Student union are not at fault for our varsity blues, says Rossiter

YET again, the whole country gets exercised about the continuing presence of a college team in the All-Ireland club championship, UCD in this instance.

They are not a genuine club side, goes the argument, they are made up of inter-county stars from everywhere except the county they supposedly represent.

It's ironic then that one of those who should have most reason to complain, a member of one of the sides beaten by UCD in their march to another Leinster final, has no complaints.

Keith Rossiter was full-back on the Oulart-the-Ballagh team beaten in the final minutes by UCD in Nowlan Park last Sunday.

Rossiter played the proverbial blinder and afterwards, all he had was praise for his side's conquerors.

"There is not a single Dublin player on the team, but fair dues to the fellas coming from Limerick, Tipperary, Cork and from all over the place, that's a big commitment too.

"To win the Dublin championship is fair enough, they deserve to be in Leinster. There are no complaints from us, they're there to be bet, that puts it up to the rest of us. If you can beat UCD that shows how well you're going, and whoever gets past them will earn it. They're a good side."

Even the manner of the defeat didn't upset the Wexford star.

Level with just three minutes to go and applying pressure up front, Oulart were trying their hardest to edge in front for the first time. But it wasn't to be. UCD stood up best in those final minutes and notched three points without reply to take the win.

Cruel luck? Heartbreaker?

"Maybe," conceded Rossiter, "but we came here last year and got beaten by six points by James Stephens, which was worse. Lads say it's a heartbreaker, but we were there to the last few minutes, 'til they got a few points. We had a final attack, where a goal, even a scrambled goal, would have levelled it. Another day it might have happened, it didn't, but we gave it a good go and can build on it."

One of those who was outstanding in the UCD defence was Tipperary star Diarmuid Fitzgerald, a member of the Munster team that recently won the Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Championship in Boston.

For the wing-back, this wasn't about controversy, this was about hurling.

"They're a great side, but look at all the fine players they have, Martin Storey, Liam Dunne, the Jacobs, Keith Rossiter. After winning Wexford as well last year, they really had their eye on the bigger picture this year, and we were aware that we had to match it.

"Thanks be to God we came through and got the points in the end. Our full-back line was magnificent.

"Oulart had a few very pacy inside forwards and a lot of movement going on there, but the boys dug deep, played it good and tight, a cute game. They got the ball out of defence fast and there is great credit due to them."

So, the march of UCD continues, as does the hullabaloo.

For the players, however, it will be eye on the ball.

They face Kilkenny champions James Stephens again in the final, and are eyeing a chance for revenge after last year's bitter late loss; that's all that concerns Fitzgerald and his team-mates.

"We're delighted to be back in the final, regardless of the opposition. Last year was disappointing, we were very poor in the first half and came out and hurled reasonably well after the break.

"James Stephens are even better than last year though, that win gave them great confidence, a few of their individual players have improved an awful lot. The win will also have brought them tighter, so we'll have to improve to have any chance."