Kennedy grabs first for DIT

Fitzgibbon Cup: Dublin IT 1-17, Garda College 1-16 DIT recorded their first win in the Fitzgibbon Cup yesterday with Donnacha Kennedy's point in the final minute of extra-time settling the issue at Grangegorman.

Garda College were without Cork star Jerry O'Connor who was carrying a groin strain he sustained while playing for Newtownshandrum in last Sunday's All-Ireland club semi-final against Ballygalget.

And while O'Connor's omission proved a big loss for Garda College this should not detract from what was a great achievement for the Dublin side.

Yesterday's game was dictated by a stiff breeze, which was a big help to DIT in the final 10-minute period.

DIT had opened up a two-point lead early in the first half, but then conceded a goal on 24 minutes when a run through the middle by Conor McNamara ended with the centre forward finishing to the back of the net.

That left Garda in front, 1-3 to 0-4, at the break, with Vinny Hurley - Garda College's most potent player - keeping the pressure on with two early points.

And while Hurley continued to punish DIT in the second half, DIT remained in contention with former Dublin minor Kevin O'Reilly having a good game in the corner.

The Lucan Sarsfield's man registered two valuable points for DIT before wing forward Willie Lyons then sent over the equalising point to leave the score in normal time reading 1-10 to 0-13.

Garda College rejigged their full-forward line in extra-time, but it was DIT that received a major boost when John Walshe's long-range free crept in under the crossbar.

And then, with just seconds to go, DIT claimed victory when - with the aid of the breeze - Donnacha Kennedy landed the winning point.

DIT: D Minnock; S Wallace, K Parrock, J Doran; E Connolly, J Walsh (1-0), W Lyons (0-2); M Phelan (0-4, one free, one 45), D Kennedy (0-2); B McEvoy, J Moran (0-2, one free), K O'Reilly (0-4, one free); N Kelly, J Clarke (0-3), S Clarke. Subs: D Kirby for McEvoy, T Frisby for N Kelly.

GARDA COLLEGE: B O'Donnell; I Delaney, D Boland, J Bulger; B Duff, P Sexton, A Kelly; J Woodlock, N O'Donovan (0-1); H Coughlan, C McNamara (1-1), V Hurley (0-9, five frees); D Kennedy, E Maher, C O'Mahony (0-2). Subs: D Tanner (0-1) for Sexton, K Conneely (0-2) for Coughlan, B Moran for Kennedy, P Kinsella for Mahony.

Referee: D O'Donoghue (St Mark's).