Fitzgibbon Cup: MTU Cork target quarter-final spot but Pádraig Gould wary of Garda challenge

After opening their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup campaign with an impressive win away to UCC, tonight MTU Cork will look to back that up as they target a quarter-final spot.

A 1-26 to 1-16 triumph for the visitors at the Mardyke – a first derby win in the Fitz for the Bishopstown college since the 2014 semi-final – means that MTU can secure top spot, and a home game in the last eight, if they record a home win against Garda College tonight (7.30pm).

As enjoyable as it was to get off the right foot, MTU manager Pádraig Gould is keen to ensure that the focus is forward and not backwards.

“When you reflect and look back, it was a good team performance,” he says, “and there were plenty of positives to take away from the game, but fundamentally, all it is is two points on the board.

“You're in a better position to qualify for a quarter-final, and for a home quarter-final at that, and there’s bragging rights secured for the players. Other than that, it’s just a win at the end of the day.

“It’s nice to beat UCC, especially down the Dyke, but now it’s about moving on from that and we will have to safeguard against complacency. I have first-hand experience from 2009, when we beat UCC in the round-robin – we went on and were beaten in the semi-final and they came through on the other side to beat UL and win that Fitz outright.”

Waterford star Seán Walsh is available again for MTU, who will go in as strong favourites. However, Gould knows that Garda College, winners of the second-tier Ryan Cup last year and who have Watergrasshill’s Dáire O’Leary in their tanks – will relish the challenge.

“They’re in a similar position to what we were in that it’s essentially a free hit for them,” he says.

“We have researched them to the best of our abilities but the main focus is on ourselves and trying to replicate the performance from last week.

“We went out and we had a simple gameplan that was effective. We did identify one or two things or areas that we wanted to target – then, the onus was on the players because they went out and implemented it, so they deserve credit. They relished that challenge.

“We were written off massively, externally – I think the bookies actually had us touching 9/1 before the game – but we have a massive belief and confidence within the group.

“We travelling down for a moral victory or to just have a cut; we were going to get a win. I’ve no doubt the guards are coming down to us with a similar mindset.

“Our job is to make sure the lads are ready for what will be a different challenge and a different type of game.

“A big help in that regard is the strength of the panel. The lads know that, if they don’t perform, they’ll be looking over their shoulders.

“We’ll have four or five back for Thursday who weren’t there last week. There’s massive competition driving the team.”

It helps too to have Cork panellists like Darragh O’Sullivan, Diarmuid Healy and Alan Walsh, whose presence is valued even when they can’t train.

“We have guys from a few counties and we’ve had good access to our squad,” says Gould, by day a teacher at Coláiste Daibhéid.

“When we trained on the Sunday night before UCC, the Cork lads were there, so the messages were still being passed on – they knew what the system was and the style of play that we were going with.

“What you’d have to say above all is that it’s very team- and player-led. They were very well-organised and that came from the group itself, out on the pitch.”