AN INJURY-TIME pointed free by Tipperary’s Jason Forde secured a draw for UL in the Fitzgibbon Cup today in the Mardyke and in the process knocked 2012 and 2013 champions UCC out of this year’s competition.
UCC needed a win to progress after last week’s shock defeat to NUI Galway and looked to have secured the spoils with a fantastic long-range effort by wing-back Cormac Murphy.
But then UL won a late free and Forde held his nerve to split the posts. Murphy had another difficult late chance to save UCC yet his shot drifted just wide and the game finished in a 1-14 apiece draw.
The result coupled with NUI Galway’s win over GMIT means UL top Group B with NUI Galway finishing second and UCC, who had a star-studded team, bow out. The outcome was hugely disappointing for UCC on an afternoon when they had battled back into contention after trailing by six points at one juncture in the first-half.
UL, managed by Clare great Brian Lohan, had already secured a quarter-final berth but they exploded from the blocks to go ahead by 1-2 to 0-1 thanks to a goal from Kilkenny’s Conor Martin. Clare’s Tony Kelly was in exceptional form as he fired over a series of stunning long-range points and by the 21st minute they had sailed 1-5 to 0-2 clear.
Tony Kelly struck 0-5 for UL today Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
UCC recovered before half-time with Alan Cadogan to the fore and they were unlucky not to hit the net with John Power’s shot going just over the bar while UL’s heroic defending stopped shots from Shane O’Donnell and Rob O’Shea.
UL were ahead by 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval before UCC turned the game around early in the second-half. Barry Lawton was introduced at the break and he made a major impact when unleashing a terrific drive to the top corner of the net in the 33rd minute. They grew in confidence from there with Murphy and Waterford duo Jamie Barron and Tadgh Bourke all impressing.
Soon UCC had edged ahead by 1-9 to 1-8 when Cadogan pointed but they missed a chance to go further ahead when John Power’s penalty was saved in the 41st minute after O’Donnell had been fouled.
Alan Cadogan (file photo) was one of UCC's leading players today James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Entering the final quarter UCC were ahead 1-10 to 1-9 but the action ebbed and flowed in the closing stages as the lead changed hand frequently. PJ Scully put UL 1-12 to 1-11 ahead with seven minutes left before Lawton tied the game and then Kelly restored UL’s lead.
A great point from play by Lawton and a better one from Murphy looked to have sealed the triumph for UCC before Forde intervened late on for UL.
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UL boss Brian Lohan Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for UCC: Barry Lawton 1-3 (0-2f), Alan Cadogan 0-4, Conor Lehane 0-2, Shane O’Keeffe, John Power, Anthony Spillane, Paudie Prendergast, Cormac Murphy 0-1 each.
Scorers for UL: Conor Martin 1-3 (0-3f), Tony Kelly 0-5, John McGrath, Brian Stapleton, Tommy Heffernan, Kevin O’Brien, PJ Scully Jason Forde (0-1f) 0-1 each.
UCC
1. David O’Gorman (St Finbarr’s, Cork)
4. Michael Breen (Ballina, Tipperary)
3. David Glynn (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
2. Killian Burke (Midleton, Cork)
30. John Power (Carrickshock, Kilkenny)
15. Alan Cadogan (Douglas, Cork)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg, Clare)
Subs 11. Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr, Cork) for O’Keeffe (half-time)
13. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons, Cork) for O’Shea (half-time)
22. Brian Hartnett (Midleton, Cork) for Spillane (55)
UCC manager Ger Cunningham James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
UL
1. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary)
3. Brian Troy (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
2. Jack Browne (Ballyea, Clare)
4. Eoin Moriarty (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
5. Daire Quinn (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary)
8. Jason Forde (Silvermines, Tipperary)
7. Brian Stapleton (Templederry, Tipperary)
21. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare)
15. Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Limerick)
14. Conor Martin (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
10. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
13. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell, Limerick)
20. PJ Scully (Borris/Kilcotton, Laois)
12. Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary)
Subs
19. Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick) for Moriarty (half-time)
24. Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge, Clare) for Carmody (half-time)
23. Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley, Clare) for Maher (42)
22. Thomas Cleary (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary) for O’Brien (57)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Clare)
Clare's Bobby Duggan impressed today for NUI Galway. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
NUI Galway 0-17
GMIT 0-12
THE DRAW IN the Mardyke was good news for NUI Galway as it ensured their five-point win today over GMIT in Carnmore was enough to book a quarter-final berth.
NUI Galway’s progress is remarkable considering their dreadful start to the group campaign when they were hammered by 19 points by UL but they bounced back to defeat UCC last week and then fashioned a victory today.
They were ahead 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time and shook off the challenge of a determined GMIT outfit in the second-half. GMIT employed Neil Keary as a sweeper and were left to rue the 14 wides they amassed along with the reliance on Tadhg Haran, who struck 0-9, for scores.
Clare’s Bobby Duggan’s was to the fore for NUIG with 0-8 while Galway’s Cathal Mannion shone with 0-4 haul and Westmeath’s Niall O’Brien chipped in with 0-2.
Scorers for NUI Galway: Bobby Duggan 0-8 (0-7f), Cathal Mannion 0-4, Niall O’Brien 0-2, Conor Cleary, Shane Cooney 0-1 each.
Scorers for GMIT: Tadhg Haran 0-9 (0-9f), Gary Brennan, Conor O’Donnell, David Conroy 0-1 each.
Elsewhere this afternoon in Group D, Dublin IT clinched second spot with a 1-22 to 0-20 victory over Jordanstown in Belfast.
Forde injury-time point for UL knocks UCC out of Fitzgibbon Cup as NUIG and DIT also progress
UL 1-14
UCC 1-14
AN INJURY-TIME pointed free by Tipperary’s Jason Forde secured a draw for UL in the Fitzgibbon Cup today in the Mardyke and in the process knocked 2012 and 2013 champions UCC out of this year’s competition.
UCC needed a win to progress after last week’s shock defeat to NUI Galway and looked to have secured the spoils with a fantastic long-range effort by wing-back Cormac Murphy.
But then UL won a late free and Forde held his nerve to split the posts. Murphy had another difficult late chance to save UCC yet his shot drifted just wide and the game finished in a 1-14 apiece draw.
The result coupled with NUI Galway’s win over GMIT means UL top Group B with NUI Galway finishing second and UCC, who had a star-studded team, bow out. The outcome was hugely disappointing for UCC on an afternoon when they had battled back into contention after trailing by six points at one juncture in the first-half.
UL, managed by Clare great Brian Lohan, had already secured a quarter-final berth but they exploded from the blocks to go ahead by 1-2 to 0-1 thanks to a goal from Kilkenny’s Conor Martin. Clare’s Tony Kelly was in exceptional form as he fired over a series of stunning long-range points and by the 21st minute they had sailed 1-5 to 0-2 clear.
UCC recovered before half-time with Alan Cadogan to the fore and they were unlucky not to hit the net with John Power’s shot going just over the bar while UL’s heroic defending stopped shots from Shane O’Donnell and Rob O’Shea.
UL were ahead by 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval before UCC turned the game around early in the second-half. Barry Lawton was introduced at the break and he made a major impact when unleashing a terrific drive to the top corner of the net in the 33rd minute. They grew in confidence from there with Murphy and Waterford duo Jamie Barron and Tadgh Bourke all impressing.
Soon UCC had edged ahead by 1-9 to 1-8 when Cadogan pointed but they missed a chance to go further ahead when John Power’s penalty was saved in the 41st minute after O’Donnell had been fouled.
Entering the final quarter UCC were ahead 1-10 to 1-9 but the action ebbed and flowed in the closing stages as the lead changed hand frequently. PJ Scully put UL 1-12 to 1-11 ahead with seven minutes left before Lawton tied the game and then Kelly restored UL’s lead.
A great point from play by Lawton and a better one from Murphy looked to have sealed the triumph for UCC before Forde intervened late on for UL.
Scorers for UCC: Barry Lawton 1-3 (0-2f), Alan Cadogan 0-4, Conor Lehane 0-2, Shane O’Keeffe, John Power, Anthony Spillane, Paudie Prendergast, Cormac Murphy 0-1 each.
Scorers for UL: Conor Martin 1-3 (0-3f), Tony Kelly 0-5, John McGrath, Brian Stapleton, Tommy Heffernan, Kevin O’Brien, PJ Scully Jason Forde (0-1f) 0-1 each.
UCC
1. David O’Gorman (St Finbarr’s, Cork)
4. Michael Breen (Ballina, Tipperary)
3. David Glynn (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
2. Killian Burke (Midleton, Cork)
19. Paudie Prendergast (Lismore, Waterford)
6. Tadgh Bourke (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg, Waterford)
5. Cormac Murphy (Mallow, Cork)
9. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline, Clare)
25. Tom Devine (Modeligo, Waterford)
21. Shane O’Keeffe (Blackrock, Cork)
10. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater, Waterford)
12. Conor Lehane (Midleton, Cork)
30. John Power (Carrickshock, Kilkenny)
15. Alan Cadogan (Douglas, Cork)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg, Clare)
Subs
11. Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr, Cork) for O’Keeffe (half-time)
13. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons, Cork) for O’Shea (half-time)
22. Brian Hartnett (Midleton, Cork) for Spillane (55)
UL
1. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary)
3. Brian Troy (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
2. Jack Browne (Ballyea, Clare)
4. Eoin Moriarty (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
5. Daire Quinn (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary)
8. Jason Forde (Silvermines, Tipperary)
7. Brian Stapleton (Templederry, Tipperary)
21. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare)
15. Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Limerick)
14. Conor Martin (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
10. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
13. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell, Limerick)
20. PJ Scully (Borris/Kilcotton, Laois)
12. Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary)
Subs
19. Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick) for Moriarty (half-time)
24. Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge, Clare) for Carmody (half-time)
23. Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley, Clare) for Maher (42)
22. Thomas Cleary (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary) for O’Brien (57)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Clare)
NUI Galway 0-17
GMIT 0-12
THE DRAW IN the Mardyke was good news for NUI Galway as it ensured their five-point win today over GMIT in Carnmore was enough to book a quarter-final berth.
NUI Galway’s progress is remarkable considering their dreadful start to the group campaign when they were hammered by 19 points by UL but they bounced back to defeat UCC last week and then fashioned a victory today.
They were ahead 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time and shook off the challenge of a determined GMIT outfit in the second-half. GMIT employed Neil Keary as a sweeper and were left to rue the 14 wides they amassed along with the reliance on Tadhg Haran, who struck 0-9, for scores.
Clare’s Bobby Duggan’s was to the fore for NUIG with 0-8 while Galway’s Cathal Mannion shone with 0-4 haul and Westmeath’s Niall O’Brien chipped in with 0-2.
Scorers for NUI Galway: Bobby Duggan 0-8 (0-7f), Cathal Mannion 0-4, Niall O’Brien 0-2, Conor Cleary, Shane Cooney 0-1 each.
Scorers for GMIT: Tadhg Haran 0-9 (0-9f), Gary Brennan, Conor O’Donnell, David Conroy 0-1 each.
Elsewhere this afternoon in Group D, Dublin IT clinched second spot with a 1-22 to 0-20 victory over Jordanstown in Belfast.
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final day Fitzgibbon Cup GAA Hurling Jason Forde UCC UL