Fitzgibbon Cup holders WIT secure victory with second-half showing

WIT 1-18 DIT 1-7

Fitzgibbon Cup holders WIT outscored DIT by 11 points to three in the second half at Carriganore last night to book a spot in the semi-finals on Friday.

In a tense affair, WIT’s defence was superb throughout and held the away outfit to just three scores from play. Seven different players contributed to the scoreboard as Pauric Mahony shot eight points and Austin Gleeson sent in an eye-catching double during the second period.

The hosts bossed the opening half but only led by 1-7 to 1-4 at the break. Guiney opened the scoring for the visitors but WIT defence quelled their attacking threat thereafter. They moved 1-4 to 0-1 ahead after the first quarter as Stephen Roche rippled the net on 12 minutes.

Guiney hit back with three frees on the bounce. On 27 minutes, Jude Sweeney passed to Guiney and he blasted an unstoppable shot to the top corner past Darragh Stapleton. A third free by Pauric Mahony handed the reigning champions a three point halfway gap.

Stretched lead

Mahony stretched that lead to five at the start of the second half with a brace. Austin Gleeson hared down the right wing on 44 minutes to strike the score of the night. Another point from substitute

Johnny Hayes

saw WIT move seven up at the close of the third quarter (1-13 to 1-6). A hook from centre back Martin O’Neill stopped a certain goal for Guiney and DIT’s challenge faded.

WIT: D Stapleton; O McGrath, G Teehan, J Maher; T Hamill, M O'Neill, T Fox; J Langton, S Roche (1-1); G O'Brien (0-2), P Mahony (0-8, six frees), H Kehoe; L McGrath (0-2), A Gleeson (0-3), J Dillon (0-1). Subs: J Hayes (0-1)for Dillon (36 mins); G Malone for Kehoe (48 mins); P Campion for Gleeson (56 mins); C O'Brien for Langton (58 mins); T Kavanagh for Mahony (58 mins). DIT: P McKenna; B Carey, T Doyle, C Robinson; G Whelan, K Bergin, J Cahill; C Sheehan (0-1), J Henderson; S Murphy, J Guiney (1-6, five frees), J Sweeney; M Lee, D McNicholas, J McManus . Subs: D Roberts for Lee (28 mins); W McGrath for Murphy (48 mins). Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).