UCC seize control early and ease past understrength UL

UL – severely depleted, missing over 20 players including Dungourney’s Jack Leahy – struggled to live with the pace once UCC opened up.

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025 - 21:28

Jack McKay

University College Cork 2-23 University of Limerick 0-21

By the finish, the margin made it look routine, but UCC earned their comfort.

Once they found their stride midway through the first half, they seized control and never surrendered it, easing past UL in the Munster Third Level Colleges Senior Hurling League semi-final at the Mardyke on Tuesday evening.

The early exchanges went UL’s way – 0-7 to 0-5 ahead after 15 minutes – but the Skull and Crossbones soon found rhythm.

Three points in succession flipped momentum before Finn O’Brien engineered the breakthrough on 23 minutes.

He intercepted a puckout, saw his first effort blocked by Ian Shanahan, and gathered the rebound to square for Ed McDermott, who roofed the net, 1-8 to 0-7. From there, UCC dictated the night.

UL – severely depleted, missing over 20 players including Dungourney’s Jack Leahy – struggled to live with the pace once UCC opened up. Still, Oisín Fitzgerald stood tall at sweeper, mopping up countless breaks in front of the full-back line.

At half-time, UCC led 1-12 to 0-10. And barely two minutes after the restart, they buried the contest.

Again O’Brien was the provider, slipping Robert Troy through with a perfectly timed handpass as he struck from close range, 2-14 to 0-12.

Tadhg Boddy landed one back for UL, but everything UCC hit seemed to land; five points without reply.

They would have had a goal too, were it not for a second goal-line clearance from Ciarmhac Smyth, who denied Finn O’Brien’s effort, after O’Brien had shown great skill to win possession.

By the end of the third quarter UCC saw their lead swell to 12 points, but UL managed to decrease the deficit with five consecutive white flags.

Joe Fitzgerald got the first, while three frees from Stephen Forecombe and one effort from Boddy left it 2-20 to 0-19 with five minutes remaining.

When Colin Walsh (two) and Troy got the insurance scores UCC needed at the close to leave it 2-23 to 0-19, Forecombe’s late frees for UL proved only to be consolation.

Scorers for UCC: P McGarrry 0-7 (0-4 f), E McDermott 1-3, C Walsh 0-4, R Troy 1-1, F O’Brien, R Troy (0-2 f) 0-3 each, M O’Dwyer, T O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for UL: S Forecombe 0-11 f, A Keady 0-3, JJ Carey, T Boddy, J Fitzgerald 0-2 each, M Hackett 0-1.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK (Cork clubs unless stated): F O’Brien (Bruree, Limerick); S Daly (Randal Óg), S Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny), K Lyons (Ballygarvan); T Kelly (Bennetsbridge, Kilkenny), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), R McEvoy (Lisdowney, Kilkenny); R Troy (Newtownshandrum), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); M O’Dwyer (Russell Rovers), C Walsh (Kanturk), T O’Connell (Ballincollig); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own), E McDermott (James Stephens, Kilkenny), P McGarry (St Mary’s).

Subs: D Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick) for Kelly (40), D Cremin (Midleton) for O’Brien (44), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own) for M O’Dwyer (49), B O’Connell (Abbeyside, Waterford) for McEvoy (51), J Enright (Inniscarra) for O’Connell (54).

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK (Limerick clubs unless stated): C Brodrick (Clarecastle, Clare); C Smyth (Midleton, Cork), S Casey (Bruff), R Lyons (Monaleen); C Thomas (Doon), O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s, Cork), I Shanahan (Ballinakill, Laois); J Fitzgerald (Monaleen), JJ Carey (Na Piarsaigh); A Keady (Oranmore Maree, Galway), P Crotty (Scariff, Clare), M Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary); T Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca), S Forecombe (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary), J Ormond (JK Brackens, Tipperary).

Subs: P O’Dwyer (Killanaule, Tipperary) for Lyons, S Williams (Bruree) for Thomas (both HT), J Doherty (Clarecastle, Clare) for Hackett (41 inj), D O’Connell (Dromina, Cork) for Brodrick (45), S O’Neill (Blackrock) for Crotty (54), A O’Sullivan (John Lockes, Kilkenny) for Shanahan (57 inj).

Referee: C O’Regan (Ballyhea)