Connolly leads MTU Cork to win over UCD to secure Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final spot

QUARTER-FINAL BOOKED: Jack Cahalane of MTU Cork during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup round two match against University College Dublin. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 2: MTU Cork 3-21 UCD 1-15

Goal king Alan Connolly hit the net again as MTU Cork secured back-to-back wins in the Fitzgibbon Cup and a quarter-final place with a game to spare.

Neutrals around Cork may have been looking forward to next week's Round 3 fixture between MTU Cork and UCC as a potential barnburner.

But in a show of strength by the Rebel County, both teams are now through to the last eight following their respective wins this week so may opt to keep their powder dry.

UCC took care of their business on Wednesday evening and MTU Cork sped to victory at Belfield after blowing out some early dirty petrol.

They conceded five of the game's first six points as hosts UCD raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with nine minutes on the clock.

Having failed to get out of their group last year, and having lost more recently to UCC in Round 1 of this year's competition, UCD badly needed the win.

Rising Westmeath star David Williams hinted that he may even propel them to that triumph when he netted after 16 minutes, opening up a five-point advantage at that stage.

But UCD, minus the services of Dublin's Dara Purcell and Diarmaid O'Dulaing, as well as newly appointed Kilkenny vice-captain Peter McDonald who was listed as a sub but didn't feature, couldn't kick on.

Instead it was MTU Cork, who looked lethargic initially perhaps after the long bus journey north, who got back to level terms by half-time, 0-12 to 1-9, and powered on from there to the dozen-point win.

Cork star Connolly helped himself to 1-5 overall while Waterford's Sean Walsh, Diarmuid Healy and Brian Lynch all stood out in a lively attack for the visitors.

Substitute David O'Sullivan from Ballincollig grabbed MTU Cork's first goal in the 40th minute to put them three clear at that stage.

Mikey Finn stroked home from close range for their second in the 54th minute with UCD's defence visibly crumbling as the game wore on. Their management withdrew Kilkenny and Thomastown duo Peter and Luke Connellan and MTU Cork hit the afterburners late on.

Connolly completed his scoring with a terrific goal approaching the hour when he raced in along the right endline and blasted one-handed to the roof of the UCD net.

Sub Rhys McCarthy added a couple of late points while Walsh was on the mark with a fine stoppage time score too.

It's disappointment for UCD, the 32-time competition winners, who have failed to get out of their group for the second year running. They will face University of Galway in their final Group B game next Wednesday.

Williams finished with 1-7 here and Brendan Scanlon from the nearby Kilmacud Crokes club also impressed but they ran out of steam by half-time and only added three points from play in the entire second-half.

But MTU Cork, with Ciaran Joye in defence and Jack Cahalane also showing up well in the full-forward line, march on and will use that final round clash with UCC, at MTU Cork, as preparation ahead of the knock-out stage.

Scorers for MTU Cork: A Connolly (1-5, 0-4 frees); D Healy (0-5); S Walsh (0-4); David O'Sullivan, M Finn (1-0 each); J Cahalane, B Lynch, R McCarthy (0-2 each); Darragh O'Sullivan (0-1).

Scorers for UCD: D Williams (1-7, 0-5 frees); B Scanlon (0-3); L Connellan (0-2); C O Cathasaigh, D Lee, C Kearney (0-1 each).

MTU Cork (Cork unless stated): C Wilson (Newcestown); F O'Connell (St Catherine's), E Varian (Glen Rovers), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); S Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebg, Waterford), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), M Mullins (Whitechurch); M Finn (Midleton), R Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry); S Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford), B Lynch (Ballinhassig), D Healy (Lisgoold); A Connolly (Blackrock), A Walsh (Kanturk), J Cahalane (St Finbarr's).

Subs: David O'Sullivan (Ballincollig) for R Walsh (h/t); R O'Sullivan (Newcestown) for A Walsh (47); R McCarthy for Lynch (55); M Tobin (Mallow) for Cahalane (61).

UCD: F Boyd (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin); S McCaul (Scariff, Clare), M Walsh (Ardrahan, Galway), E Ryan (St Anne's, Wexford); P Connellan (Thomastown, Kilkenny), C O Cathasaigh (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), C O'Toole (Cuala, Dublin); C Kearney (Danesfort, Kilkenny), F Mahony (Abbeyleix, Laois); B Scanlon (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), J Duggan (The Harps, Laois), L Connellan (Thomastown, Kilkenny); C Gaffney (Castlepollard, Westmeath), D Lee (Clarinbridge, Galway), D Williams (Lough Lene Gaels, Westmeath).

Subs: C O'Hanlon (Ballinasloe, Galway) for Boyd (h/t); C McCarthy for O'Toole (33); C Lowry (Cuala, Dublin) for L Connellan (50); S Barron (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny) for P Connellan (50); P Brennan (Young Irelands, Kilkenny) for McCaul (62).

Referee: M Redmond (Wexford).