Dolan stars as UCC claim Freshers crown

UCC claimed the Higher Education Fresher Hurling League Division 1 title in Mallow last night, seeing off a dogged and talented University of Limerick side 4-15 to 4-11. that just didn’t know when to give up

Wed, 03 Dec, 2014 - 00:00

The Cork students had a brace of first-half goals first half brace of goals from centre-forward Mark c Dolan to thank for an early lead that that they would never relinquish.

The Douglas man showed clinical skill in the opening 20 minutes — cutting the UL defence defensive pack to ribbons with a series of unstoppable runs that all yielded scores.

The Leesiders also had a dominant Declan Hannon (full-forward) causing panic in the attacking third as well as their talisman Patrick Curran (Waterford) — both scored goals either side of the break (3-6 to 0-6 at the half-time).

Any thoughts of an easy victory for UCC were quickly dashed after the interval as the Limerick students fought back to within four points with goals from Paul Ryan (2), Alan Murphy and Liam Maloney making for a tight and exciting finish.

However it always looked destined to be UCC’s day and they deservedly took the spoils.

Scorers for UCC:

P Curran 1-9 (0-5 frees, 0-1 a 65); M Dolan 2-0; D Hannon 1-2; D Walsh 0-2; K Kenny, D Dawson 0-1 each.

UL scorers:

A Murphy 1-6 (0-5 frees); P Ryan 2-0; L Maloney 1-2; K Bergin, I Galvin, J Keane 0-1 each. UCC: J Barry (Cork); C Walsh (Cork), S O’Donoghue (Cork), G Murphy (Cork); A Ward (Cork), N Cashman (Cork), S O’Farrell (Cork); D Walsh (Clare), C Cormack (Cork); J O’Sullivan (Cork), M Dolan (Cork), P Curran (Waterford); K Kenny (Kilkenny), D Hannon (Cork), D Dawson (Cork).

Subs:

S Flanagan (Limerick) for J O’Sullivan (45), P McMahon (Cork) for M Dolan (51), S Linehan (Cork) for S O’Farrell (53), P Guest (Cork) for D Hannon (56), J Byrne (Kilkenny) for D Walsh (60). UL: G Ryan (Tipperary); E Costello (Limerick), D Fitzgerald (Clare), J Keating (Clare); M Casey (Limerick), L Bergin (Laois), S Ryan (Limerick); T Horgan (Cork), L Maloney (Tipperary); I Galvin (Clare), K Bergin (Laois), A Murphy (Kilkenny); C Maloney (Clare), T Morrissey (Limerick), P Ryan (Tipperary). Subs: S Finn (Limerick) for J Keating (inj) (10), J Keane (Tipperary) for C Maloney (45), B Heffernan (Tipperary) for L Bergin (25), J Stanley (Kilkenny) for S Ryan (40).