UCC thunder into quarter-finals after first-half scoring spree

JOB done, quarter-final berth secured – albeit an away game against GMIT on February 15 – but a facile win for UCC over DCU at the Mardyke yesterday in this group D Fitzgibbon Cup final-round game.

Inside seven minutes the writing was on the wall, a goal apiece from inside forwards Graeme Mulcahy and James Cassin helping UCC to a 2-2 to zero lead, a plucky DCU hopelessly outclassed.

By half-time that lead was extended to 13 points, 3-11 to 1-4, the flying Mulcahy with his second and UCC’s third goal, DCU keeper Bill McCormack coming forward to blast home a penalty for the visitor’s only major of this mismatch.

That McCormack then ended up as second-best scorer for DCU was no surprise – two points was all they managed from play over the hour, the first of those from midfielder Wes O’Brien, one of their most impressive performers, the second coming late in the second-half from wing-forward Eoin O’Mahony (Wexford).

Then again this is a very polished UCC defence, established county players such as Mickey Cahill and Kevin Moran augmented by fledgling stars in Conor O’Sullivan, James Nagle and William Egan (all Cork), with commanding full-back Phillip O’Loughlin sure to feature at some stage later this year with Limerick, especially if he maintains this form.

The first five minutes of the second-half saw DCU raise their game, nothing scored but nothing conceded either. They were only going to hold back the red-and-black tide for so long, however, and hard-working centre-forward Kevin Keehan (Galway) soon got UCC going again, a goal and a point in three minutes, after which – as the rain started to fall — it was simply a question of the final winning margin.

Kilmallock’s Bryan O’Sullivan had been introduced at the break and he, along with Phillip O’Mahony dominated the middle of the park, ensuring a good supply inside. Dean Brosnan prospered, struck some fine points, as did Keehan, O’Sullivan himself with two fine long-range frees, and sub Paul Haughney.

All in all, far too easy for UCC, and a game from which they will have learned very little.

Scorers for UCC: G Mulcahy 2-0; D Brosnan 0-5; K Keehan 1-3 (0-1 free); J Cassin 1-0; W Egan 0-3 (all frees); S Bourke 0-2; B O’Sullivan 0-2 (frees); J Nagle, D Honan, P Haughney, 0-1 each.

Scorers for DCU: P McAllister 0-4 (all frees); B McCormack 1-0 (pen); JJ Lennon 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65); E O’Mahony, W O’Brien, 0-1 each.

UCC: D McCarthy (Cork); C O’Sullivan (Cork), P O’Loughlin (Limerick), M Cahill (Tipperary); J Nagle (Cork), K Moran (Waterford), W Egan (Cork); P O’Mahony (Waterford), D Kearney (Cork); S Bourke (Tipperary), K Keehan (Galway), D Brosnan (Cork); D Honan (Clare), J Cassin (Tipperary), G Mulcahy (Limerick).

Subs: R White (Cork) for Bourke (30); B O’Sullivan (Limerick) for D Kearney (30); L O’Farrell (Cork) for Mulcahy (40); P Haughney (Cork) for Honan (45); W Kearney (Cork) for O’Loughlin (49).

DCU: B McCormack (Tipperary); S Kelly (Carlow), A Moran (Kilkenny), W Eviston (Tipperary); A Griffith (Wexford, capt.), B Flaherty (Galway), D Horan (Offaly); W O’Brien (Cork), T Ó hUallaicháin (Dublin); JJ Lennon (Kilkenny), A Creane (Dublin), E O’Mahony (Wexford); P McAllister (Dublin), C Woodgate (Dublin), E Kent (Wexford).

Sub: J Cullen (Wexford) for Ó hUallaicháin (inj. 42).

Referee: D Copps (Cork).