SHANE O’DONNELL WAS amongst the goalscorers as UCC reached the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup this afternoon at the Mardyke with a comprehensive 5-25 to 1-6 win over St Patrick’s-Mater Dei.
The result ensured UCC topped Group A and they will advance to a home quarter-final tie next week against UCD. St Pat’s, who were reduced to 14 men early on when James Kelly was dismissed, had no answer to three-in-a-row chasing UCC and ultimately lost out by 31 points.
O’Donnell, making his first start for UCC this year as they rested Cork’s Conor Lehane, struck the first goal in the 7th minute before Willie Griffin bagged their second goal shortly after.
Rob O’Shea fired home the third goal as UCC went in front by 3-14 to 0-2 at half-time. Second-half goals by Griffin and a superb solo effort from defender Pat O’Sullivan helped UCC copperfasten their victory. St Pat’s struck a late goal through Eoin O’Neill yet UCC ran out comfortable victors.
Progress
Waterford IT also clinched their place in the last eight as they defeated Carlow IT by 0-25 to 1-16 in Carriganore.
WIT finished runner-up in Group A and they will be away to Dublin IT at the quarter-final stage next week. The winners lead by 0-13 to 1-9 at half-time with Stephen Maher shining in the scoring stakes for Carlow IT while Kevin Kelly raised their green flag.
Waterford senior duo Pauric Mahony and Jake Dillon dominated the scoring in the second-half to enable WIT to pull clear and win by six points.
Results
Fitzgibbon Cup
Group A
UCC 5-25 St Pat’s Mater-Dei 1-6
Waterford IT 0-25 Carlow IT 1-16
