McGrath plots downfall of old college DCU
Joe Fortune’s side dominated possession in the opening quarter and led 0-3 to 0-0 after 12 minutes, McGrath slotting over two frees and Dublin’s Thomas Connolly registering an impressive score from play. DCU battled back, Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan in form. Galway’s Padraig Breheny and Hogan were on target in the second quarter, but with McGrath and Liam Óg McGovern shining, DIT led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.
Weather conditions worsened on the restart, both sides struggling to get scores. Tipperary’s Kieran Bergin had two DIT points inside 17 minutes, but DCU’s scoring efforts were confined in the main to the efforts of Breheny and Hogan. McGrath and McGovern kept DIT on top, with great credit also going to the DIT defence, and in particular their goalkeeper Finn McGarry who kept a clean sheet for the second game in a row.
DIT manager Joe Fortune was happy his side secured a home quarter-final tie with WIT next week. “The conditions didn’t suit hurling. The job here was to come and get a win the way the results went last Wednesday. We knew DCU were going to put it up against us. We knew on a good day we were going to have a hard job, but in those conditions it was going to be harder again. We’ve a lot of improving to do ahead of WIT next week.”
Scorers for DIT: S McGrath (3f, 1 65) 0-4; L Óg McGovern 0-3; T Connolly, K Bergin 0-2 each.
Scorers for DCU: P Breheny, R Hogan (2f), C Curran 0-2 each; M Aylward 0-1.
DIT: (Dublin unless stated): F McGarry; W Devereux (Wexford), G McManus, F Power; C Robinson, L Rushe, D Horan (Offaly); J Henderson (Wicklow), N McMorrow; K Whelan (Wexford), K Bergin (Tipperary), T Connolly; S Morris (Meath), L Óg McGovern (Wexford), S McGrath. Subs: M Maloney (Kilkenny) for Horan (10); J Hobbs (Wexford) for Whelan (29); M O’Donoghue for Devereux (48); P McDonagh (Cork) for Morris (51); M O’Donoghue for Devereux (56).
DCU (Kilkenny unless stated): P Burke (Galway); G Grace (Tipperary); R Lennon, G Bennett (Carlow); A Cormican (Galway), P Carroll, T French (Wexford); R Hogan, P Bolger (Wexford); C Ryan (Dublin), P Breheny (Galway), D Gavin (Westmeath); C Egan (Roscommon), M Aylward, C Curran (Waterford). Sub: J Divilly (Galway) for Egan (61).
Referee: David Hughes (Carlow).
