Stylish students leave Keating with a fixtures dilemma

Dublin SHC final/UCD 3-13 St Vincents 2-10: The fear was UCD would pull away long before the finish, thus ruining all the hard graft St Vincent's had put in to get this far. With only one Dublin hurling team playing in the county final, this concern became a reality with the end result giving the students' manager, Michael Babs Keating, a whole new problem this morning.

Keating is supposed to take the reins of his native Tipperary against Dublin tomorrow at Ayrfield Road, but UCD are out against Meath champions Killyon in the Leinster championship an hour later down in Parnell Park. Plenty of traffic on the Malahide road, even on a Sunday.

At least he leaves the UCD stables in the best possible shape, even better than when he found them two years ago as the back-to-back county titles prove.

For all St Vincent's no nonsense attitude, the quality of their opponents' hurling was too much for them to handle. Too much talent from every corner of the hurling universe.

Within a minute of the throw-in John O'Connor and Tommy Fitzgerald clipped points from distance, and the Marino folk, who dominated the 1,500-odd crowd, began to avert their eyes.

At least Dublin hurler Mossie McGrane regained their attention. Four points came off his hurley in the opening half hour, but, on a night against underage stars from every nook and cranny of the hurling hierarchy, it was his wide on 23 minutes that saw the momentum stall.

Damien Russell landed a huge point, but some quality stick-play from Tipperary's Pa Morrissey ensured his effort was neatly sandwiched by a pair of UCD scores. Suffocating stuff.

Then came the first of several decisive blows as medical student and Offaly hurler Brendan Murphy scored a goal.

By half-time, at least, there was still a contest on view thanks to a Niall Bishop point that left a goal between the sides.

St Vincent's thundered into the students after the break and were duly awarded a 21-yard free. McGrane powered the shot into a wall of UCD defenders who cleared possession down field. It was the beginning of the end, as Murphy immediately picked off another point.

A magical Tommy Fitzgerald sideline sailed over seconds later, before fit-again Wexford dual player Redmond Barry came in to take a delightful strike that pushed the lead out to seven points. Game over with 24 minutes remaining.

Laois goalkeeper Brian Campion gave the locals the last shred of hope to cling to when he allowed Russell's sideline cut drift into the net. UCD merely upped the ante again with two quick-fire goals from Morrissey and Tommy Fitzgerald.

Not surprisingly, the Tipp lads were playing as if possessed now their manager has the top job.

There is a long way to go for the students, but if they want a crack at All-Ireland champions James Stephens, their conquerors in the Leinster final last year due to the point that never was, they must charter a route past the mighty Birr and then, probably, Wexford champions Oulart the Ballagh. Maybe Babs can stay around until Christmas? They'll need him.

UCD: B Campion; D Walton, M Fitzgerald (capt), E Campion; E Ryan, B Hogan, D Fitzgerald; B Barry (0-1), J O'Connor (0-1); P Morrissey (1-4, 3f - including goal), S Lucey (0-1), B Phelan (0-1); C Everard, B Murphy (1-2), T Fitzgerald (1-2). Subs: R Barry (0-1) for C Everard (half-time), J McCarthy for J O'Connor (48 mins), B Buckley for B Barry (52 mins), P Lyng for T Fitzgerald (55 mins).

ST VINCENT'S: D Feehan; R Trainor, T Russell, C Billings; S O'Neill, R Fallon, C Meehan; C Fallon, R Brennan; N Bishop (0-1), D Russell (1-2), G Boyle; S Loughlin, S McHugh (0-1), T McGrane (1-6, 4 frees, 65). Subs: W Lowry for C Billings (21 mins), D Connolly for G Boyle (37 mins), D Heffernan for S McHugh (50 mins), C Goulding for C Meehan (55 mins).

Referee: D O'Donovan (St Mark's).