Late Donnellan point earns TUS Midwest draw against DCU in Fitzgibbon Cup first round

DCU had led for the majority of the contest but were unable to put away a TUS Midwest side that managed to stay in the contest

Robert Doyle of TUS clearing the sliotar against Joe Flanagan of DCU in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025 - 21:37

John Keogh, Moylish

Fitzgibbon Cup: TUS Midwest 1-18 DCU 1-18

A late Paddy Donnellan ’65 saw TUS Midwest pull a draw from what looked a likely defeat from their Fitzgibbon Cup opener with DCU in Moylish.

Donnellan landed the score three minutes into added time to earn the Limerick side a 1-18 to 1-18 draw.

DCU had led for the majority of the contest but were unable to put away a TUS Midwest side that managed to stay in the contest.

Cillian Dunne’s 0-8 looked to have turned the game in DCU’s favour, only for Niall O’Farrell to put one point between the sides heading into added time, before Donnellan stepped up to the plate and fired over the leveller.

Donnellan had opened his account on six minutes to square the game up for a second time but three in a row put DCU in the ascendancy.

Sam Bourke, James Carroll and Dunne all hit the target with Darragh Casey responding for TUS Midwest It was on 13 minutes when Boran’s run opened up a huge gap in the home defence and then offloaded to Joe Flanagan.

Although Flanagan fluffed the attempted catch and finish, he had the wherewithal to flick the ball across the square to set up Carroll for an easy finish.

TUS Midwest responded with two Kyle Shelly frees and an excellent strike from play by Paddy McCormack to cut the gap to two points.

Dunne soon had DCU’s advantage back at three with a fine score from play but Sean Canning and Shelly kept TUS Midwest ticking over.

Carroll then DCU to two in front once again but TUS Midwest were soon on top after Canning picked out an unmarked McCormack 20 metres from goal and the Borrisoleigh man provided a devastating finish. That saw TUS one ahead on 24 minutes.

Evan Maxted of TUS and Cian Boran of DCU, battling for possession.

However, DCU finished the half in fine form with Dunne, Billy Reid and Darragh Carley scoring to see them 1-10 to 1-8 clear at the break.

Dunne began the second half as he finished the first with his sixth of the evening with Shelly and McCormack responding for TUS Midwest.

It was nip and tuck for most of the third quarter with Niall O’Farrell for TUS and Conor Kehoe for DCU landing the outstanding points in that period.

DCU kept that two-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes but Shelly’s eighth of the game restored the margin to one.

Sam Byrne and O’Farrell traded outstanding scores following Shelly’s free with the score standing at 1-17 to 1-16 in DCU’s favour going into the final five.

A long range Bourke effort looked to have secured victory for DCU only for O’Farrell and Donnellan rescuing TUS Midwest at the death.

Scorers for TUS Midwest: K Shelly 0-8 (7f), P McCormack 1-2, N O’Farrell 0-4, P Donnellan 0-2 (1 ’65), D Casey and S Canning 0-1 each.

Scorers for DCU: C Dunne 0-8 (5f, 1 ’65), J Carroll 1-2, S Bourke and D Carley 0-2 each, B Reid, C Kehoe, D Shirley and S Byrne 0-1 each.

TUS Midwest: A Enright (Newmarket on Fergus, Clare); D Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Limerick), E Maxted (Clooney-Quin, Clare), J Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey, Offaly); J McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels, Carlow), P Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), S Walsh (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary); D Casey (Granagh-Ballingarry), C O’Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary); N O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare), P McCormack (Borrisogleigh, Tipperary), R Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary); K Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary), S Kenneally (Moneygall, Tipperary), S Canning (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon).

Subs: B Adams (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Kenneally (32), C Bryne (Abbeleix, Laois) for O’Dwyer (45), D Tynan (Roscrea, Tipperary) for Maxted (53), J Lahart (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary) for Shelly (53).

DCU: C Byrne (Fethard St Mogues, Wexford); I Bolger (Graignamanagh, Kilkenny), D Kehoe (Cloughbawn, Wexford), P Lennon (Carrickshock, Kilkenny); S Bourke (Durrow, Offaly), P Langton (Young Irelands, Kilkenny), B Reid (Glenmore, Kilkenny); D O’Meara (Maynooth, Kildare), C Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughy, Offaly); D Shirley (Tubber, Offaly), J Carroll (Dicksboro, Kilkenny), D Carley (Glynn-Bartown, Wexford); J Flanagan (Naomh Barrog, Dublin), C Boran (Naas, Kildare), C Dunne (Clough-Ballycolla, Laois.

Subs: C Kehoe (Naomh Mollog, Carlow) for D Kehoe (28), S Byrne (St Martin’s, Kilkenny) for Flanagan (45), C Doyle (Shelmaliers, Wexford) for Carroll (56).

Referee: J Bugler (Clare).