Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC primed for toughest possible task

Ask any Fitzgibbon Cup manager what the least-appetising assignment is and the likelihood is that the responses would be unanimous.

Having won three of the last four titles – losing the final in the other year – the University of Limerick are the undisputed force in third-level hurling and so travelling to face them in an away knockout game is the bummest of deals.

For UCC, it is the reality they must face, having finished runners-up to MTU Cork in Group B of the competition.

Manager Ray Delaney is fully aware of the size of the challenge in the quarter-final tie on Shannonside (6.30pm) but he wants his team to embrace it.

“Of course it is [a tough task],” he said, “absolutely.

“On paper, we might as well not go up there, but I think if you write down our team on paper, I don't think we're bad either.

“That's what we said to the lads after the game – it's up to them what happens next.

“We went up in 2018 and they gave us an unmerciful hiding. They're a very good team and they played really well, but we didn't turn up. So we have to turn up.

“That's the most important thing.”

UCC hope that Ben Cunningham will be available after a hamstring injury kept him out of the 4-19 to 1-21 win in Templemore last Thursday. His St Finbarr’s clubmate William Buckley scored ten points in what was in the end a comfortable win, though the hosts did put it up to UCC in the first half.

“It was just relief,” Delaney said.

“We just had to win, it was as simple as that.

“We had to win and we did. Heavy pitch – grass maybe wasn't cut for a couple of days! – but, you know, we won, that's all that counts.

“The most important thing is that you have to earn the right to play any sport, whatever the sport is.

“We didn't earn the right against MTU. We had to earn the right against the Guards and we did. We kept going, we kept going, give away some silly frees, but we earned our victory, I thought.”

And what was different from the ten-point defeat to MTU at the Mardyke a week earlier?

“I have absolutely no idea because I still can't get my head around it,” Delaney said.

“I would say that we prepared perfectly for it, everything went right.

“I suppose, if you're to compare the two games, we worked a hell of a lot harder against the Guards.

“I think we might have won one or two breaking balls or rucks on the ground in the first game, we won maybe in double figures the second day, which is good.

“I think we had one block and no hook in the MTU game, which isn't acceptable at this level. Against the Guards, I think Brian Keating landed two hooks and a block.”

If they are to upset the odds tonight, it’s likely UCC will need goals and, in that regard, the four green flags against Garda College provide some solace.

Soon after his half-time introduction, Cork panellist Hugh O’Connor had netted one and set up another for Darragh Stakelum while Colin Walsh and Ed McDermott also goaled.4

Taking the opportunities is important, Delaney feels.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said.

“We would always be on to them if the opportunity arises, anywhere 30 yards from goal – don't take the handy point.

“If you go into contact, you're knocked back, that's OK, then you might take your score. But take your man on – it's a physical game.”