UCC see off UL with ease and advance to Colleges SHL final

University College Cork 2-23 University of Limerick 0-21 

By the close, the scoreboard told of a comfortable evening for UCC, who led from the 22nd minute until time as they beat UL in the Third Level Colleges Senior Hurling League semi-final at the Mardyke on Tuesday evening.

They trailed early, 0-7 to 0-5 by the 15th minute, but once the Skull and Crossbones hit the front, they never looked back.

Three points on the spin nudged them ahead before Finn O’Brien forced the game’s opening goal on 23 minutes – intercepting a UL puckout, recovering his shot that Ian Shanahan managed to block, before teeing up Ed McDermott to blast in to the roof of the net. From there, the tide never turned.

Peter McGarry was electric on the inside line, finishing with seven points and tormenting the Limerick defence all evening.

Around him, Mark O’Dwyer crackled with energy, while O’Brien’s and three points from play added polish to UCC’s attack.

UL – severely depleted, missing over 20 players including Dungourney’s Jack Leahy – struggled to live with the pace once UCC opened up. Still, Oisín Fitzgerald stood tall at sweeper, reading danger brilliantly and mopping up countless breaks in front of the full-back line.

At half-time, UCC led 1-12 to 0-10. And barely two minutes after the restart, they buried the contest. Again O’Brien was the provider, slipping Robert Troy through with a perfectly timed handpass as he struck from close range, 2-14 to 0-12.

Tadhg Boddy landed one back for UL, but everything UCC hit seemed to land; five points without reply.

They would have had a goal too, were it not for a second goal-line clearance from Ciarmhac Smyth who denied Finn O’Brien’s effort, after he showed great skill to win possession.

By the end of the third quarter the Skull and Crossbones saw their lead swell to 12 points, but UL managed to decrease the deficit with five consecutive white flags. Joe Fitzgerald got the first, while three frees from Stephen Forecombe and one effort from Boddy left it 2-20 to 0-19 with five minutes remaining.

UCC had answers everywhere though, and when Colin Walsh and Troy added three more in the final minutes, the result was beyond question, 2-23 to 0-19.

Two stoppage time frees from Forecombe were merely consolation for the Limerick side, and UCC now progress to the final.

Scorers for UCC: P McGarrry 0-7 (0-4 f), E McDermott 1-3, C Walsh 0-4, R Troy 1-1, F O’Brien, R Troy (0-2 f) 0-3 each, M O’Dwyer, T O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for UL: S Forecombe 0-11 f, A Keady 0-3, JJ Carey, T Boddy, J Fitzgerald 0-2 each, M Hackett 0-1.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK (Cork clubs unless stated): F O’Brien (Bruree, Limerick); S Daly (Randal Óg), S Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny), K Lyons (Ballygarvan); T Kelly (Bennetsbridge, Kilkenny), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), R McEvoy (Lisdowney, Kilkenny); R Troy (Newtownshandrum), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); M O’Dwyer (Russell Rovers), C Walsh (Kanturk), T O’Connell (Ballincollig); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own), E McDermott (James Stephens, Kilkenny), P McGarry (St Mary’s).

Subs: D Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick) for Kelly (40), D Cremin (Midleton) for O’Brien (44), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own) for M O’Dwyer (49), B O’Connell (Abbeyside, Waterford) for McEvoy (51), J Enright (Inniscarra) for O’Connell (54).

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK (Limerick clubs unless stated): C Brodrick (Clarecastle, Clare); C Smyth (Midleton, Cork), S Casey (Bruff), R Lyons (Monaleen); C Thomas (Doon), O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s, Cork), I Shanahan (Ballinakill, Laois); J Fitzgerald (Monaleen), JJ Carey (Na Piarsaigh); A Keady (Oranmore Maree, Galway), P Crotty (Scariff, Clare), M Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary); T Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca), S Forecombe (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary), J Ormond (JK Brackens, Tipperary).

Subs: P O’Dwyer (Killanaule, Tipperary) for Lyons, S Williams (Bruree) for Thomas (both HT), J Doherty (Clarecastle, Clare) for Hackett (41 inj), D O’Connell (Dromina, Cork) for Brodrick (45), S O’Neill (Blackrock) for Crotty (54), A O’Sullivan (John Lockes, Kilkenny) for Shanahan (57 inj).

Referee: C O’Regan (Ballyhea)