THE Fitzgibbon Cup started yesterday with the thud of a much fancied team making an unscheduled exit resonating in Terenure where the Dublin Institute of Technology recorded the first Fitzgibbon win in their history at the expense of UCG who had been one of the competition favourites.

Whereas they hadn't been expected to win, DIT have become a respected presence in the cup and gave eventual winners UCC their stiffest match of last year's competition.

Yesterday they survived a wasteful start to win with goals from a Galwayman Ollie Canning and Dublin's Sean Duignan whose injury time strike restored his side's comfortable margin after Francis O'Connor had briefly raised hopes of a UCG revival with a 58th minute goal.

In the internal Cork squabble at the Mardyke, the RTC roused themselves for a fighting second half having trailed by 10 points at half time. Their eventual five point defeat left them ruing a succession of first half wides.

UCC captain Kieran Morrison was in productive humour and fired in two goals, the second an aesthetic overhead pull, and with a third from Joe Deane, the holders led 3-6 to 0-5 at the interval. The RTC moved Pat Mulcahy onto Morrison in the second half and with Tadhg Murphy getting a grip at midfield, they took the fight to College but couldn't close the gap.

UCD came close to surprising the Guards at Belfield and led by four points at half time. They in turn were surprised by the appearance of Clare's Ollie Baker for the second half. Baker, a recent recruit, helped turn the tide in the middle where Rory Moore and Ciaran Roche had been launching the home side's challenge. Also among the substitutes who scored was Nigel Carey, younger brother of Ciaran and a member of the Limerick county panel.

Waterford RTC held off a second half revival by Athlone RTC who managed to close within four points on a couple of occasions but the result was never really in doubt as the half back line ran the show and kept a close eye on Kevin Broderick whose late goal came after he moved to the corner.

In Limerick, UL overwhelmed a Trinity side much weakened by the withdrawal of exam tied players.