Hurling Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finalsWaterford IT 2-9 UCD 0-13 Among Fitzgibbon aficionados, this semi-final was long ear-marked as the most mouth-watering tie of the annual collegiate weekend.
Waterford, the nouveau riche institution of this storied competition, prevailed over their Dublin rivals mainly through the bounty of two first-half goals.
Dublin will long rue them. The first, coming from John Phelan after a pass from Anthony Owens on 11 minutes, was against the run of play.
UCD had started in bristling and aggressive fashion, running up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Replacement centre-half back Brian Hogan hurled a lot of ball from the first exchanges, his lanky frame at the centre of the more heated tussles for possession in what was a tight field at Garrycastle.
Stephen Lucey was strong and direct around centrefield and Redmond Barry made a promising start for Dublin. After Phelan's goal, there was a lull in scoring for a full 11 minutes but throughout, UCD looked the more settled team.
Despite that, however, it was Waterford who eased into a lead they would not relinquish. Rory Jacob cracked over a couple of frees and then, with virtually the last play of the half, Waterford changed the outlook of the game completely.
What began with a promising charge forward from UCD's Stephen Lucey ended up as the critical score for Waterford. Goalkeeper Philip Brennan returned Lucey's dropping ball, John Phelan took possession of the breaking ball and slipped a handpass through to Jacob. Unmarked, the Wexford marksman delivered. UCD left the field wondering how they were trailing by two clear goals.
The answer probably lay in Waterford's back line. The defensive contributions were superb. UCD had chances - and ultimately missed enough to force extra time from frees - but faced a defence that grew more resolute as the match got tighter.
Waterford's attacking options utterly dried up for the last 20 minutes of the game and with Brendan Murphy hitting a point to leave it at 0-10 to 2-8 after 50 minutes, a late revival seemed possible.
However, full back Ken Coogan and JJ Delaney, ferociously diligent and economic at centre back, repelled UCD's attempts to get a decent return.
While Murphy did have a goal chance that resulted in a 65, Waterford always kept a nose ahead - Willie Ryan came in and delivered a point with five minutes to go which steadied the team. Peter Garvey was a strong presence at centre forward for Waterford and Jacob was lively throughout.
As injury time neared, UCD made one gallant push, the impressive Brian Barry nailing a couple of long-range frees, but Waterford stayed safe.
It was a disappointing exit for the Dublin team, who fielded a side made up completely of country-based club players. Waterford also had a heavy reliance on several of the fine young players to emerge from Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.
WATERFORD IT: P Brennan; C O'Neill, K Coogan, K Rossiter; T Holland, JJ Delaney, A Cullinane; D Hayes, M Walsh; C Phelan (0-2), P Garvey (0-2), J Phelan (1-0); R Jacob (1-4, two frees), A Owens (0-1), B Dowling. Subs: H Maloney for D Hayes (24 mins); W Ryan for B Dowling (52 mins); D Burke for A Owens (57 mins).
UCD: M White; D Walton, M Fitzgerald, D Campion; B Barry (0-3, frees), B Hogan (0-1), D Fitzgerald; S Lucey, C Ryan (0-4, three frees); J O'Connor, T Murphy, B Murphy (0-2); R Barry (0-2), B Phelan, P Doheny (0-1). Subs: T Fitzgerald for B Phelan (half-time); E Ryan for T Murphy (half-time).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
