Fitzgerald's strike helps students to settle down

Leinster Hurling/UCD 1-20 Portlaoise 0-11: Dublin champions UCD progressed to a Leinster semi-final meeting with Coolderry of Offaly after they triumphed over Portlaoise yesterday.

Played in ideal, if cold conditions, in Portlaoise, the Babs Keating-trained students took time to settle; but once Tipperary player Diarmuid Fitzgerald put them ahead with a goal after 10 minutes, they never looked in trouble.

Fitzgerald retired injured shortly afterwards, but excellent points from midfielder Brian Barry and Pat Morrissey saw the them lead 1-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Noel Costello accounted for all of Portlaoise's points from placed balls.

Further points from Redmond and Brian Barry saw University College Dublin stretch their advantage,with only Costello keeping Portlaoise in contention.

And points from Offaly player Brendan Murphy and substitute John O'Connor saw the Dublin champions pull away and now look forward to their first semi-final in four years.

UCD: M White; D Prendergast, D O'Connor, R Kirwan; C Everard, E Ryan, D Fitzgerald (1-0); S Lucey (0-3), B Barry (0-6); P Morrissey (0-2), B Phelan, T Murphy; R Barry (0-2), B Hogan (0-2), B Murphy (0-3). Subs: J O'Connor (0-2) for D Fitzgerald; A Barry for Phelan; C Ryan for Everard; E Campion for Ryan; P Doheny for T Murphy.

PORTLAOISE: J Hanniffy; B Mulligan, C Duggan, C Healy; T Mulligan (0-1), D Costello, C Clear; J Phelan (0-1), S Cotter; O Browne, E Fennelly (0-1), B McCormack; T Fitzgerald, B Fitzgerald, N Costello (0-8). Subs: M Bowe for Cotter; R Scully for Browne; B O'Reilly for B Fitzgerald.

Referee: F Smith (Co Meath)

Coolderry were made to earn their victory over Carnew of Wicklow on a 0-13 to 0-8 margin at Arklow yesterday.

The Wicklow champions had to play with only 14 men for the final quarter after forward Joe Murphy was sent off following an off-the-ball incident.

Scorers: Coolderry - D Murray 0-6, four frees; D Dooley, C Parlon 0-2 each, S Tooher, P O'Connor, B Carroll 0-1 each; Carnew - D Hyland 0-6, five frees, J Sinnott, T Kennedy 0-1 each.

Wexford champions Oulart-The Ballagh could afford to shoot 18 wides and still emerge 2-14 to 0-7 winners over Naomh Bríd of Carlow at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow yesterday.

This game was a real contest for the opening half, and the sides were level 0-6 each at the break, But in the the second half Oulart increased the tempo and it was one-way traffic to the end,

Scorers: Oulart-The Ballagh - D Mythen 1-4; M Jacob 0-4, three frees; M Storey 0-3; P Finn 1-0; S Doyle, A O'Leary, M Kirwan 0-1 each; Naomh Bríd - M Brennan, B Lawler, one free, 0-2 each; D Shaw, free, A Brennan, P Hickey 0-1 each.