14-man UL stand firm as CIT rally just falls shy
Similar to their quarter-final victory over UCD, UL were made to work ferociously hard before emerging. This game was in marked contrast to the 2009 last four clash between the sides, when UL triumphed by a handsome 12-point margin. CIT were in more resolute form on this occasion as they opened the game promisingly and never allowed UL to surge clear on the score board.
The match looked to have taken a pivotal turn in CIT’s direction in the 48th minute when Offaly captain Shane Dooley was shown a red card for UL after an off-the-ball challenge on CIT defender Eoin Dillon. Being forced to play the finale with 14 men meant UL’s 0-12 to 0-10 advantage suddenly looked precarious. However at a critical stage they increased the intensity and were indebted to a sterling defensive display, typified by captain Kieran Joyce as well as his half-back line colleagues PJ Delaney and Brendan Bugler.
