Fitzgerald goal copperfastens UCD victory over tired Birr

UCD 1-12 Birr 1-7

Birr have fought many an invigorating battle down the years but no-one has yet fought Father Time and won.

Though winter borrowed a day from summer for yesterday’s contest, UCD’s younger legs stood up better to the test on a pitch that, though heavy, was in remarkably good shape after the previous night’s Interprovincial football final.

Even if Birr raged bravely, the game had an air of inevitability about it long before the end scenes unfolded. The main talking point afterwards was unfortunately referee Anthony Stapleton who sent off UCD’s Colm Everard and Birr’s Gary Hanniffy in the second half. Both players were unfortunate in the extreme for what appeared to be innocuous, misjudged challenges and UCD manager Babs Keating was angry in the aftermath.

“What I saw there wouldn’t be acceptable in a Munster hurling final,” said the Tipperary man. “The ref wouldn’t get out of Thurles alive if he made decisions like he did out there.

“I appreciate the fella coming up but referees should be brought in to look at the mistakes they make. I know Gary Hanniffy a long time and I’ve never known him to make a malicious blow at anyone.”

The dismissals didn’t impact on the game and UCD coped admirably without Everard for the final quarter. The five-point deficit at the end was just about an accurate reflection of the difference between the sides though at one stage it looked as though the gap would be much greater.

After 20 minutes UCD led by six points to no score. Birr had had their chances but found their sights to be woefully out of focus. A long day at the office seemed inevitable. But then, the contest was turned on its head and, by the time Stapleton had blown the half-time whistle, Birr were two points to the good.

UCD were struck in neutral and at the other end Michael Dwane had sent a ripple through College’s net after galloping unchallenged down the left flank.

“It was a funny kind of a game,” said Keating. “We lost our concentration in that second quarter and we failed to dominate the midfield or the half-forward line.”

With UCD 1-8 to 0-6 down, the Tipperary mentor worked his magic at the break, with a few positional changes which worked perfectly.

As happened in the first half, Birr were again fluffing their lines in front of goal whereas UCD were more economical with their possession.

Kilkenny’s Brian Barry landed three Hail Mary frees from in and around the halfway line in the third quarter while Brian Whelahan saw three of his dead balls fall short of the target. Though Birr weren’t helping themselves, the game breaker was Tommy Fitzgerald’s goal after 43 minutes. Tipp’s Pa Morrissey - who scored six points on the day - launched the sliothar into the edge of Brian Mullins’ square where Fitzgerald shrugged aside the challenge of JP O’Meara and struck the ball low to the keeper’s left.

With a dozen minutes to go, UCD were five points clear with Birr yet to register a score in the second period. John Goode’s men belatedly responded with points from Simon Whelahan and Dwane, but there would be no emphatic fightback this time.

BIRR: B Mullins; N Rogers, P Cleary, JP O’Meara; Brian Whelahan, J Errity, N Claffey; R Hanniffy, Barry Whelahan; P Molloy, S Whelahan (0-3f), G Hanniffy; S Brown, D Hayden (0-2), M Dwane (1-1).

Subs: D Pilkington for Brown 50.

UCD: B Campion, D Walton, M Fitzgerald, E Campion; B Hogan, E Ryan, D Fitzgerald (0-1); B Barry (0-3), S Lucey (0-2); P Morrissey (0-6, 4f), B Phelan, C Everard; T Fitzgerald (1-1), J O’Connor, B Murphy. Subs: R Barry For Phelan 30, R Kirwan for J O’Connor 45, J McCarthy for Barry 60.

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).