball crossed the endline outside the posts. It was the final action and the draw sent MTU to the last eight on scoring difference, having lost to SETU Waterford by two points compared to the eight-point deficit DCU had.

The prize is not necessarily an attractive one – MTU are away to University of Galway, who were beaten finalists in the last two years – but the key fact is that they are there, having looked for long periods as if they were fated for defeat.

While Conall Clancy had a point for DCU inside 12 seconds of the throw-in, the home side looked to have settled as they hit back with a goal almost immediately. Seán Walsh found Edmund Kenneally, whose lay-off allowed Mark Tobin to play in Barry Kehoe and, though he was being fouled, he was able to bundle the ball to the DCU net.

A trio of points from Flanagan put the visitors back in front before MTU found form. Two fine Lynch points were allied to a pair of Kenneally frees and, with DCU’s only score between the sixth and 17th minutes a long-range effort from centre-back Pádraig Moylan, MTU were in a good position with a 1-4 to 0-6 lead.

However, they were to score just once more in that opening half – a good point from corner-back Stephen Keoghan – as DCU came back well. MTU’s cause was not helped by early injuries to defenders Eoghan Collins and Dara Mason.

After wing-back Paddy Langton reignited their charge with a well-taken score, Clancy had half a sight of goal after Sam Bourke played him in. Cathal Wilson stood up well to the shot but the momentum had swung and Flanagan’s dead-ball accuracy saw them eat into the deficit and then pull away.

By half-time, it was 0-11 to 1-5, with MTU guilty of wastefulness coming up to the break. Lynch pointed on the restart but two more from Flanagan eased DCU four ahead. While Lynch replied with a pair of frees and set up James Mulcahy for a point on 41 to leave it 0-13 to 1-9, parity remained elusive.

Moylan intercepted an MTU clearance to put DCU two in front before Flanagan and Fiachra Fitzpatrick added others. The away team might even have added a goal as Peter Clarke tried to divert a Paddy Langton delivery, but the ball flashed wide.

Mark Tobin, set up by Quirke, and Joyce with a long-range free kept MTU in it but Flanagan’s 11th point looked to be enough for DCU. The home side refused to give in, however.

Scorers for MTU Cork: B Lynch 0-7 (0-4f), B Kehoe 1-0, E Kenneally 0-2f, C Joyce (0-1f), S Keoghan, S Walsh, M Tobin J Mulcahy 0-1 each.

DCU Dóchas Éireann: J Flanagan 0-11 (0-6f, 0-2 65), P Moylan 0-2, J Barrett, P Langton, F Fitzpatrick, C Clancy 0-1 each.

MTU CORK: C Wilson (Newcestown); P O’Sullivan (Newtownshandrum), D Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny), S Keoghan (Graigue Ballycallan, Kilkenny); D O’Sullivan (Ballincollig), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), E Collins (Newcestown); R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), DJ Twomey (Courcey Rovers); B Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash, Tipperary), S Quirke (Midleton), S Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford); J Mulcahy (Carrigtwohill), E Kenneally (Newcestown), B Lynch (Ballinhassig).

Subs: C Roche (Courcey Rovers) for Collins (8, injured), R McCarthy (Carrigaline) for Mason (20, injured), M Tobin (Mallow) for Kenneally (36).

DCU DÓCHAS ÉIREANN: C Byrne; D Kehoe, N Murphy, J Barrett; D Clerkin, P Moylan, P Langton; S Gallagher, S Bourke; J Flanagan, F Fitzpatrick, B Reid; P Clarke, R Lawlor, C Clancy.

Subs: C Kehoe for P Clarke (44), C Brennan for Reid (54), J Carroll for Gallagher (60+3).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).