Spillane snatches final glory for UCC

WRETCHED conditions for hurling in Newtownshandrum last night but for UCC there was cause to cheer as they collected honours in the Ulster Bank Higher Education Division 1 Hurling League final.

UCC only managed to lead on the scoreboard on one occasion during the game but that came at the most vital juncture. A long ball from defence by Michael Cahill in the 61st minute broke kindly for Ronan Spillane and the Carrignavar man clipped over a priceless score. It vaulted UCC ahead and although UL had one last chance to draw level, Shane O’Brien’s long-range free was knocked wide.

For their overall approach, UCC probably deserved this win. They began hurling into the teeth of a gale but their work ethic was admirable as they scavenged for possession. Full-forward John Mulhall was withdrawn out the field as well, to aid efforts in the middle third. But UL possessed fine operators and although Eoin Murphy got UCC off the mark with an early point, UL piled on the pressure thereafter.

Matthew Ruth and Seamus Hickey claimed some nice points, and Brian Carroll’s free-taking was also impeccable. They also received a boost in the ninth minute as big full-forward John Greene escaped the clutches of the UCC backline and fired to the net.

That left UL 1-3 to 0-1 in front but crucially UCC responded in kind to Greene’s strike within a minute.

Centre-forward Bill Beckett broke through and although UL goalkeeper Paddy McCormack got a stick to Beckett’s strike, there was enough power to send it to the net. For the remainder of the half it was a case of UCC digging in their heels as UL powered forward. UL did grab a few points but they missed chances as well, and led 1-6 to 1-2 at half-time.

UL began brightest in the second half when Brian Carroll converted a free and they also reconfigured their side to cope with the expected UCC onslaught. Operating with only a two-man full-forward line, UL packed the middle sector and they needed to do so as the rain poured down. UCC had plenty possession but it took them time to attune their shooting properly.

Michael Cahill lofted over a wonderful score to spur them on and Eoin Murphy took the initiative from that. Between the 37th and 44th minutes, he nailed three points to leave UCC only trailing 1-7 to 1-6. The match was becoming a fierce battle in the terrible conditions.

The UL attack was starved of openings through the second half but substitute Dylan Hayden, who had shown glimpses of his ability, worked the space to fire a 51st minute point. That provided UL with a two-point advantage heading down the stretch.

Yet UCC kept their heads and drove forward. Substitute Graeme Mulcahy got on the scoresheet to trim the deficit to one and then Murphy sliced the posts with a free to level matters. Brian Carroll had a chance to put UL back in front but his free flew wide. UCC seized on that and mounted one last attack, where Spillane grabbed the winner.

Scorers: UCC: E Murphy 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65), B Beckett 1-0, M Cahill, G Mulcahy, R Spillane 0-1 each.

UL: B Carroll 0-4 (0-4f), J Greene 1-0, M Ruth, S Hickey, M Walsh, D Hayden 0-1 each.

UCC: A Nash (Cork); S O’Neill (Cork), S Walsh (Tipperary), C O’Driscoll (Cork); M Cahill (Tipperary), K Hartnett (Cork), D O’Sullivan (Waterford); M Wilkinson (Limerick), D Browne (Clare); S Burke (Tipperary), B Beckett (Kilkenny), M Grace (Kilkenny); R Spillane (Cork), J Mulhall (Kilkenny), E Murphy (Cork). Subs: D Hanley (Limerick) for Grace (16), G Mulcahy (Limerick) for Browne (37), T Geaney (Cork) for Wilkinson (50),

UL: P McCormack (Tipperary); B Fox (Tipperary), J Heffernan (Tipperary), S Wynne (Offaly); S O’Brien (Clare), JB McCarthy (Tipperary), T Stapleton (Tipperary); S Hickey (Limerick), F Galvin (Waterford); B Carroll (Offaly), R O’Dwyer (Tipperary), M Walsh (Kilkenny); M Ruth (Kilkenny), J Greene (Galway), A Egan (Offaly). Subs: S Ryan (Offaly) for Ruth (half-time), D Hayden (Offaly) for Heffernan (half-time), M Verney (Offaly) for Galvin (43).

Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).