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Corry gives UCC edge in thriller

FITZGIBBON CUP FINAL/UCC 2-15 Cork IT 2-14: UCC COMPLETED an historic centenary double by adding the Fitzgibbon Cup to last …

Mon Mar 05 2012 - 00:00

FITZGIBBON CUP FINAL/UCC 2-15 Cork IT 2-14:UCC COMPLETED an historic centenary double by adding the Fitzgibbon Cup to last season's Sigerson Cup triumph in front of a crowd of 2,100 at the Mardyke on Saturday.

It was their 41st title and Cork IT, who were chasing their first success, looked to be spoiling the party as they led by 0-11 to 0-8 with six minutes’ remaining, when the game at last caught fire.

Substitute Brian Hartnett levelled matters with a snap goal and UCC appeared to have pulled off an amazing smash and grab raid with a second goal from another substitute, Dean Brosnan, who batted in Stephen Moylan’s sideline cut approaching full-time.

But Cork IT, who also lost last year’s county final by a point, grabbed a goal three minutes into injury-time when Jamie Coughlan forced the ball over the line following a terrific scramble, 1-11 to 2-8.

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An improvement in the weather coincided with UCC’s best spell as they dominated the first-half of extra time by scoring five unanswered points with Moylan contributing a couple, captain Shane Bourke another and two frees from Pauric Mahony to lead 2-13 to 1-12 at the break.

A Colm Casey goal inside 30 seconds raised Cork IT’s hopes and a Coughlan free restored parity before Mahony and Aidan Walsh exchanged points, but substitute Seamus Corry hit the winner for UCC at the death.

UCC: D McCarthy; S Maher, J O’Callaghan, K Murphy; J Barry, D Fives, W Egan; B Murray, Philip Mahony (0-1); S Harnedy (0-1), D McCormack, Pauric Mahony (0-6, frees); S Moylan (0-2), S Bourke (0-3), B O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs: S Corry (0-1) for Murray (half-time); R White for Harnedy, B Hartnett (1-0) for O’Sullivan (47 mins); D Brosnan (1-0) for McCormack (54 mins); M Grace for Maher (75 mins), Murray for Brosnan (79 mins).

CORK IT: K Roche; B Withers, S McDonnell, E Keane; S White (0-1), L McLoughlin, captain, P O’Connor; J Coughlan (1-4, 0-4 frees), M O’Sullivan (0-1); J Cronin (0-2), D Drake (0-2), P Gould (0-1); C Fennelly, P O’Sullivan, T Quaid (0-1, free). Subs: A Walsh (0-2) for Quaid (28 mins); C Casey (1-0) for Gould (44 mins); N Kelly for M O’Sullivan (54 mins); Gould for Drake (66 mins); M O’Sullivan for Cronin (70 mins).

Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).