UCC 1-13
Cork IT 1-11
Reigning champions UCC were forced to come from behind to claim success over local rivals Cork IT in this afternoon’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final tie.
In a game played in the Mardyke, which was a repeat of last year’s final between the sides, UCC again emerged triumphant but were forced to work hard before advancing to the semi-finals.
They will now face the winners of tomorrow’s quarter-final between UCD and UL, in a game that will be played in Galway on Friday week, March 1st. An early second-half goal from Waterford senior Brian O’Sullivan was crucial to UCC’s success as they recovered from a two-point interval deficit.
The key first-half score had arrived from Lorcan McLoughlin when his long-range delivery flew all the way to the net. CIT were also benefitted by the presence of Ciaran Sheehan, available for the first time for the CIT hurlers this year after his recent involvement with the college’s Sigerson Cup team and the Cork footballers.
McLoughlin found the net to help CIT to lead 1-4 to 0-4 by the 19th minute after they had begun brightly to engineer a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes. UCC rallied before the interval with Brian Lawton chipping in with points yet CIT were still in front by 1-6 to 0-7 at the midway mark as Daire Lordan display accuracy from placed balls.
However UCC got a huge boost after the break when Ballygunner club man O’Sullivan found the net and the teams were tied at 1-7 apiece by the 38th minute. With 11 minutes left CIT were narrowly in front by 1-9 to 1-8 before UCC finished the stronger to hit a string of points that sealed their win.
Conor Lehane (2), Dan McCormack, Barry Lawton and Brian Murray all raise white flags but after Lordan converted a free, UCC then needed goalkeeper Darren McCarthy to deny Michael O’Sullivan a late CIT goal.
Scorers for UCC: Conor Lehane 0-4 (0-4f), Brian O’Sullivan 1-1, Dan McCormack, Brian Lawton 0-2 each, James Barry (0-1f), Brian Murray (0-1 sideline), Brian Hartnett, Barry Lawton 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork IT: Daire Lordan 0-5 (0-5f), Lorcan McLoughlin 1-0, David Drake 0-2, Michael O’Sullivan, Bill Cooper, Ciaran Sheehan, Eoin Concannon 0-1 each.
UCC: Darren McCarthy (Ballymartle, Cork); Stephen Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), David Glynn (Dicksboro, Kilkenny), Killian Murphy (Erins Own, Cork); James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane, Tipperary), Dara Fives (Tourin, Waterford), William Egan (Kilbrin, Cork); Brian Murray (Bishopstown, Cork), Paul Haughney (Midleton, Cork); Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s, Cork), Dan McCormack (Borrisoleigh, Tipperary), Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr, Cork); Brian Hartnett (Midleton, Cork), Brian O’Sullivan (Ballygunner, Waterford), Conor Lehane (Midleton, Cork).
Subs: Cormac Murphy (Mallow, Cork) for Haughney (inj) (28), Willie Griffin (Adare, Limerick) for Murphy (46), Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr, Cork) for O’Sullivan.
CORK IT: Stephen Nyhan (Courcey Rovers, Cork); Brian O’Sullivan (Fermoy, Cork), Stephen Daniels (De La Salle, Waterford), Stephen O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge, Clare); Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk, Cork), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber, Clare), James Goggin (St Finbarr’s, Cork); Andy Walsh (Killeagh, Cork), Nicky Kelly (Mayfield, Cork); John Cronin (Lisgoold, Cork), David Drake (Carrigaline, Cork), Michael O’Sullivan (Tracton, Cork); Ciaran Sheehan (Éire Óg, Cork), Daire Lordan (Courcey Rovers, Cork), Bill Cooper (Youghal, Cork).
Subs: Eoin Concannon (Castlegar, Galway) for Cooper (23), Niall O’Doherty (Grenagh, Cork) for Goggin (30), Cooper for Walsh (49), Tomas Lawrence (Brian Dillons, Cork) for Kelly (56).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
