First-half scoring exhibition primes UCC for comfortable win

UCC retained their All-Ireland Fresher’s Hurling (1) title after they swept aside the challenge of LIT at the Mallow GAA Complex yesterday.

A wonderful team performance mixed with some terrific individual display’s from the Cork side gave the Shannonsider’s no chance right from the off.

By the break, the skull and crossbones had opened up a 15 point gap as they led by 1-14 to 0-2.

Waterford senior hurler Paudie Mahony led the charge for the 2010 champions rattling off an impressive tally of 1-9.

Mahony was ably assisted in his efforts by wing forwards Bud Hartnett and Jamie Coughlan with the former showing an array of skills most players could only dream of.

In a reflection of how things went on the day LIT’S stand out player turned out to be keeper Ronan Taaffe. The Clare native kept the score line respectable for long periods, producing five wonderful point blank saves when goals looked inevitable.

Scorers for UCC: P Mahony 1-9 (six frees); B Hartnett 1-2; J Coughlan 0-4; B Murray, N Kennedy (1-1) each; D McCormack, C Curran, D Ring (0-1) each.

LIT: D Maher 1-3 (0-3f); S O’Brien, B Lowery (1-0) each; C McInerney 0-1.

UCC: C Ryan (Cork); D O’Mahony (Cork), F O’Mahony (Cork), S Maher (Tipperary); J Barry (Tipperary), D Fives (Waterford), P O’Mahony (Cork); D McCormack (Tipperary), T Curran (Waterford); N Kennedy (Limerick), P Mahony (Waterford), P Lupton (Tipperary); B Hartnett (Cork), B Murray (Cork), J Coughlan (Cork).

Subs: C Curran for P Lupton (42), D Ring for B Murray (50), J Roche for D McCormack (50), E Healy for N Kennedy (50), F Golden for J Coughlan (58).

LIT: R Taaffe (Clare); P Dowling (Kilkenny), C McInerney (Clare), R Nolan (Laois); D Kehoe (Clare), E Whelan (Laois), M Maloney (Wexford); S O’Brien (Limerick), J Gilfoyle (Clare); T Begley (Clare), D Maher (Tipperary), A Fealy (Kerry); B Lowery (Tipperary), A Stakelum (Tipperary), J Hastings (Clare).

Subs: J Mulqueen for T Begley (45), C Cox for J Hastings (45), J Sheedy for B Lowery (48), J O’Brien for A Stakelum (50), G Kennedy for R Nolan.

Referee: Alan Kissane (Waterford).