UCC exit Fitzgibbon Cup

UCC have crashed out of the Fitzgibbon Cup at the group stages for a second successive year.

Ger Cunningham’s charges required at least a three point win against LIT this afternoon to progress to the knockout stages, but were unable to reach this target, losing to the visitors on a scoreline of 2-15 to 1-14.

The crucial score arrived on 56 minutes when David Dempsey ghosted in behind the UCC full-back line for LIT’s second goal. The score moved LIT into a 2-13 to 1-14 lead after Alan Cadogan had goaled for UCC four minutes earlier.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-7 apiece at the interval, with Rob O’Shea (0-3 frees), John Power, Tom Devine (0-1 each) and Cormac Murphy (0-2) on target for UCC; Diarmuid Byrnes, Peter Duggan and David Reidy among the LIT contributors.

The Limerick side received a major boost when Peter Duggan bagged the opening goal of the contest inside the opening 20 seconds of the second-half. Rob O’Shea kept UCC in touch with a further four frees and while they did move in front following Cadogan’s excellent strike on 52 minutes, the need to finish three in front left gaps at the back which LIT exploited approaching the finish.