Mulcahy targets top spot for Cork IT

Cork IT 1-19 St Pat’s — Mater Dei 1-14: Pat Mulcahy is targeting top spot in Group A and a home tie in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarters-finals after watching Cork IT achieve more capital gains.

But back-to-back victories in Dublin for the 2014 beaten finalists was far from certain early on when Mulcahy’s side fell eight points down.

The decision to rest All-Star Tipperary forward John O’Dwyer — who has a hand injury — looked costly. But Cork’s Aidan Walsh ultimately rose to the occasion with a superb 1-3 to decide the contest.

Walsh’s 28th-minute goal left just four in it at half-time.

With vital momentum and a stiff breeze, Cork IT dominated the second-half.

The result leaves Cork IT and UCD level at the top of Group A and meeting next Tuesday to decide who earns the home quarter-final.

“Look, we’d love to win our group,” said Mulcahy. “We’ve also had two long trips to Dublin over the last two weeks so we’re looking forward to a home game now in front of our own supporters and if we could secure another home match that would be the plan.”

St Pat’s, beaten heavily by UCD in Round 1, started with gusto to send over several long-range points.

Westmeath’s Eoin Price rifled to the net for a 1-6 to 0-2 lead but a couple of Pat Ralph points from placed balls steadied Cork IT before Walsh slid in to finish after Kevin Kavanagh and John Cronin did the spadework.

Noel McNamara and Ralph came into the side due to the absence of O’Dwyer and Bill Cooper and they contributed 0-7 between them. John Cronin also delivered four important points

Pat’s rallied and reduced their arrears to three points with points from Jack McGrath, the impressive Peter Sutton and sub Will Murphy.

But late Cork IT points from Cronin and Sean O’Mahoney ensured there would be no shock.

Cork IT scorers: A Walsh (1-3), P Ralph 0-5 (0-2f, 0-165, 0-1p), J Cronin 0-4, N McNamara 0-2, D Lordan, J Cashman, C Hammersley, S O’Mahoney and C Buckley 0-1 each.

St Pat’s — Mater Dei scorers: E Price 1-1, P Sutton 0-4 (0-1f), J McGrath, E McIntyre and C Joyce (0-1 sl) 0-2 each, C Breathnach, W Murphy and C Morris 0-1 each.

CORK IT (all Cork unless stated): G Minahane; S Murphy, A Dennehy, T Lawrence; J Herlihy, M Ellis, C Buckley; A Walsh, W Murphy; J Cronin, D Lordan, C Hammersley (Tipperary); N McNamara, P Ralph (Tipperary), K Kavanagh.

Subs: J Cashman for Lordan (h/t), P White for McNamara (56), S O’Mahoney for Hammersley (56).

ST PAT’S — MATER DEI: J Higgins (Dublin); R O’Hanrahan (Kilkenny), R Tubrid (Wexford), P Donnelly (Dublin); K Crean (Wexford), D Egan (Kilkenny), S Parsons (Kilkenny); J McGrath (Kilkenny), N Maguire (Dublin); C Breathnach (Waterford), P Sutton (Wexford), E Price (Westmeath); C Morris (Tipperary), C Joyce (Kilkenny), E McIntyre (Tipperary).

Subs: D Flaherty (Dublin) for O’Hanrahan (43), W Murphy (Kilkenny) for Breathnach (45), P Walsh (Kilkenny) for Morris (59), A Cox (Westmeath) for Parsons (62).

Referee: O Elliot (Antrim).