Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC push on in second half to see off Garda College

Garda College 1-21

UCC 4-19

A place in the quarter-finals of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup was secured for UCC as they pulled clear of Garda College in Wednesday’s clash in Templemore.

With both teams having been beaten by Group B table-toppers, this was a play-off for second place – and the ‘prize’ of an away game against holders University of Limerick in the last eight. UCC finished the first half well to lead by 1-10 to 1-7 and then were asserted their supremacy early in the second period.

Hugh O’Connor and Timmy Wilk were both introduced at half-time and O’Connor, named as part of Ben O’Connor’s Cork panel for the national league, had an immediate impact.

After a Cian Boyle free cut the gap slightly for Garda – one of 16 points he scored – O’Connor latched on to a loose ball close to the hosts’ goal and finished smartly to the net for a five-point lead. Then, a few minutes later, he did brilliantly to claim a Paudie O’Sullivan puckout and fed the onrushing Darragh Stakelum to find the net.

A 3-10 to 1-8 lead with 23 minutes left did much to decide the outcome, especially as Garda were without Watergrasshill’s Dáire O’Leary and attacker Daniel Hand, both of whom had impressed in their defeat to MTU last week.

UCC continued to create chances and, while they were not always on target, they had nice scores from William Buckley and Darragh Flynn before the fourth goal arrived. When Buckley linked with Colin Walsh – the scorer of their first-half goal – Garda full-back Mark Carey got in a good block but Buckley was able to claim possession again to find Ed McDermott for a close-range finish.

Boyle’s dead-ball accuracy ensured that Garda continued to build their tally but a UCC defence where Eoin Guinane and Eoin Downey impressed was not likely to give up another goal while Wilk landed two points in addition to his smart play in the half-back line.

A tougher test awaits next week but UCC will be pleased with how they responded to the home defeat by MTU, especially in terms of standing up to the physical challenge on a heavy pitch in the first half.

John Doyle’s goal, set up by Ciarán Kirwan’s driving run, put Garda into an early lead but, while UCC were without the injured Ben Cunningham, his St Finbarr’s team-mate Buckley did much to carry the scoring burden. He had seven points in that opening half, though it wasn’t until Walsh’s goal, with Guinane the provider, that they drew level at 1-6 each on 24 minutes.

Guinane’s pass then allowed McDermott to put them in front again and, while Boyle levelled, a trio from Buckley – two from play – sent UCC in with that three-point cushion before they built on it after the break.

Scorers for Garda College: C Boyle 0-16 (0-15 f), J Doyle 1-0, D Hayes, C Kirwan, L Carr, R Stapleton, S Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.

UCC: W Buckley 0-10 (0-5 f), E McDermott 1-2, D Stakelum 1-1, H O’Connor, C Walsh 1-0, each, T Wilk 0-2, P McGarry, M Mullaney, D Flynn, J Dwyer 0-1 each.

GARDA COLLEGE: J O'Dwyer; L Carr, M Carey, D Brennan; J Mulqueen, R Molloy, S Fitzgibbon, D O'Reilly, C Langan; L Dunne, T Doyle, C Kirwan; C Boyle, J Doyle, R Stapleton.

Subs: S O’Brien for Dunne (half-time), D Hayes for Langan (33), D Ryanf for Brennan (57), E Flaherty for Stapleton (59).

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

Subs: H O’Connor (Newmarket) for Troy, T Wilk (Cobh) for Daly (both half-time), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own) for McDermott (46), M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford) for Lyons (48), T O’Connell (Ballincollig) for Keating (54).

Referee: D Hughes (Kilkenny).