Ruth gives UL a cutting edge

HURLING FITXGIBBON CUP SEMI-FINALS: UL 3-20 Cork IT 2-11UL ADVANCED into the final of the Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup with a convincing win over outgunned Cork IT at Clanna Gael in Ringsend yesterday.

The Limerick college began strongly with three points inside the opening two minutes before full-forward Matt Ruth added the opening goal after just five minutes.

That score put UL 1-3 to 0-1 ahead and midway through the half they were 1-7 to 0-4 in front, corner-forward Alan Egan adding to their tally with a fine brace of points.

CIT responded when full-forward Tony Murphy grabbed a goal in the 18th minute, but UL regained control with Martin Walsh firing over a superb point before Ruth added a second goal after 25 minutes to extend the lead to 2-10 to 1-5.

CIT landed a couple of early points to reduce the deficit, but UL then hit a purple patch and by the 46th minute had extended their lead to 2-16 to 1-9, thanks to some fine points by Offaly’s Brian Carroll and Michael Gleeson.

Then Carroll fired to the net a minute later to help establish a commanding 3-16 to 1-9 lead. CIT battled until the end, Murphy scoring his second goal from a close-range free and substitute Padraig Gould grabbed two points.

But there was no doubting the winners’ superiority and late points from Hickey, Carroll and Gleeson rounded off an emphatic success. They will now bid for a first title since 2003 in today’s final in Parnell Park against UCC.

UL:P McCormack; B Fox, K Joyce, M Verney ; JB McCarthy, T Stapleton, M Walsh (0-1); S Hickey (0-2), M Gleeson (0-3); N OMurchu, R O'Dwyer (0-1), J Greene (0-2); B Carroll (1-6, three frees), M Ruth (2-2), A Egan (0-2). Subs:S Ryan (Offaly) for O Murchu (29), S O'Brien for McCarthy (48), D Hayden (0-1) for Greene (53), D Greene for Gleeson (59), D Burke for Ruth (59).

CORK IT:C Barry; S White, G ODriscoll, C Murphy; E Dillon, R Cashman, J Herlihy; S McDonnell, A Mannix (0-2, one 65, one free); P Downey, B Corry (0-1), E Cronin (0-1); C Naughton, Tony Murphy (2-1, one free), R Clifford (0-4, four frees). Subs:S Howley for Mannix (39 mins), P Gould (0-2) for Downey (47 mins), M Bowles for Cronin (51 mins), Timmy Murphy for Clifford (60 mins), D Kenneally for Herlihy (60 mins).

Referee:Eamonn Morris (Dublin).