HURLING FITZGIBBON CUP SEMI-FINALS UCC 1-18 Waterford IT 2-14REIGNING CHAMPIONS Waterford IT lost their title yesterday after an injury-time goal by Bill Beckett ended the South East colleges hopes of a back-to-back success. Waterford held a six-point lead with 13 minutes remaining but UCC ensured an all-universities decider for the first time since 2001 this evening at Parnell Park (5pm).
In a high-scoring first half Waterford IT, managed by Wexford manager Colm Bonner, led by 0-10 to 0-7 at half-time. WIT were on fire in the opening half with Tipperary’s Timmy Hammersly impressive at full-forward.
Despite the free-flowing scoring of Hammersly and his forward colleagues, UCC were reasonably resilient at the back with half-back Shane O’Neill outstanding.
However in the second half WIT were forced to defend strongly as points from John Mulhall helped UCC draw level at 0-11 each 11 minutes after the break.
But then Clonoulty/Rossmore clubman Hammersly bagged a brace of goals in the 42nd and 43rd to put WIT into a six-point advantage. The game was finely balanced as the Cork college dug deep to conjure another response.
Waterford IT’s joy proved short-lived as UCC got back on the offensive with a string of good scores resulting from excellent moves as the Cork college began to dominate the midfield sector.
Waterford native Richie Foley began to plot the Deise college’s downfall as he kick-started a scoring spree to edge UCC within a point.
Scores from Foley, Cork’s Stephen Moylan and Shane Burke of Tipperary cut the deficit to the minimum at the start of injury-time.
The momentum was with UCC, but extra-time looked a more likely scenario rather than a wonder victory for UCC. However with a plethora of substitutions and injuries in the second half, there was still time for UCC to pull the game out of the fire.
When Ray McLoughney scored an easy free to give Waterford IT a two-point advantage it looked like they would hold out. But WIT hadn’t read the final part of the script as Beckett’s goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a dramatic late victory for UCC.
UCC:A Nash; S O'Neill, D McSweeney, C O'Sullivan; J Jordan, K Hartnett, R Foley (0-3, one free); M Wilkinson, M Cahill; S Burke (0-1), B Beckett (1-4), D Hanley (0-1); T Og Murphy, J Mulhall (0-5, one sideline), S Moylan (0-3, two frees). Subs:B O'Sullivan for Wilkinson (45 mins), E Murphy for T Óg Murphy (50 mins), D Browne for Cahill (56 mins).
WATERFORD IT:A Power; B Kenny, R McCarthy, C Cooney; M Dunne, E Barrett, J Ryan; S Lillis (0-3, two frees), PJ Rowe; R Good (0-1), F O'Leary (0-1), TJ Reid (0-2); K Grehan, T Hammersly (2-2), R McLoughney (0-5, frees). Subs:S Fives for Barrett (41 mins), S O'Donnell for Grehan (48 mins), J Gahan for Rowe (52 mins).
Referee:J Owens (Wexford).
