Spectacular injury-time point by O’Leary the match-winner

Cork IT 0-13 Garda TC 1-9

Before O’Leary’s match-winning strike, this game was delicately balanced the Garda representatives doggedly wiped out a five-point deficit to draw level two minutes from the end of normal time. With corner forwards Kieran Murphy of Sarsfields and Aidan Fogarty from Kilkenny in scintillating form, the Cork students were easily the more impressive side in the opening quarter when they opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

But Garda hung in there and with Clare senior Tony Carmody unerring in his free-taking, only two points separated them at the interval, Cork IT leading by 0-7 to 0-5. Indiscipline at the back cost Garda dearly after the resumption and Fogarty punished them to the hilt with three points from frees to power his side five points to the good and into what appeared to be a commanding position eight minutes into the second half.

But Garda, who had lost out to Waterford IT in the Sigerson Cup at the same venue three days previously, staged a brave comeback and might well have snatched victory but for some excellent defensive displays from full-back Jackie Tyrell and wing-backs Vince Hurley and Pat Sloane.

Garda drew level for the first time in the 57th-minute when Carmody billowed the Cork net with a cracking drive from a 20-metre free.

Paul Tierney restored Cork’s lead with a fine point, only for his marker Darren Rooney, to tie the scores again. Although referee Aidan Stapleton incensed Cork IT with some very controversial decisions, the John Gardiner-led side held their composure.

The win sets them up for a second-round clash with UCD in Cork next Saturday.

Scorers for Cork IT: A. Fogarty 0-6 (0-4 from frees); K. Murphy 0-3; V. Hurley, J. Gardiner, P. Tierney and C. O'Leary 0-1 each.

Garda TC: T. Carmody 1-4 (1-4 from frees); D. Rooney 0-2; B. Begley 0-2; B. Culbert 0-1.

CORK IT: M. Coleman; B. Murphy, J. Tyrrel, M. Prout; V. Hurley, J. Murphy, P. Sloane; P. Tierney, J. Gardiner; G. McLoughlin, C. O'Leary, G. McCarthy; A. Fogarty, D. Riordan, K. Murphy. Subs: R. Curran for J. Murphy; C. McCarthy for G. McCarthy.

GARDA TC: E. Dunphy; J. O'Donovan, D. Cloonan, B. Murphy; E. O'Donoghue, D. Kennedy, L. O'Connor; K. Mulryan, D. Rooney; B. Cunningham, B. Begley, O. Behan; T. Carmody, B. Culbert, T. O'Connor.

Subs. M. Lawton for Culbert; A. Ivors for Behan; J. Small for O'Connor; E. Twomey for Cunningham.

Referee: A. Stapleton (Laois).

Results: Limerick IT 2-17 Dublin IT 1-9; Waterford IT 5-20 Jordanstown 0-3.