William Buckley scores late winner as UCC beat Cork in Canon O'Brien Cup

UCC 2-18

Cork 2-17

William Buckley’s injury-time point proved to be the match-winner as UCC claimed the Canon O’Brien Cup with victory over Cork at the Mardyke on Sunday.

Having trailed by four points, 0-12 to 0-8 late in the first half, the college side scored the last three points before half-time to go in one behind. On the resumption, Jack Cahalane and Cian Darcy stretched the Cork lead and, while Ben Cunningham pulled one back with his seventh point – he was to finish with 1-10 – Cork responded with a goal on 34 minutes.

Darcy was the man to get it and, just like the point shortly beforehand, it had its genesis in a long Brion Saunderson puckout that ended up in the hand of the Sarsfields man.

His good finish made it 1-14 to 0-12 but the experimental Cork side, managed by Ben O’Connor for the first time, were to follow that with 13 scoreless minutes, a period in which UCC got on top.

Buckley’s first point of the game was followed by a low effort from Cunningham from a free which ended in the Cork net. That reduced the deficit to a point, with Buckley levelling on 43.

Cork might have replied with a goal – Alan Walsh denied by a superb Paudie O’Sullivan save – but UCC made the most of that let-off as Cunningham’s free put them ahead for the first time and they had breathing space when Buckley’s delivery was broken by Finn O’Brien, allowing his Erin’s Own colleague Peter O’Shea to fire home,

The four-point gap still remained as time wound down but Cork sub Declan Dalton landed a free to leave a goal in it and the experienced attacker’s flick then allowed another replacement, Shane Kingston, to crash home a brilliant shot to the net to level.

The fixture, coming up on its 13th anniversary and with 11 previous runnings in that time, had never finished in a draw and it looked as if Cork would finish with a flourish when Darcy had another sight of goal but again O’Sullivan saved brilliantly.

Dalton’s resultant 65 tailed wide, however, and there was time for UCC to launch a final attack – O’Sullivan’s long ball was won skilfully by Buckley, who did the rest.

It is a second win in three editions for UCC, who also won the Higher Education Hurling League earlier this month and are gearing up for a Fitzgibbon Cup opener against MTU Cork on January 8.

While they were without their Kilkenny and Tipperary contingent, they can be happy with the good finish while full-back Shane Kingston and midfielder Robert Troy showed up well.

Equally, some of those in red and black are likely to be on the radar of O’Connor, who will take positives from the performances of the likes of Dáire O’Leary and Ethan Twomey.

Cork led for most of the first half, though Fionn O’Brien, who kept goal for UCC prior to half-time, was on hand to deny Jack O’Connor early on and Seán Desmond in the 25th minute.

When two from Brian O’Sullivan were followed by Jack Cahalane’s second point of the game, Cork had that 0-12 to 0-8 advantage, but two Cunningham frees and a Finn O’Brien point ensured UCC were in touch at the break and the second half didn’t want for action, either.

Scorers for UCC: B Cunningham 1-10 (1-8 f, 0-1 65), W Buckley, Finn O’Brien 0-3 each, P O’Shea 1-0, R Troy 0-2.

Cork : J Cahalane 0-4 (0-1 f), C Darcy 1-1, S Kingston 1-0, C McCarthy (f), D Dalton (f), S Desmond, B O’Sullivan 0-2 each, E Twomey, M Mullins, J O’Connor, C O’Brien 0-1 each.

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): Fionn O’Brien (Bruree, Limerick); S Daly (Randal Óg), S Kingston (Ballinora), E Guinane (Valley Rovers); D Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Downey (Glen Rovers); R Troy (Newtownshandrum), T O’Connell (Ballincollig); B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own), C Walsh (Kanturk); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), Finn O’Brien (Erin’s Own), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: D Cremin (Midleton) for R O’Sullivan, P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s) for Fionn O’Brien (both half-time), H Boyle (Clara, Kilkenny) for Scully (46), B Lehane (Watergrasshill) for O’Shea (51), J Enright (Inniscarra) for O’Connell (52), O’Shea for Finn O’Brien (54, temporary).

CORK: B Saunderson (Midleton); E Roche (Bride Rovers), C Doolan (St Finbarr’s), D O’Leary (Watergrasshill); C O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), C Tobin (Bride Rovers), E Twomey (St Finbarr’s); M Mullins (Glen Rovers), B O’Sullivan (Kanturk); C Darcy (Sarsfields), C McCarthy (Sarsfields), J O’Connor (Sarsfields); A Walsh (Kanturk), S Desmond (Watergrasshill), J Cahalane (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) for Twomey, S Kingston (Douglas) for O’Connor, D Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s) for Mullins (all 39).

Referee: S Scanlon (Newcestown).