UL punish UCC wastefulness to reach Fitzgibbon semi-final after two late red cards

University of Limerick 0-20 

University College Cork 0-12 

UCC’s trip to the lion’s den on Wednesday evening in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final finished as anticipated, UL running away to an eight-point victory at Maguire’s Fields.

What complicated the evening were two late red cards shown to Eoin Downey and substitute Michael Mullaney, leaving UCC to finish with 13 men. By then, however, the contest had already slipped beyond them.

They had put up a strong resistance in the first half against the elements, trailing by only two at the break after a strong second quarter after an early UL surge.

UL edged three clear then on the restart, Joe Fitzgerald and the influential Darragh McCarthy on target, the latter combining sharply with Adam Screeney.

Hugh O’Connor – wearing the same number 23 he donned on his Cork senior debut last weekend – responded smartly from play to leave it 0-10 to 0-7 after 35 minutes.

Tipperary star McCarthy began to exert greater control, clipping over a pair of frees to stretch the gap, though UL were denied a goal when Paudie O’Sullivan produced an outstanding save to repel Oisín O’Donoghue.

UCC, missing both Ben Cunningham and Ed McDermott, struggled to build momentum in the final third. William Buckley, lively throughout, struck two frees to reduce the margin to three after 41 minutes, but consistency deserted the College thereafter.

Wides accumulated – 13 in total by the end for the Skull and Crossbones – and UL capitalised. Another McCarthy free sparked a decisive four-point burst.

Points from Adam English and Stritch pushed the lead to six. Brian Keating briefly offered hope, first with a point and then with a clever pass that sent Buckley clear on goal, but Darach Fahy stood firm, brilliantly denying Hugh O’Connor from close range after the St Finbarr’s man squared it to him.

Any lingering prospect of a late rally evaporated in the 54th minute when Downey was dismissed following an off-the-ball exchange with Colin Coughlan. UL continued to pull away, substitute Jack Leahy – freshly returned from injury and with just one boot on – firing over a superb point.

Further scores from Fintan Fitzgerald and English in added time completed UL’s scoring, while UCC’s night worsened when Mullaney was sent off three minutes from the end for a late challenge on Ciarmhac Smyth.

It was a first half performance that suggested UCC could have taken something from this game, though. Shane Kingston was particularly impressive at full-back, tasked with the unenviable job of curbing McCarthy’s influence, while Brian Keating opened their account after a slick move involving Darragh Stakelum, Buckley and Darragh Flynn.

UL, though, always had another gear. McCarthy struck four frees and a point from play in the opening half alone, with Screeney adding a fine score of his own, and once their control sharpened after the break, the outcome followed the expected script.

Scorers for UL: D McCarthy 0-9 (0-7 f), A English, A Screeney, D Stritch 0-2 each, F Fitzgerald, J O’Neill, A O’Connor, J Fitzgerald, J Leahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCC: W Buckley 0-7 (0-4 f), B Keating, H O’Connor 0-2 each, C Walsh 0-1.

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: D Fahy; A Morgan, J Conneally, C Smyth (Midleton); K Doyle, M Fitzgerald, C Coughlan; J Fitzgerald, A English; D Stritch, J O’Neill, O O’Donoughue; D McCarthy, A O’Connor, A Screeney.

Subs: D Langan for Morgan (45), J Leahy (Dungourney) for Screeney (46), F Fitzgerald for Doyle (55); O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s) for Coughlan (temp, 57-59); O Fitzgerald for Smyth (60+2, inj).

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK (Cork clubs unless stated): P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s); E Guinane (Valley Rovers), S Kingston (Ballinora), K Lyons (Ballygarvan); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Downey (Glen Rovers), T Wilk (Cobh); O O’Regan (Emerald’s, Kilkenny), B Keating (Ballincollig); H O’Connor (Newmarket), P McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), C Walsh (Kanturk), D Flynn (Ballygiblin).

Subs: S Daly (Randal Óg) for Lyons (38), R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for McGarry (43), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own) for Flynn (45), M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford) for O’Regan (53).

Referee: L Gordon (Galway)