MTU Cork book home quarter-final after 13-point win over Garda College

HOME QUARTÉR-FINAL BOOKED:  MTU Cork's Joe Egan gets off his pass from Garda College's Lorcan Carr during the Fitzgibbon cup , Round 2 at MTU. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Fitzgibbon Cup: MTU Cork 2-20 Garda College 0-13

Initially sluggish. Then total control. A dominant second-half showing from the hosts has secured MTU Cork top spot in Fitzgibbon Cup Group B.

There are a couple of important prizes that come with topping Group B. The first is that MTU Cork will have home advantage in the quarter-final. The second and arguably most important prize is that they'll avoid UL at said quarter-final stage. That is, of course, unless DCU spring a significant upset next week and turn over the runaway favourites.

In all likelihood, and without being disrespectful, it will be last year’s runners-up, DCU, who are spinning to Bishopstown for the last-eight.

There are also a couple of consequences as a result of MTU Cork topping Group B. Next week’s meeting between UCC and the Garda College, in Templemore, is a straight shootout for second place and the last ticket to the quarters. But irrespective of who comes out on top, they’ll be on the road for their last-eight clash. And barring the shock outlined above, UCC or Garda College will be on the road to UL for the quarter-final.

If it doesn’t sound appetising, that’s because it isn’t.

MTU Cork were nowhere near as fluid or sharp as they had been at the Mardyke last Thursday. Yet another double-digit win was still chalked. That’s as sure a sign as any of the self-belief coursing through this team at present.

They did not click in the first half. There were six first-half wides. There was a seventh attempt wide. Their defence was under pressure. And yet it was a first-half they finished 0-11 to 0-10 in front.

The key moment of the first half stood out a mile. On 27 minutes, Ciaran Kirwan flicked possession inside to Daniel Hand. The Offaly U20 All-Ireland winner pulled first-time. The sliotar flew underneath the outrushing Grantis Bucinskas. Rushing back, though, in the nick of time was Tadhg O’Leary Hayes. The corner-back cleared off the goal line for a 65.

With Cork senior Daire O’Leary and Rob Stapleton having registered three of the game’s four previous scores for a 0-9 to 0-8 Garda College lead, a goal here would have shoved the visitors four in front. Instead the lead only went as far as two points.

And when Mikey Finn swung over the last three scores of the half - the first of them a free for a foul on Johnny Murphy - underwhelming MTU Cork led going in at the break.

From an evenly matched opening half hour to a non-event second period. An overrun Garda College would find only three white flags. They wouldn’t find any flag from the 43rd minute onwards.

Centre-forward Diarmuid Healy, who’d come off second best in the opening half contest with Cork teammate O’Leary, swelled in prominence.

Indeed, it was Healy’s pass inside that set in motion the game’s opening goal. Having been overshadowed by inside colleagues Alan Walsh and Johnny Murphy during last week’s 10-point win over UCC, corner-forward Aaron McEvoy pulled the spotlight over himself here with 1-5. And every one of the six scores from play.

Walsh, catching Healy’s pass and then having his hurley pulled from him, handpassed across to McEvoy. He spun cleverly out of the incoming tackle and buried. 1-12 to 0-11, on 37 minutes.

Walsh was provider turned finisher for their second on 45 minutes. He almost bagged a second shortly after. Jason O’Dwyer got down so well for a fine save.

The winners reeled off an unanswered 1-6 in the final quarter. Midfielder Mikey Finn, for the second game in a row, finished in the double-digits. 0-22 from two games is fair clipping, as is the collective 3-46.

A second successive semi-final place will be the least of their ambitions.

Elsewhere, UCD bounced back from their defeat to University of Galway last week with a 13 point win over TUS Midwest at Belfield, 5-18 to 1-17.

Meanwhile, SETU Waterford picked up their first win of the campaign defeating ATU Galway 3-15 to 1-16.

Scorers for MTU Cork: M Finn (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65); A McEvoy (1-5); A Walsh (1-1); J Murphy (0-2); D Healy, R Deasy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Garda College: C Boyle (0-5, 0-2 free, 0-1 ‘65); R Stapleton (0-3); D O’Leary (0-2); D Hand, C Kirwan, T Doyle (0-1 each).

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

Subs: D O’Leary (Ballincollig) for O’Connor, J Galvin (Éire Óg) for Ryan (both 41); R Troy (Newtownshandrum) for Egan, E Varian (Glen Rovers) for O’Connell (both 54); R Leahy (St Mary’s Clonmel) for Deasy (58).

GARDA COLLEGE: J O'Dwyer (Clonoulty Rossmore); C Langan (St Jude's), M Carey (Nenagh Éire Óg), J Mulqueen (Burgess); S Fitzgibbon (Dromin/Athlacca), D O'Leary (Watergrasshill), L Carr (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); T Doyle (Dr Crokes), D O'Reilly (Padraig Pearses); C Kirwan (Glenmore), R Molloy (Tulla), D Hand (Kilcormac Killoughey); J Doyle (St Mullins), C Boyle (Castleknock), R Stapleton (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs: O Ryan (St Mullin’s) for Doyle (44); L Dunne (Adare) for Kirwan (49); D Brennan (Rathineska/Timahoe) for Langan (51); D Ryan (Na Fianna) for Mulqueen, D Bohan (Castleknock) for Doyle (both 58).

Referee: K Guina (Limerick).