UG rout UCD in Fitzgibbon but too late for progress

 

Fitzgibbon Cup: University of Galway 4-27 UCD 0-11 

Even though both teams were out of the Fitzgibbon Cup, the third round tie was played out in a bitterly cold Dangan surrounded by fallen trees. 

UCD to a large degree and UG to a lesser extent were bereft of county players due to league pressures this coming weekend. 

From the off it was all UG whose positive start had them 1-3 up by the 6th minute, with the goal coming from a long-range free by Kieran Hanrahan. 

Brendan Scanlon was scorer in chief for the visitors before Colm Molloy and Ruben Davitt added home side points. Ruben Davitt hit goal number two for Frank Lohan’s side and now UG were 2-6 to 0-1, with already no way back for UCD.

Niall Collins, Danel Comar and Davitt kept the scoreboard ticking over for UG as UCD managed four second-quarter scores but at half time UG were 20 points in front, 2-19 to 0-5. 

In the second half, UCD added seven more scores but with UG in absolute control they helped themselves to an additional 2-8. Scores came from Ian McGlynn and substitute Matthew Tarpey as UCD were glad to hear the final whistle. No little to late for the Galway uni, who can only dream of what might have been.

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY: Cormac Kenny, Kieran Hanrahan (1-0),, Daniel Loftus, Mark Hardiman, Mark Gill, Colm Cunningham, Joshua Ryan (0-1), Ian McGlynn (1-2), Liam Leen (0-2), Daniel Comar (0-4), Ruben Davitt (1-5), Niall Collins (0-4), Senan Dunford (0-2), Greg Thomas (0-1), Colm Molloy (0-2). Subs: Matthew Tarpey (1-1), Tiarnan Leen, Pheilm McCann.

UCD: Flann Boyd, Seamus McCaul, Michael Walsh, Damien Hanrahan, Conal O’ Toole (0-1), Cian O Cathasaigh, Stephen Barron (0-1, Fionn Mahony (0-1), Cathal Kearney (0-1), Brendan Scanlon (0-7), David Lee (0-1), Robert O’ Kelly Lynch, Cathal O’ Hanlon, Cian McCarthy, Paddy Brennan. Subs: James Maher, Billy Power, Dara Purcell 

Referee John Bugler (Clare)