Fitzgibbon Cup: Superb MTU come out on top in Cork derby

UCC 1-16 MTU Cork 1-26 

Based on the pre-match odds, a 10-point victory in Thursday night’s Cork derby in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup may not have surprised many.

However, the general expectation would have been a home win at the Mardyke for UCC against MTU Cork and such an outcome was never given much of a chance to materialise.

The win means that a home triumph over Garda College next week would give MTU top spot and a home quarter-final – in such a scenario, UCC would then travel to Templemore in a fortnight in what would essentially be a quarter-final qualifier.

After an even opening, the visitors made a surge as four straight points – two each from the excellent Alan Walsh and Mikey Finn – put them 0-9 to 0-6 in front.

While UCC - without Eoin Downey or Timmy Wilk - replied to that with a Shane Kingston goal and moved 1-8 to 0-10 in front with a Peter McGarry point on 23, it was the last time they led.

Ryan Deasy’s boomer tied matters again and then his overhead pass allowed Finn, superb throughout at midfield, to land his seventh point of the game. Following that, Ruairí O’Connor and Deasy linked to set up Aaron McEvoy and he used his power to create space before firing to the net – 1-12 to 1-8, with the sides adding to each before half-time.

Soon after the restart, Kingston’s pass afforded McGarry sight of goal but his shot was bravely blocked by James O’Brien – play was brought back for a free that Ben Cunningham converted to cut the gap to three but, by the time the home side scored again, they had fallen eight behind.

Walsh, Diarmuid Healy and Johnny Murphy were invaluable outlets in the visitors’ attack while they played the ball out from defence with a confidence in each other. One score in their run of five exemplified this – Tadhg O’Leary Hayes forced a turnover close to his own goal-line before the ball was worked up the field, allowing Murphy to provide for Deasy’s second point.

It took until the 52nd minute and Brian Keating’s long-range point for UCC to score from play in the second half and even that, leaving them 1-21 to 1-14 behind, was answered by points from Healy and Deasy.

By then, the game moved into injury time, Finn’s dead-ball accuracy had brought his tally to 12 and Murphy’s wonderful point, off-balance on the right sideline, left them ten ahead.

A late McGarry chance was the closest UCC came to finding another goal but Grantis Bucinskas saved brilliantly and prevented sub Hugh O’Connor from getting to the rebound.

Scorers for UCC: B Cunningham 0-9 f, S Kingston 1-0, B Keating, W Buckley 0-2 each, P McGarry, D Flynn, E McDermott 0-1 each. 

MTU Cork: M Finn 0-12 (0-9 f, 0-1 65), D Healy 0-4, A Walsh, R Deasy 0-3 each, A McEvoy 1-0, J Murphy 0-2, R Walsh, C Ryan 0-1 each.

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s); S Daly (Randal Óg), K Lyons (Ballygarvan), S Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny); S Kingston (Ballinora), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Guinane (Valley Rovers); D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), B Keating (Ballincollig), C Walsh (Kanturk); P McGarry (St Mary’s, Tipperary), E McDermott (James Stephens, Kilkenny), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: T Kelly (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny) for Moore, H O'Connor (Newmarket) for Walsh (both half-time), R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for Flynn, M Mahony (Old Parish, Waterford) for McDermott (both 46), M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford) for Daly (54).

MTU Cork (Cork clubs unless stated): G Bucinskas (Kanturk); T O'Leary Hayes (Midleton), J O'Brien (Fermoy), F O'Connell (St Catherine's); C Ryan (Brickey Rangers, Waterford), D O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry); J Egan (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary), M Finn (Midleton); R O'Connor (Killeedy, Limerick), D Healy (Lisgoold), R Deasy (Ballymartle); A Walsh (Kanturk), J Murphy (Dromina), A McEvoy (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny).

Subs: J Galvin (Éire Óg) for O'Connor (56), D O'Leary (Ballincollig) for Walsh (60), R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for McEvoy (60+1), E Varian (Glen Rovers) for O'Leary Hayes (60+2).

Referee: C O’Regan (Ballyhea).