Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC come good in second half to win opener
UCC's Brian Keating runs at the UCD defence during the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup game at the Mardyke. Picture: Larry Cummins
UCC got their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup campaign off to a winning start thanks to a strong second-half display against UCD at the Mardyke on Wednesday evening.
Trailing by 0-13 to 0-12 after a close first half, the hosts fell further behind as Diarmuid Ó Dulaing and Cian Ó Cathasaigh had points for UCD on the resumption and the visitors were still three points clear, 0-17 to 0-14, following Peter McDonald’s point on 38 minutes.
UCC began to find some momentum, though. A pair of Darragh Flynn points cut the deficit before good work by midfielder Brian Keating, excellent throughout the second half, led to a free on halfway.
Ben Cunningham pointed that – their first scoring opportunity from a dead ball as referee Kevin Jordan let the game flow – and, though the tireless Brendan Scanlon forced a turnover for Ó Cathasaigh to put UCD back in front, it was the last time they led.
A run of seven unanswered points between the 44th and 53rd minutes were essentially the winning of the game for UCC.
Keating stamped his authority on proceedings with three of those and set up a score for Darragh Stakelum while William Buckley began to come to the fore too.
Their lead of 0-24 to 0-18 was halved when UCD’s Luke Connellan scrambled the ball to the net after Ó Cathasaigh’s delivery broke but UCC’s response was strong, with Buckley, sub Eoin O’Leary and Stakelum cancelling out the effect of the goal.
By the end, Tom Kingston’s side had six to spare, which could prove important in a group that also features University of Galway and MTU Cork, who clash on Thursday night.
Despite withdrawing corner-forward Conor Gaffney to a sweeping role from the off, UCD had no lack of early attacking intent.
They might have had an early goal as David Williams had a chance, Paudie O’Sullivan saving well although punished for then stopping the ball from being played.
Diarmuid Ó Dulaing’s free got UCD off the mark and they led for all of the opening quarter, though UCC were unlucky when Buckley had a shot come back off the bar on 16 minutes, when they trailed by 0-7 to 0-6.
Wing-back Michael Mullaney did tie the match after that before Cunningham put them ahead following a superb catch but UCD continued to pose a threat.
After James Dwyer putt UCC 0-11 to 0-10 ahead on 27, the visitors replied with three, a good James Duggan point and two Ó Dulaing frees, before Mullaney had the last score of the half, his third of the game, following good work by Seán Daly.
While they did fall further behind after that, UCC ultimately had enough staying power to get the result, with sweeper Ethan Twomey mopping up loose ball.
Their second outing is at home to Galway next week.
B Keating, B Cunningham (0-2 f, 0-1 65) 0-5 each, W Buckley 0-4, D Flynn, M Mullaney 0-3 each, T Wilk, D Stakelum 0-2 each, F Coleman, E Twomey, J Dwyer, P McGarry, E O’Leary 0-1 each.
D Ó Dulaing 0-6 (0-4 f), D Williams 0-4 (0-1 f), L Connellan 1-1, D Purcell, C Ó Cathasaigh, J Duggan 0-2 each, E Ryan, B Scanlon, P McDonald 0-1 each.
P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neills); S Daly (Randal Óg), C Doolan (St Finbarr’s), T Wilk (Cobh); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Twomey (St Finbarr’s), M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford); B Keating (Ballincollig), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); D Flynn (Ballygiblin), B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), F Coleman (Blackrock), P McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary).
E O’Leary (Glen Rovers) for McGarry (38), D Cremin (Midleton), for Stokes (48), E McEvoy (Lisdowney, Kilkenny) for Wilk (53), E Guinane (Valley Rovers) for Daly (58), C McCarthy (Blarney) for Coleman (59).
C O'Hanlon; S McCaul, M Walsh, P Connellan; E Ryan, C Ó Cathasaigh, C O'Toole; P McDonald, D Purcell; B Scanlon, J Duggan, L Connellan; D Williams, D Ó Dulaing, C Gaffney.
D Lee for Ó Dulaing (49), C McCarthy for Scanlon (57, injured), R O’Kelly Lynch for Duggan (58).
K Jordan (Tipperary).
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