Keating to the fore as UCC pass UCD test in Fitzgibbon opener 

IN-FORM: Brian Keating (Ballincollig), UCC, bursts through midfield against UCD. Pic: Larry Cummins 

Fitzgibbon Cup: University College Cork 0-29 University College Dublin 1-20 

With more difficult assignments to come, this was a non-negotiable two points for the hosts.

With perennial challengers University of Galway visiting next week and their group campaign concluding over the road against Ciarán Joyce-led MTU Cork, UCC knew the absolute imperativeness of opening their Fitzgibbon Group B account with a win on Wednesday evening. 

And that they did, a strong last 20 minutes more than sufficient.

Trailing their guests 0-13 to 0-12 at half-time, UCC twice fell three behind in the nine minutes after the restart. It could have been more. In between Cian Ó Cathasaigh and Luke Connellan’s opening two points of the second period, UCD dropped three further point attempts short.

Peter McDonald’s 39th minute white flag to push the Belfield boys three in front once more was as promising as their evening spin south would get. From there to the finish, UCC outgunned them 0-15 to 1-3. Within this crucial period of sustained UCC dominance were two bursts of three unanswered points either side of a seven-in-a-row sequence that catapulted Tom Kingston’s students from one adrift to six clear.

UCD’s response to falling 0-24 to 0-18 behind was to scramble in the game’s sole green flag. A Cian Ó Cathasaigh delivery into the danger area on 55 minutes was not dealt with, enabling Luke Connellan to squeeze the sliotar over the white paint.

Game back on. Game back on for not very long. William Buckley, Darragh Stakelum, and sub Eoin O’Leary sniped three on the spin over the ensuing three minutes to quickly cancel out the UCD major and restore the six-point gap.

Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr's) in action for UCC against UCD. Pic: Larry Cummins 

UCD went hunting further majors thereafter. The approach was route one. Two threatening deliveries were fetched and taken care of by UCC sweeper Ethan Twomey.

Midfielder and standout UCC performer Brian Keating was, as he had been throughout, very much to the fore during the red-owned final quarter. 

It was he who won UCC’s first converted free of the evening on 41 minutes. It was he who nudged UCC in front for the first time in the second half minutes later. He’d clip another three before the finish to bring his tally for the evening to 0-5. The title of UCC’s chief marksman from play was his.

Ben Cunningham also came strong in the final quarter. He nailed two monster frees from the dugout sideline well back in his own half. A mention too for his Barrs teammate William Buckley, another to roar in the closing act. Buckley was thrice on target across the final 10 minutes to swell his tally to 0-4.

The opening half had been without such notable swings and uninterrupted scoring sequences. The sides were level on eight occasions. UCC half-back Michael Mullaney landed three from distance, with fellow defenders James Dwyer and Timmy Wilk arrowing over one apiece.

David Williams was the main UCD threat, supported well by Luke Connellan and Brendan Scanlon. They would have cut a content bunch at half-time. That position would improve early in the second half before their challenge faded sharply.

Scorers for University College Cork: B Cunningham (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65); B Keating (0-5 each); W Buckley (0-4); M Mullaney, D Flynn (0-3 each); T Wilk, D Stakelum (0-2 each); J Dwyer, E Twomey, F Coleman, P McGarry, E O’Leary (0-1 each).

Scorers for University College Dublin: D Ó Dulaing (0-5, 0-4 frees); L Connellan (1-2); D Williams (0-4, 0-1 free); C Ó Cathasaigh, D Purcell, J Duggan (0-2 each); E Ryan, P McDonald, B Scanlon (0-1 each).

UCC: (Cork clubs unless stated): P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neills); S Daly (Randal Óg), C Doolan (St Finbarr’s), T Wilk (Cobh); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Twomey (St Finbarr’s), M Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford); B Keating (Ballincollig), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); D Flynn (Ballygiblin), B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), F Coleman (Blackrock), P McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary).

SUBS: E O’Leary (Glen Rovers) for McGarry (38 mins); D Cremin (Midleton) for Stokes (47); R McEvoy (Lisdowney, Kilkenny) for Wilk (53); E Guinane (Valley Rovers) for Daly (57), C McCarthy (Blarney) for Coleman (59).

UCD: C O'Hanlon (Ballinasloe, Galway); S McCaul (Scariff, Clare), M Walsh (Ardrahan, Galway), P Connellan (Thomastown, Kilkenny); E Ryan (St Anne's, Wexford), C Ó Cathasaigh (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), C O'Toole (Cuala, Dublin); P McDonald (Thomastown, Kilkenny), D Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin); B Scanlon (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), J Duggan (The Harps, Laois), L Connellan (Thomastown, Kilkenny); D Williams (Lough Lene Gaels, Westmeath), D Ó Dulaing (Commercials, Dublin), C Gaffney (Castlepollard, Westmeath).

SUBS: D Lee (Clarinbridge, Galway) for Ó Dulaing (49); R Kelly O’Lynch (Naomh Eoin, Sligo) for Scanlon (54).

REFEREE: K Jordan (Tipperary)