DIT edge UCD in O'Byrne Shield

DIT 0-14 UCD 2-7

Dublin senior footballer Diarmuid Connolly struck six points as DIT withstood a late UCD rally in the sides' O'Byrne Shield encounter at Ringsend tonight.

Niall Murray's injury-time goal proved a case of too little, too late for Malachy O'Rourke's charges, who were left to rue six second half wides.

UCD were without the services of Dublin's David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan, John O'Loughlin of Laois and Wexford attacker Ciaran Lyng, but battled hard until the end.

With the Sigerson Cup looming large, both sides were keen to put in spirited performances in this game.

They were level on four occasions inside the opening 22 minutes as they went point for point.

Indeed it was David 'Doc' O'Connor's 22nd-minute goal which ensured UCD opened up a three-point lead, with O'Connor firing a right-footed shot past DIT goalkeeper Eoin Somerville.

Meath's Eoin Reilly and Connolly impressed for DIT in the opening half as they held a 0-8 to 1-4 interval lead.

DIT were more composed on the restart, and the concession of Murray's late goal was their only real defensive lapse in the second half.

Scorers - DIT: D Connolly 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 '45', 0-1sl) E Reilly 0-3, J Fogarty 0-2 (0-1f), R Tierney, J Coughlan, N Coughlan 0-1 each

UCD: B O'Rorke 0-4 (0-1f), D O'Connor, N Murray 1-0 each, D St Ledger 0-2, P Brady 0-1