Statement win for MTU Cork over neighbours UCC in the Fitzgibbon Cup

STATEMENT WIN: MTU's Joe Egan breaks from UCC's Colin Walsh and Darragh Stakelum during the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon cup at The Mardyke. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Fitzgibbon Cup: MTU Cork 1-26 UCC 1-16

A rare win for the neighbours on Mardyke soil. A most resounding double-digit win for MTU Cork over their Leeside rivals.

In this their opening Fitzgibbon bow of the campaign, an MTU side full of urgency and smart intent went a distance to ensuring their involvement deep into the competition.

With newcomers Garda College paying them a visit next week, MTU Cork will be expected to pick up their second win, top Group B in the process, and earn themselves a home quarter-final that avoids heavy-hitters such as UL, University of Galway, and Mary Immaculate College.

In effect, this opening night victory over the neighbours could see them travel all the way to a second consecutive semi-final appearance - at the very least.

That’s enough future gazing for now. Back to the action at a surprisingly poorly attended Mardyke.

Ahead by 1-14 to 1-10 at the break, the second-half terms of engagement were written and read out early by the visitors. There would be no road back for the hosts. It was the leading guests who would continue to apply suffocating pressure when out of possession. It was they who behaved as if they were behind and chasing.

Ben Cunningham, from the placed ball, had sought a revitalising green flag for UCC just before half-time. His free was repelled. They went hunting green again upon the restart.

Centre-back Shane Kingston, who had come forward to strike their first-half major, sent Peter McGarry into an opening. MTU full-back James O’Brien threw himself in front of the shot.

Not tonight, UCC, said the neighbours. A statement issued with no little confidence and defiance.

The play was called back for a free. Ben Cunningham converted. UCC wouldn’t add to their tally again until the three-quarter-hour mark. They’d not score from play in the second-half until the 52nd minute. They didn’t carry the same busyness as their opponents.

MTU posted five points on the spin following the aforementioned Cunningham free. The sequence shoved them 1-19 to 1-11 clear by the 43rd minute. The sequence summed up their unrelenting and charged approach.

Tadhg O’Leary Hayes blocked down a William Buckley point attempt. The play finished with an MTU white flag, courtesy of Ryan Deasy, at the far end.

Alan Walsh won the ground war for possession against Kevin Lyons and pointed. A surrounded Peter McGarry overcarried. Johnny Murphy blocked down a Sean Daly attempted clearance before being fouled by the same player.

All MTU frees manufactured from nothing more than a commendable work ethic were sent between the posts by Mikey Finn. There was one, from distance, that fell short. The MTU players crowded the ball-carrier and won a ‘65 that Finn nailed. The Midleton midfielder finished with a dozen ticks beside his name. His presence was equally felt from open play.

In the half-forward line, Diarmuid Healy and Ryan Deasy were imposing figures. Cork senior Healy rose four white flags, Deasy one less.

Inside them, Alan Walsh and Johnny Murphy were superb outlets. Walsh’s fielding was a regular source of trouble for UCC. Murphy mightn’t have entered the scoresheet until the 45th minute, but that was no reflection of his contribution. His was the last contribution of the night. And what a parting note it was, last year’s Cork U20 forward finding the target as he fell out over the sideline and with his back to goal.

UCC, heavily reliant on the dead-ball accuracy of Cunningham, had led at different intervals throughout the first-half. Kingston’s goal and points from Brian Keating and McGarry left them 1-8 to 0-10 in front on 23 minutes. The MTU reply was an unanswered 1-2. The goal from Aaron McEvoy, from a tight angle, was well executed. They never looked back.

UCC, who were without Cork full-back Eoin Downey, finished with 14 men as centre-back James Dwyer walked late on for a second yellow.

Scorers for MTU Cork: M Finn (0-12, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ‘65); D Healy (0-4); A Walsh, R Deasy (0-3 each); A McEvoy (1-0); J Murphy (0-2); R Walsh, C Ryan (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCC: B Cunningham (0-9, 0-9 frees); B Keating, D Flynn, W Buckley (0-2 each); S Kingston (1-0); P McGarry (0-1).

MTU Cork: G Bucinskas (Kanturk); T O'Leary Hayes (Midleton), J O'Brien (Fermoy), F O'Connell (St Catherine's); C Ryan (Brickey Rangers), D O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig), R Walsh (Kilmoyley); J Egan (Moycarkey Borris), M Finn (Midleton); R O'Connor (Kileedy), D Healy (Lisgoold), R Deasy (Ballymartle); A Walsh (Kanturk), J Murphy (Dromina), A McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan).

Subs: J Galvin (Éire Óg) for O’Connor (56); D O’Leary (Ballincollig) for R Walsh (59); R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for McEvoy (60); E Varian (Glen Rovers) for O’Leary Hayes (62).

UCC: P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s); S Daly (Randal Óg), K Lyons (Ballygarvan), S Moore (Carrickshock); S Kingston (Ballinora), J Dwyer (Ballincollig), E Guinane (Valley Rovers); D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), B Keating (Ballincollig), C Walsh (Kanturk); P McGarry (St Mary’s), E McDermott (James Stephens), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: H O’Connor (Newmarket) for Walsh, T Kelly (Bennettsbridge) for Moore (both HT); R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for Flynn, M Mahony (Old Parish) for McDermott (both 43); M Mullaney (Stradbally) for Daly (56).

Referee: C O’Regan (Cork).