UL 3-22 Limerick IT 2-18 After extra-time:A SPECTACULAR goal by Joe Canning with the last puck of the game brought this exciting tie to extra-time at the Limerick IT Grounds.
The Galway star finished as he began as he also had the opening point and then a goal after only three minutes to have LIT in front by 1-2 to no score.
But Canning was outshone on the day by UL’s Tipperary star, Willie Ryan who scored 10 points, four from frees.
After the poor start gradually UL found their range and by the half-time break Limerick IT led by only two points, 1-8 to 1-6, with Thomas Connors getting the goal for UL.
Three minutes from the end substitute Andrew Finn had a second goal for UL and then came Canning’s great strike after superb linking play between Ronan Sherlock and Seán Collins to allow Canning to earn extra-time for LIT.
UL finished by far the stronger and a goal by another substitute Michael Gleeson had UL in front by 3-16 to 2-17 at the end of the first half of extra-time.
Two points by Brian Carroll clinched the win for UL and while Canning went for goal with the last free of the game, his effort was deflected over the bar for just a point.
UL: T Lowry; P Stapleton, M Malone, C Fogarty; K Joyce, J Devane, D Hayden; S Hickey, B Carroll (0-4); R O’Dwyer (0-1), S Dooley (0-3), T Connors (1-0); W Ryan (0-10, four frees), P Murphy, M Ruth. Subs: M Gleeson (1-1) for Murphy, N O’Murchadha (0-2), for Dooley, M Walsh, for Joyce, A Quinn (1-1) for Ruth, B Fox, for Hayden.
LIT: M Ryan; J Gunning, C Cooney, E Glynn; J O’Keeffe, N O’Connell, R Sherlock; P O’Brien, C Chapman; N Quinn, S Callinan (0-3, three frees), S Collins; S Tobin (0-2), J Canning (2-10), B Gaffney (0-2). Subs: G McInerney, for Glynn, T Dalton (0-1) for Gaffney, M Ryan for Chaplain.
Referee: N Cosgrave (Tipperary).
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