Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC out after DCU push on in second half of semi-final
UCC's William Buckley tries to hold off Ivan Bolger of DCU Dóchas Éireann in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final at SETU Carlow. Picture: Inpho/Lorraine O'Sullivan
UCC’s wait to add to their haul at the top of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup roll of honour will go on after a disappointing semi-final defeat to DCU Dóchas Éireann at SETU Carlow on Tuesday evening.
Having led at half-time thanks to Fionn Coleman’s first-half goal, UCC - last champions in 2020 stayed in front on the resumption, William Buckley with two lovely points, but equally they struggled to shake free of a dogged DCU side.
Joe Flanagan’s long-range point had them back to within a point, 1-13 to 0-15, on 41 and Walsh levelled matters with another free before they struck for a goal. Colin Spain and Sam Bourke were the architects as DCU cut through the middle – UCC short-handed after Brian Keating had been forced off for treatment – and Shirley applied a fine finish, giving O’Sullivan no chance.
UCC’s initial response to that was positive, Flynn’s free followed by a point from sub Peter McGarry as they closed to within a point by the 49th minute, but they would only add one more.
Two points from the impressive Flanagan sandwiched one from Carley as DCU solidified their advantage while UCC began to snatch at the efforts they engineered.
Ciarán Boran made it a five-point game before UCC’s Ethan Twomey was unlucky to see a goal attempt deflected into the side-netting but, beyond that, a Luke Elliott point was the only other score they could muster.
Having already seen off the holders Mary Immaculate College, DCU now advance to the final for the second time and it couldn’t be said that they did not earn it. While UCC had the opening score through Darragh Stakelum in the first minute, it took them time to settle, allowing their opponents to gain a foothold.
Denis Walsh’s free-taking kept DCU in front in the opening stages while Peter Clarke threatened a goal but, by the same token, the Dublin college were too wasteful given the volume of point-scoring opportunities they were managing to create.
They did lead by 0-6 to 0-3 after a good Seán Gallagher point in the 12th minute but UCC didn’t allow the deficit to expand any further that in the opening period. Two fine Ethan Twomey points had them within one and, DCU replied in kind with two from Donal Shirley, parity was soon restored.
A good delivery from half-back Michael Mullaney was the catalyst but Fionn Coleman still had a lot to do as he gathered possession but he showed good footwork before a deft batted finish.
Darragh Carley replied to put DCU back in front in the wake of the goal but the momentum looked to have shifted and Keating and Buckley had good points as UCC moved in front a half-time neared.
By the 28th minute, it was 1-10 to 0-11 when Darragh Flynn pointed a free after Ethan Twomey had been fouled just as he was about to play in Coleman for another goal chance but a green flag might have materialised at the other end in injury time.
Shirley’s pass gave Gallagher sight of goal but his effort was brilliantly saved by Paudie O’Sullivan – though initially it appeared as if he wouldn’t be credited for it as a wide was signalled.
When the decision was changed to a 65, Walsh converted to leave one in it at the break. UCC were never able to push more than two ahead in the second half and, after DCU got level again, Shirley’s goal proved to be the game-changer.
D Walsh 0-6 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), D Shirley 1-2, J Flanagan 0-5, C Boran 0-2, P Langton, S Gallagher, S Bourke, B Reid, D Carley 0-1 each.
D Flynn 0-4 (0-2 f), F Coleman 1-1, E Twomey, W Buckley 0-3 each, D Stakelum, M Mullaney, B Keating, L Elliott, P McGarry 0-1 each.
C Byrne; I Bolger, P Langton, P Lennon; S Bourke, P Moylan, B Reid; D Shirley, C Spain; D Carley, D Boran, D Walsh; S Gallagher, P Clarke, J Flanagan.
C Dunne for Walsh, C Kehoe for Gallagher (both 55), J Carroll for Clarke (60+2).
P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neills); T Wilk (Cobh), C Doolan (St Finbarr’s), S Daly (Randal Óg); M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford), E Downey (Glen Rovers), J Dwyer (Ballincollig); B Keating (Ballincollig), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); E Twomey (St Finbarr’s), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), F Coleman (Blackrock), C McCarthy (Sarsfields).
P McGarry (St Mary's Clonmel, Tipperary) for Wilk (half-time), D Hogan for Keating (43, injured), L Elliott for Dwyer (45), E O'Leary for Stakelum (53).
J Owens (Wexford).
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