Halloran shoots SETU Waterford to home quarter final

FITZGIBBON CUP: MTU Sean Walsh & Sam Quirke and SETU Waterfords Cathal King & Gary Cullinane. Pic: Patrick Browne

Fitzgibbon Cup Group C

SETU Waterford 0-11

MTU Cork 0-9

It wasn't pretty but seven Reuben Halloran frees and three Sean Walsh points from play gave SETU Waterford a narrow win over fourteen man MTU Cork at a muddy and miserable Carriganore. Victory guarantees a home quarter final for Fintan O'Connor's charges in two weeks' time.

In a proper Fitzgibbon Cup dogfight, where the teams were level eight times, a straight red card for MTU defender Evan Murphy on 44 minutes proved the turning point. Waterford attacker Halloran nailed three late frees in the wretched wind and rain, including one from his own 65, to squeak it for the home side. 

Sean Walsh from Carrigtwohill also came up trumps for SETU with three second half singles. Wing back Billy Power also rolled up his sleeves and won two important balls in injury time. "It probably wasn't the nicest to watch at times," admitted SETU boss Fintan O'Connor afterwards. "We're just delighted to get a home quarter final."

MTU's Sean Walsh and centre back Ciaran Joyce fought hard for the visitors. The Cork students can still qualify for the knockout stages with a win against DCU next Thursday.

The wind and rain swept right across Carriganore from start to finish. The first half was a drab affair in the dreadful conditions. All-Ireland hurling final referee John Keenan wasn't hanging around and got the game underway two minutes early. The pitch cut up as soon as he threw in the ball.

The sides were tied on four occasions. Déise centre back Tom Barron soloed from his own 65 to the opposition 21 before he popped over the score of the half. The other number six Ciaran Joyce also caught the eye with a massive free from his own half.

Reuben Halloran hit three frees for SETU. The home team registered four wides and six balls short in that opening half however. Towering MTU centre forward Sean Walsh, who faced his Fourmilewater club mate Tom Barron, equalised from a tight angle. A Mark Tobin free edged the visitors 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

Walsh moved inside at the start of the second half and struck his second point 20 seconds after the resumption. SETU's Sean Walsh replied at the opposite end. Halloran levelled the contest for the fifth time with his fourth free of the night. Walsh and Brian Lynch traded points before Evan Murphy and Padraig Fitzgerald clashed off the ball. John Keenan consulted with his linesman before he flashed a red card to the MTU number five.

A Sam Quirke free edged the fourteen men back in front with fourteen minutes left (0-8 to 0-7) as Ciaran Joyce still managed to free himself as a spare defender. The hosts finished with eleven wides and seven short but eventually got to grips with their numerical advantage.

With the wind still howling, Halloran walloped over a placed ball from his own 65. The game was still deadlocked entering added time before Gavin Fives and Tom Barron won frees which Halloran converted. MTU launched a last ditch attack but Billy Power came away with the sliotar in his hand.

Scorers for SETU Waterford: R Halloran 0-7 (7fs), S Walsh 0-3, T Barron 0-1.

Scorers for MTU Cork: B Lynch (2fs), S Walsh 0-2 each, S Quirke (f), M Tobin (f), C Joyce (f), B Kehoe, R Walsh 0-1 each.

SETU Waterford (Waterford Unless Stated): B Hennessy (Kilmallock, Limerick); C King (Carrig Riverstown, Offaly), G Cullinane (Passage), P Wickham (St Abbans Adamstown, Wexford); B Power (Clonea), T Barron (Fourmilewater), W Beresford (Abbeyside); R Hanley (Kilmallock, Limerick), J Harkin (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny); R Halloran (De La Salle), G Fives (Cappoquin), S Walsh (Carrigtwohill, Cork); Padraig Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty), J Foley (Ballygunner), Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner).

Subs: J Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg) for Foley (46).

MTU Cork (Cork Unless Stated): C Wilson (Newcestown); P O'Sullivan (Newtownshandrum), D Mason (Shamrocks Ballyhale, Kilkenny), S Keoghan (Graigue Ballycallan, Kilkenny); E Murphy (Causeway, Kerry), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), E Collins (Newcestown); S Quirke (Midleton), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry); S Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford), B Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash, Tipperary), B Lynch Ballinhassig); R McCarthy (Carrigaline), J Mulcahy (Carrigtwohill), M Tobin (Mallow).

Subs: DJ Twomey (Courcey Rovers) for Tobin (37), D O'Sullivan (Ballincollig) for Collins (43), P Dorney (Ballymartle) for McCarthy (53), C O'Keeffe (Blackrock, Limerick) for Mulcahy (53).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow)