Alan Walsh hat-trick fires MTU Cork into first Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final in 10 years
MTU Cork's Richard O'Sullivan celebrates after the game with Mikey Finn. Picture: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
An excellent hat-trick from Alan Walsh aided by the outstanding attacking displays of Alan Connolly, Jack Cahalane and Diarmuid Healy fired MTU Cork to a first Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final in 10 years, as they defeated TUS Midwest on Thursday evening.
Having trailed by five at the break, MTU took the wind in their stride and fought back to finish comfortable winners over the Limerick college at their grounds in TUS.
MTU got to within one-point of their opponents in the 37th minute, when a long ball in from Connolly was brilliantly claimed by Walsh, who fired home from close range.
Questions were asked as to whether it was in the square – but the Kanturk forward’s goal stood, and four minutes later recent Cork call up Darragh O’Sullivan fired over the leveller, 1-15 to 2-12.
TUS reclaimed the lead with a free from Kyle Shelly, but that would be the final time they led as Walsh’s third goal gave their opponents the advantage for the first time.
An incisive run from Duds Healy meant all he had to do was put it on a plate for the unmarked Walsh, who duly finished, 1-16 to 3-13.
Any doubt as to who would be claiming the semi-final spot was shut down when Jack Cahalane reeled off 1-3 in the final eight minutes, the goal coming after Connolly’s stylish assist.
The Blackrock hurler emerged with the ball brilliantly before he struck the sliotar one handed over the heads of three TUS players to find Cahalane. He was never going to miss one-on-one.
By that point they had a nine-point lead and with only a couple of minutes remaining were steamrolling towards victory. But the first half was quite the opposite.
They were sluggish starting out, and gave away far too many cheap frees.
Shelly made them pay for it too, converting from all angles with booming efforts. Each sliotar was sent over the net and behind the grounds.
MTU didn’t mind though, they were firmly in control.
They had started well as Shelly buried an early penalty given away by MTU to go 1-1 to nil up after two minutes.
What followed was a relentless run in the first half, leaving TUS 1-7 to 0-3 ahead at the quarter-hour mark. By the short whistle their lead was at five, reduced from their 22nd minute high of a 10-point lead.
MTU did pull one goal back in the 25th minute, as Cahalane played a beautifully timed pass to Brian Lynch, who ran through the middle to set up Walsh, leaving it 1-10 to 1-6.
Things quickly fell apart in the second half for the Limerick college who, despite finishing the game with only 2 wides, failed to score a single point from play in the second period.
Once MTU stopped giving away easy frees, they were able to get back into contention, but the quality of their goals made a huge difference.
That goal threat is what separated the teams on paper before throw in, and it was what separated them on the scoreboard at full-time.
K Shelly 1-12 (0-10 f, 1-0 pen), N O’Farrell 0-2, S Canning, P McCormack, J Mahon (f) 0-1 each.
A Walsh 3-1, A Connolly 0-7 (0-5 f), J Cahalane 1-3, M Finn, D O’Sullivan 0-2 each, D Healy, R McCarthy, S Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
R Brislane (Toomevara); D Fitzgerald (Kildimo/Pallaskenry, Limerick), E Maxted (Clooney Quin, Clare), J Mahon (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly); J McCullagh (Bagnelstown Gaels, Carlow), P Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), S Walsh (Moycarkey Borris); D Casey (Granagh Ballingarry, Limerick), R Doyle (Clonoulty Rossmore); N O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare), P McCormack (Borrisoleigh), C O’Dwyer (Clonakenny); K Shelly (Moycarkey Borris), K O’Kelly (Kilruane McDonaghs), S Canning (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon).
E Cuddy (Camross, Laois) for McCullagh, D Guinan (Lorrha) for Casey (both 47), B Adams (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Canning (55).
C Wilson (Newcestown); F O'Connell (St Catherine's), E Varian (Glen Rovers), D O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); S Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Waterford), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), M Mullins (Whitechurch); M Finn (Midleton), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry); R McCarthy (Carrigaline), B Lynch (Ballinhassig), D Healy (Lisgoold); A Connolly (Blackrock), A Walsh (Kanturk), J Cahalane (St Finbarr's).
D O’Sullivan (Ballincollig) for McCarthy, R O’Sullivan (Newcestown) for Lynch (both 58), M Tobin (Mallow) for Fitzgerald (60+3).
Shane Hynes (Oranmore, Galway)
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