Sport

UCC survive late onslaught to ensure all-Cork final

UCC 1-15 University of Limerick 0-15: UCC ENSURED an historic all-Cork final in the centenary Fitzgibbon Cup after surviving…

Sat Mar 03 2012 - 00:00

UCC 1-15 University of Limerick 0-15:UCC ENSURED an historic all-Cork final in the centenary Fitzgibbon Cup after surviving a comeback from UL in the closing 20 minutes of a tense semi-final at the Mardyke yesterday.

UCC led 1-13 to 0-7 lead after 42 minutes, but UL, inspired by Tipperary’s Pádraig Maher and Clare’s Brendan Bugler, thundered back into the game.

Eight points without reply cut the gap to the minimum with three minutes remaining. Johnny Coen and substitute Joe Gallagher scored two points apiece to set UL rolling and Conor McGrath added three more with David Butler also finding the range as the visitors piled on the pressure.

UCC managed to lift the siege somewhat with a Pauric Mahony free and the last point from Brian O’Sullivan after man-of-the-match William Egan broke up a UL attack and cleared the danger.

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UCC dominated the opening half when only for UL goalkeeper Thomas Lowry the tie would have been decided by the interval after his opposite number Darren McCarthy denied Mikey Heffernan in the opening seconds.

Lowry twice frustrated Stephen Moylan and then Brian Murray with point-blank saves, though he was beaten by a Mahony penalty in only the third minute.

The Waterford forward oozed class in the half, firing points from a host of frees, 65s and a brilliant effort from play to help UCC lead 1-9 to 0-6 at the interval.

Murray (a sideline ball) and Shane Burke added points before UL launched their brave comeback.

UCC: D McCarthy; S Maher, J O’Callaghan, K Murphy; J Barry, D Fives, W Egan (0-2, one free); Philip Mahony, B Murray (0-1 sideline); Pauric Mahony (1-8, 1-0 penalty, four frees, two 65s), D McCormack, S Harnedy; S Burke (0-2), S Moylan, B O’Sullivan (0-2). Subs: D Brosnan for Harnedy (46), B Hartnett for Murray (55).

UL: T Lowry; P Stapleton, M Walsh, C Fogarty; L Ryan, B Bugler, P Maher; L Markham, M Walsh; B Beckett (0-2), C Donnellan (0-1), D Butler (0-1); J Coen (0-3), M Heffernan, C McGrath (0-6, two frees). Subs: J Gallagher (0-2) for Donnellan (ht), J Regan for Markham (43), R Cummins for Butler (57).

Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)