Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC advance to semi final after hard fought three point win over local rivals MTU

MTU Cork 0-20 

UCC 0-23 

UCC secured their progress to the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final with a hard-earned derby victory over MTU Cork on Wednesday night.

The Skull and Crossbones were never headed as Ben Cunningham fired 0-12 before pulling up injured.

They fired 16 wides to MTU’s two, however, including 11 in the second half as the hosts kept fighting to the end.

Jack Cahalane had a close-range free saved by Timmy Wilk and bundled a last-gasp chance wide either side of Fionn Coleman’s insurance point.

With progression guaranteed, both sides lined out minus a couple of their Cork starters. 

Ciarán Joyce and Alan Connolly didn’t tog for MTU, while Eoin Downey and Ethan Twomey were marked absent for UCC.

A fine crowd packed the MTU stand and overflowed onto the bank across the field for a game that was played with plenty of bite.

UCC dashed out to a fast start. Brian Keating scored from the throw-in, Peter McGarry slotted one from the sideline, and Cunningham converted a free for a three-point head start.

After good defending from Fionn O’Connell, Darragh O’Sullivan picked out a pinpoint pass to Diarmuid Healy for MTU’s opening score.

After a second Cunningham free, MTU threatened a goal. Brian Lynch won the sliotar and released Mikey Finn at pace. He tossed the ball across for Jack Cahalane whose volleyed attempt flew over the crossbar.

UCC returned with intent at the other end but Coleman’s shot was taken off the line.

Waterford’s Seán Walsh teed up one for Darragh O’Sullivan before unleashing a point of his own from halfway to bring the teams level.

Cunningham and Cahalane traded points to make it 0-5 apiece before UCC pushed ahead with four in a row. Three of those came from top-scorer Cunningham, including two frees, while smart work from Darragh Flynn sent the overlapping Cathal McCarthy into space for the other.

In between, Alan Walsh had a great goal chance but fired at Paudie O’Sullivan, who produced a sharp save.

MTU were opening up UCC at times but when Healy and Finn combined to free Alan Walsh again, he chose to break the momentum with a point.

McGarry and a Cunningham free extended the lead to five before MTU began to steady.

Seán Walsh, David O’Sullivan, and their first scoreable free from Cahalane made a dent in that advantage.

McGarry had a shot blocked out for a 65, which Cunningham converted, but MTU carried the impetus into the half with Healy scoring and Alan Walsh swinging another over the shoulder.

Still, it was 0-12 to 0-11 in UCC’s favour at the break.

Coleman touched the sliotar to the net within seconds of the restart but Colm Lyons called a square ball.

Michael Mullaney was coming good for UCC with two points and winning another free for Cunningham.

William Buckley also sparked to life with back-to-back points as UCC stretched five clear, 0-20 to 0-15, by the three-quarter mark.

Coleman twice fired wide when eyeing goal as their wide tally began to spiral.

MTU were far more efficient with Cahalane’s frees taking his tally to 0-9 plus a Micheál Mullins point getting them back within one score.

Entering stoppage time, Cahalane went for goal from his first free before pointing the next from the sideline.

But Coleman stitched a point out wide and despite Healy releasing Cahalane for a late sight of goal, UCC hung on.

Scorers for MTU Cork: J Cahalane 0-9 (7 frees); S Walsh 0-3; D Healy, A Walsh 0-2 each; Darragh O’Sullivan, M Mullins, David O’Sullivan, R McCarthy 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCC: B Cunningham 0-12 (9 frees, 1 65); W Buckley, M Mullaney, P McGarry 0-2 each; Cathal McCarthy, B Keating, D Hogan, F Coleman, E O’Leary 0-1 each.

MTU Cork (Cork unless stated): C Wilson (Newcestown); F O'Connell (St Catherine's), E Varian (Glen Rovers), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); M Mullins (Whitechurch), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), S Fitzgerald (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg); M Finn (Midleton), David O’Sullivan (Ballincollig); D Healy (Lisgoold), B Lynch (Ballinhassig), S Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford); A Walsh (Kanturk), R O’Sullivan (Newcestown), J Cahalane (St Finbarr's).

Subs: R McCarthy (Carrigaline) for R O’Sullivan (41), R Deasy (Courcey Rovers) for R Walsh (57).

UCC (Cork unless stated): P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neills); S Daly (Randal Óg), C Doolan (St Finbarr’s), T Wilk (Cobh); M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford), Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields), J Dwyer (Ballincollig); B Keating (Ballincollig), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); D Flynn (Ballygiblin), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick), B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), F Coleman (Blackrock), P McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary).

Subs: E O’Leary (Glen Rovers) for McGarry (50), D Hogan (Sarsfields) for Cunningham (50, inj), L Elliott (Sarsfields) for Daly (58).

Referee: C Lyons (Cork).