WATCH: Four goals help IT Carlow tee up Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final with UCC

IT Carlow 4-16

IT Carlow will face UCC in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final after their surprise win over UL this afternoon.

DJ Carey’s IT Carlow had fallen at the quarter-final hurdle in 2015 and ’16 but delivered a composed performance to claim the scalp of last year’s finalists on their home patch.

The visitors to Limerick roared into proceedings and had three goals on the board within 10 minutes. Martin Kavanagh, Mark Russell and Jack Fagan raised a green flag apiece as the underdogs surged 3-2 to 0-5 clear.

That gap stretched out eight points come the 17^th minute as Charles Dwyer, Fagan and a Stephen Maher ’65 pushed IT Carlow into a 3-5 to 0-6 lead.

UL steadied themselves thereafter and a couple of John McGrath frees, added to fine scores from Tony Kelly and David Fitzgerald, left the interval scoreline reading 3-7 to 0-12.

IT Carlow kept their noses in front until four on the bounce between the 44^th and 48^th minute edged Brian Lohan’s UL in front, 0-20 to 3-10. Stephen Maher and Kavanagh regained the initiative for IT Carlow and their progression to the semi-final was guaranteed when Chris Bolger bagged their fourth goal in the final minute of regulation time.

They play UCC on Friday week in Dangan, Galway.

Scorers for IT Carlow: S Maher (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ’65); J Fagan, M Kavanagh (1-2 each); M Russell, C Bolger (1-1 each); C Dwyer (0-2); J Doyle, C Dunford (0-1 each).

Scorers for UL: J McGrath (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65); T Kelly (0-4); D Fitzgerald (0-3); A McGuane, D Gleeson, G Hegarty (0-2 each); J Forde (0-1 free), M Mullins (0-1 each).

IT Carlow: E Rowland (Laois); D Palmer (Laois), K Hannafin (Kerry), R Brown (Wexford); J Doyle (Carlow), D Healy (Meath), D O’Hanlon (Tipperary); K Kelly (Kilkenny), C Dunford (Waterford); C Dwyer (Laois), S Maher (Laois), M Kavanagh (Carlow); C Bolger (Kilkenny), M Russell (Tipperary), J Fagan (Waterford).

Subs: T Nolan (Tipperary) for Kelly (50 mins).

UL: P Maher (Tipperary); M Casey (Limerick), B Troy (Kilkenny), L O’Connor (Clare); B Heffernan (Tipperary), J Forde (Tipperary), D Fitzgerald (Clare); A McGuane (Clare), K Hehir (Clare); T Morrissey (Limerick), T Kelly (Clare), G Hegarty (Limerick); D Gleeson (Tipperary), M Mullins (Galway), J McGrath (Tipperary).

Subs: B Duggan (Clare) for Troy (HT); B Nash (Limerick) for Gleeson (56).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).