Dowling leads WIT charge as they go for three in a row

WIT 0-10 UCD 0-5

The prospects of a hat-trick of titles for WIT looked bleak in the extreme at the interval when they led by just five points, 0-8 to 0-3, having played with the assistance of the very strong wind.

Despite all their territorial possession the WIT forwards had failed to make any significant inroads against a resolute UCD defence in which the Tipperary duo of Eamonn Ryan and Paul Ormond were superb.

It may not have been the most spectacular of WIT performances in terms of quality and skill, but clearly there’s no shortage of motivation towards winning three Fitzgibbon’s on the spin and with that level of resolve and commitment they will be difficult to dislodge as champions.

The elegant Brian Dowling gave them the early lead, with the Kilkenny man finding the range unerringly three times inside ten minutes.

For all their pressure however they seldom threatened to beat goalkeeper Brian Campion, and with two pointed frees Bryan Barry kept UCD in it.

In fact WIT were grateful to Joe Brady, Keith Rossiter, and Alan Kirwan more than once as the Dubs threatened to make things even more difficult for the champions, and they could only have been fancying their chances at the half way stage.

But if the UCD defence garnered most of the first half kudos it was the turn of the WIT defenders to do so in the second. Brady turned in a man of the match performance at wing back, but possibly more crucial to their cause was the emergence of Waterford star Michael Walsh at midfield.

By his own high standards his first half display was largely low key, but after the break he lead by example, time and time again falling back as an extra defender to effect match winning clearances.

Both teams were however finding scores hard to come by and with the UCD forwards in particular failing to penetrate that rock like WIT defence time quickly ran out on them.

They had one golden goal chance a minute from time but Eamonn Ryan, now operating in attack in a last ditch attempt to salvage the game, saw his fierce drive brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Philip Brennan.

That was the losers final salvo, and WIT’s five point winning margin fairly reflected the measure of their superiority over the hour.

Scorers for WIT: B. Dowling(0-5); E. Reid(0-2); C. Phelan(0-2); T. Holland (0-1)

UCD: B. Barry(0-3); P. Morrissey, D. Fogarty(0-1) each.

WIT: P. Brennan; K. Rossiter, A. Kirwan, H. Moloney; J. Brady, P. J. Delaney, T. Holland; D. Hayes, M. Walsh; J. Phelan, J. Milne, C. Phelan; E. Reid, J. Kennedy, B.Dowling

Subs: C. O’Brien for Hayes; A.Cullinane for Kennedy; L. Lawlor for Milne.

UCD: B. Campion; D. Walton, M. Fitzgerald, E. Campion; C. Everard, E. Ryan, P. Ormond; B. Barry, P. McIntyre; P. Morrissey, E. O’Gorman, J. O’Connor; A. Smith. T. Fitzgerald. D. Fogarty

Subs: A. Fleming for T. Fitzgerald; C. Ryan for Fogarty.

Referee: John Guinan, Kilkenny.