MTU Cork hurler, Ciarán Joyce.
Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final
MTU Cork 4-18 TUS Midwest 1-17
By Tom Clancy in Moylish
A powerful second half from MTU Cork saw them turn a five-point interval deficit into a ten-point victory over TUS Midwest in Limerick.
It took a hat-trick from Alan Walsh as well as a Jack Cahalane goal to see off a gallant TUS challenge. The winners didn’t panic as their shooting and distribution was greatly improved during the second period.
TUS Midwest, who’d won Group Three, showed why when powering into an eight point lead after twenty minutes. Kyle Shelly was key to this as the Tipperary native netted a second penalty as well as clocking up nine first half points.
Joining him on the scoresheet were Niall O’Farrell, Paddy McCormack and Sean Canning – but they were unable to sustain this challenge, efficiency or work rate during the second half.
Welcoming back Cork senior hurlers Alan Connolly and Ciaran Joyce, the MTU side lack fluidity during the first half but combined superbly after the restart.
The first sign of that was late in the first half, when Walsh finished his first goal, doubling close to goal after being served the ball by Brian Lynch who made an incisive run.
The gap was whittled away by the three quarter-mark. Connolly’s shot was claimed close to goal by Walsh who finished with aplomb before he got his hat-trick soon after. This time, Diarmuid Healy cut through the Limerick students defence to offload to the poacher who made no mistake.
They simply didn’t look back and only conceded four times during the second half- three of those frees and the other a sixty-five. The simply dominated against a TUS side who couldn’t sustain the level of energy clearly needed in the first half.
MTU, formerly CIT, have yet to win this famous hurling competition. Manager Padraig Gould will be aware that his side can go all the way, especially if they click like they did in the second half.
They killed the contest late on thanks to points from corner-back Darragh O’Sullivan (2) and Connolly. The Blackrock forward also set-up the final goal. Registering just four wides during the second half, the turnover stats improved, as too did hooks, tackles and blocks – something which went the other way for two time Fitzgibbon Cup winners, TUS.
The final goal epitomized the team work from MTU. Connolly found the loose man, Jack Cahalane, who finished neatly from close to goal. Cahalane finished with 1-3, all of which came during the second half.
MTU Cork join cross-city rivals UCC, 2024 runners-up UL and DCU in the final four.
Scorers for MTU Cork: Alan Walsh 3-1; Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-5 frees); Jack Cahalane 1-3; Mikey Finn, Darragh O’Sullivan 0-2 each; Rhys McCarthy, Sam Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Healy 0-1 each.
Scorers for TUS Midwest: Kyle Shelly 1-12 (1-0 pen, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65); Niall O’Farrell 0-2; Paddy McCormack, Sean Canning, James Mahon (free) 0-1 each.
MTU Cork (Cork unless stated): Cathal Wilson (Newcestown); Fionn O'Connell (St Catherine's), Eoin Varian (Glen Rovers), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); Ronan Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Waterford); Michael Mullins (Whitechurch), Mikey Finn (Midleton); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Brian Lynch (Ballinhassig), Rhys McCarthy (Carrigaline); Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Alan Connolly (Blackrock) Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr's).
Subs: Richard O’Sullivan (Newcestown) for Lynch (58); David O’Sullivan (Ballincollig) for McCarthy (58); Mark Tobin (Mallow) for Fitzgerald (64).
TUS Midwest: Rory Brislane (Toomevara, Tipperary); David Fitzgerald (Kildimo Pallaskenry, Limerick), Evan Maxted (Clooney Quin, Clare), James Mahon (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly); Jack McCullagh (Banglestown Gaels, Carlow), Paddy Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), Stephen Walsh (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary); Darragh Casey (Granagh Ballingarry, Limerick), Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary); Niall O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare), Paddy McCormack (Borrisoleigh, Tipperary), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty Rossmore, Tipperary); Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs, Tipperary), Sean Canning (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon).
Subs: Eoghan Cuddy (Camross, Laois) for McCullagh (48); Darragh Guinan (Lorrha, Tipperary) for Casey (48); Barry Adams (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Canning (55).
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
