UCD 1-16
UL 0-17
Noel McGrath was the scoring star as UCD qualified for the Fitzgibbon Cup finals weekend for the first time since 2006 at Belfield this afternoon.
The Tipperary senior fired over the last four points of the game to chisel out a victory for his side over a UL team that had controlled the first-half and lead by three points at the break.
However UCD, managed by Tipperary great Nicky English and inspired by the defensive excellence of Dublin senior footballer Rory O’Carroll, overturned that deficit in the second-half.
In a hard-fought and engaging contest, UCD trailed by 0-17 to 1-12 with five minutes remaining but then McGrath split the posts twice from placed balls to tie the match
And after UL substitute John Fitzgibbon fouled UCD’s Bill O’Carroll, a younger brother of Rory, in the 58th minute, McGrath held his nerve to convert the free that pushed UCD into the lead. The Loughmore-Castleiney man brought his personal contribution for the day to 0-12 when in injury-time he notched his only point from play in the game, a glorious effort from the right wing.
UL were left mulling over defeat after a game where they had began brightly to lead by 0-6 to 0-1 after 9 minutes. Ace free taker Kieran Morris was impressive for them while the twin aerial threat close to goal of Galway’s Jonathan Glynn and Clare’s Darach Honan caused major problems for the UCD defence.
But UCD made a crucial switch as Rory O’Carroll went back to the edge of the square to anchor their rearguard and he went on to give an immense performance while Kilkenny duo William Phelan and James Gannon also caught the eye.
By the 14th minute UCD had drawn level when Wexford’s Jack Guiney blasted the ball to the net after great work by Paddy Murphy to create the opening. The teams traded points from there before UL forged clear coming up to half-time with four late points by Morris helping them to a 0-13 to 1-7 advantage at the break.
UL started the second-half with a point from substitute Paul Kelly and then nearly grabbed a goal but for Brian Murphy making a vital save to deny Tommy Heffernan. UCD grew in confidence thereafter and with McGrath, who hit 0-8 in the second-half, in accurate form they slowly managed to chip away at the UL advantage.
The Tipperary man saved his best scoring spree until the closing stages to ensure UCD will face UCC at the semi-final stage in Galway on Friday week, March 1st.
UCD’s Jack Guiney and Michael Walsh of UL. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Scorers for UCD: Noel McGrath 0-12 (0-11f), Jack Guiney 1-1, Patrick Murphy 0-2, Cathal Kenny 0-1.
Scorers for UL: Kieran Morris 0-9 (0-7f, 0-2 ’65), Adrian Ryan, Paul Kelly, Brian Stapleton 0-2 each, Michael Fennelly, Jonathan Glynn 0-1 each.
UCD: Brian Murphy (Shelmaliers, Wexford); Jack Dougan (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), William Phelan (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), James Gannon (St Patrick’s, Kilkenny); Bill O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), Shane Norton (Emeralds, Kilkenny); Cathal Kenny (Barrow Rangers, Kilkenny), Oisin Gough (Cuala, Dublin); Domhnall Fox (Carnmore, Galway), Paddy Murphy (Éire Og-Nenagh, Tipperary), Conor Allis (Croom, Limerick); Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary), Jack Guiney (Rathnure, Wexford), Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-the-Ballagh, Wexford).
UL: Niall McGrath (Burgess, Tipperary); Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Limerick), Michael Walsh (Young Ireland’s, Kilkenny), Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh, Tipperary); Paraic Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Conor Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), Joe Gallagher (Kildangan, Tipperary); Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge, Clare); Tommy Heffernan (Éire Óg-Nenagh, Tipperary), Brian Stapleton (Templederry, Tipperary), Adrian Ryan (Templederry, Tipperary); Kieran Morris (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary), Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan, Galway), Darach Honan (Clonlara, Clare).
Subs: Paul Kelly (Mullinahone, Tipperary) for Stapleton (inj) (27), Eamon Murphy (Dunhill, Waterford) for Honan (48), John Fitzgibbon (Adare, Limerick) for Heffernan (55).
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).
