Clifford and Naughton impress as CIT put NUIG to the sword

CIT 1-16 NUIG 1-12

And, after watching lethal Newtownshandrum frontline duo Ryan Clifford and Cathal Naughton tear the NUIG rearguard asunder, Flannery could afford a big smile afterwards, though still well aware his charges had allowed a beaten NUIG back into the game in the closing minutes.

Said Flannery: “We have a lot of hard work done and it showed. The Waterford Crystal has been a huge help. It’s been a while since we last won a first round game and though we face a huge away game next against DIT in the round robin we’ll be ready for it’’

Both Clifford and Naughton were lethal yesterday, scoring 1-13 between them — Clifford a handsome 1-9. But a fast sweeping forward division all played their part in prising open a NUIG backline badly upset when their captain Martin Ryan was forced off injured after only 15 minutes.

Spurred on by two excellent corner-backs in John O’Callaghan and Chris Murphy, who hardly put a foot wrong, and a strong half-backline where Noel Teehan had a terrific second-half, CIT were in control for most of a lively contest and led 0-3 to 0-2 after the opening quarter.

Clifford and Ryan accounted for seven of CIT’s eight half-time points as they led 0-8 to 0-5 at the break, Dave Browne, NUIG’s best forward, getting their only score from play with Colin Ryan and Darragh Egan doing the rest from placed balls.

NUIG failed miserably in the second-half to curb the livewire CIT forward division and once Brendan Ring quickly stretched the home lead there was only going to be one winner. Clifford and Naughton continued to wreak havoc and by the end of the third quarter CIT had doubled their lead to 0-14 to 0-7.

It got even worse for NUIG in the 50th minute when another mazy run from Clifford saw him taken down and the young Newtown star rammed home the penalty.

In fairness to NUIG they plugged away. Barrett brought his tally to four from play and Fintan Coone got another. Darragh Egan – sent off late on a second yellow offence — fired home a long range free, which went into the net off CIT goalkeeper Mathew O’Donnell.

Timely reminders for CIT yes, but the Cork students were never going to be caught. They produced all the class, leaving NUIG boss Matt Murphy with plenty to ponder.

Scorers for CIT: R. Clifford 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), C. Naughton 0-4, L. Desmond, B. Ring, B. Corry 0-1 each.

Scorers for NUIG: D. Egan 1-2 (all frees), C. Ryan 0-5 (frees), D. Barrett 0-4, F. Coone 0- 1.

CIT: M. O’Donnell; J. O’Callaghan, E. Dillon, C. Murphy; S. White, R. Cashman, N. Teehan; B. Ring, S. McDonnell; L. Desmond, B, Corry, P. Downey; C. Naughton, A. Mannix, R. Clifford.

Subs; M. Dunne for Desmond (inj 20m), P. Gould for Ring (inj 46m).

NUIG: P. Kennedy; C. Dillon, M. Ryan, D. O’Donovan; M. O’Meara, J. Lee, D. Kenny; C. Ryan, B. Howley; P. O’Brien, D. Barrett, D. Egan; S. Glynn, F. Coone, C. O’Donoan.

Subs: L. Geraghty for Ryan (inj 15m), J. Gorman for Glynn (ht), S. Burke for Howley (52m).

Referee: C. Copps (Ballyhea).