Huw Lawlor, UCD, and Michael Breen, UCC, tussle for possession at Belfield.
Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup Group D
UCC 1-8 UCD 1-5
By Jackie Cahill at Belfield
UCC braved dreadful weather conditions to win this afternoon’s heavyweight group C clash in the Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup.
Mark O’Brien scored the crucial second half goal as UCC claimed their second win from two games, leaving them in pole position to claim a home quarter-final.
In driving wind and rain, UCD were held scoreless in the second half, despite leading by five points at the break.
This promised to be one of the ties of the round, if not the competition, but the elements put paid to any hopes of an entertaining game.
Instead, it boiled down to a war of attrition and UCC did enough in the second half to overturn a 0-3 to 1-5 interval lead.
UCD had got off to a brilliant start when Waterford’s DJ Foran netted in the first minute and by half-time, Nicky English’s Belfield hosts were 1-5 to 0-3 clear.
Foran added to his goal with three points – all from placed balls – as Dublin’s Cian Mac Gabhann chipped in with a brace.
UCC had two points from Cork’s Rob O’Shea in the opening half, one a free, and a James O’Flynn effort. As the elements played a real part, every score would prove crucial and the visitors dug in to play ‘damage limitation’ in the first half.
After the break, UCC then took a firm stranglehold on proceedings, Cork ace Alan Cadogan kick-starting the second half scoring, before turning provider for Gavin O’Brien.
With 17 minutes left, Waterford’s Mark O’Brien drilled home a fine goal from an acute angle and UCC were level at 1-5 apiece.
UCC hit the front for the first time when sub Chris O’Leary pointed with his first touch before scores from Rob O’Shea (free) and goalscorer O’Brien closed the game out.
Meanwhile, in the other Group D fixture, Maynooth University registered a 4-23 to 1-7 success over Ulster University 1-7 to keep their hopes of progress alive until the final group games next week.
**Scorers for UCC: **M O’Brien 1-1, R O’Shea 0-3 (2fs), A Cadogan, J O’Flynn, G O’Brien and C O’Leary 0-1 each.
Scorers for UCD: DJ Foran 1-3 (2fs, 1 65), C Mac Gabhann 0-2.
UCC: D Desmond (Cork); I Kenny (Waterford), C Spillane (Cork), S Roche (Waterford); S Kennedy (Tipperary), C Gleeson (Waterford), R Cahalane (Cork); J Barron (Waterford), M Breen (Tipperary); M O’Brien (Waterford), T Devine (Waterford), G O’Brien (Waterford); A Cadogan (Cork), J O’Flynn (Cork), R O’Shea (Cork).
Subs: C O’Leary (Cork) for Breen (47), A Spillane (Cork) for O’Flynn (51), E Gunning (Cork) for C Spillane (55), C Roche (Waterford) for G O’Brien (56).
UCD: D Holohan (Kilkenny); E Hayden (Waterford), P Hannon (Galway), C MacGabhann (Dublin); H Lawlor (Kilkenny), T de Búrca (Waterford), C Buckley (Kilkenny); C O’Callaghan (Dublin), J O’Connor (Wexford); J Maher (Kilkenny), C Cronin (Dublin), P Guinan (Offaly); O O’Rorke (Dublin), L Scanlon (Kilkenny), DJ Foran (Waterford).
Subs: S Quirke (Tipperary) for O’Rorke (28), J.J. Ryan (Tipperary) for Maher (48), B Quigley (Wexford) for Mac Gabhann (53), T Phelan (Kilkenny) for Guinan (57).
Referee: A Devine (Westmeath).
Group A
** ** *
DIT 3-15 GMIT 0-10
IT Carlow 0-18 Mary I 0-18
DIT responded to last week's opening round defeat against IT Carlow with a comprehensive win over GMIT at Carnmore. Backed by a strong first half breeze DIT Led by 2-12 to 0-4 at half-time.
GMIT improved after the restart, but they never seriously troubled DIT, who are in the hunt for a place in the knock-out stages.
IT Carlow staged a dramatic second half comeback to divide the spoils with holders Mary I, who led at the break by eight points.
Group B
UL 2-21 NUIG 2-12
Cork IT 3-15 DCU-St Patricks 0-10
A star studded UL outfit claimed a deserved victory over NUIG in Limerick. John McGrath and Stephen Bennett scored goals for favourites UL before a late NUIG rally.
Niall Mitchell and Sam Conlon netted majors for NUIG, but UL, inspired by McGrath and Bennett, who registered 2-10 between them, prevailed.
Cork IT, beaten by UL last week, proved to be too strong for DCU-St Patrick's in Drumcondra with Michael Kearney scoring 1-6.
Group C
LIT 2-12 DCU 0-15***
WIT 4-15 Trinity College 1-8
Paul Killeen netted two second half goals for LIT to secure victory at the DCU Sportsgrounds.
Jason Ryan and Shane Bennett also nailed important late points for Davy Fitzgerald's side, who finished strongly. Patrick Curran struck eight points for DCU, but LIT came thundering back in the closing stages.
