UL secure win with late points

Fitzgibbon Cup: Uni of Limerick 0-19, St Patrick's 0-15 Four late points saw University of Limerick through to the quarter-final of the Fitzgibbon Cup after a hard-fought win at Drumcondra yesterday.

St Patrick's had come back from what was at one stage a six-point deficit to draw level by the 56th minute.

A surprise win looked on the cards, but St Patrick's conceded two late frees to the deadly Brian Carroll while Alan Egan and John Green scored two more to make sure of the win.

UL led 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time with the two Offalymen, Carroll and Egan, contributing 0-8 of that total. Egan started well with three points in the first six minutes, but, with Carroll, was starved of possession for long periods in the second half as St Patrick's took over.

Richie Power scored only his side's second point from play within seconds of the restart as St Patrick's gradually eroded UL's lead. Some brilliant long-range points, particularly from David Herity, saw the sides locked at 0-15 apiece with just four minutes remaining, but UL didn't panic.

Egan quickly restored their lead and Carroll added another free to leave St Patrick's needing a goal. Power almost obliged, but was surrounded by UL defenders as he prepared to strike.

Injury-time scores from John Green and yet another free from Carroll gave the scoreline a somewhat flattering look in favour of UL, who now go on to meet UCD.

ST PATRICK'S: D O'Brien; D Kelleher, M Heffernan, J Robinson; E Bolger, P Hogan (0-1), B Dillon; D Herity (0-2), F Lyons; M Walsh (0-1), M Doyle, R Power (0-5, 3 frees); G Arthur (0-1), C Doyle, E O'Donoghue (0-4, 3 frees). Sub: D 0'Neill (0-1) for Doyle (24 mins).

UL: T Flynn; A Murphy, P Dowling, T Giltenane; R Hayes, B Bulger, B Coleman; T Stapleton (0-2), P Donnellan (0-1); T Healy, J Green (0-1), N Kenny; G Ryan, B Carroll (0-11, 10 frees), A Egan (0-4). Subs: N Ó Murchú for Stapleton, S Ryan for Healy (50 mins).

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).