UCC’s scoring spree shakes off Maynooth

Fresher Football League: UCC 1-20 Maynooth University 0-11: A third quarter scoring flurry sealed victory for UCC’s Freshers at Carriganore yesterday and a place in the Division 1 League final.

The Cork side led by three at halfway but outgunned their opponents 1-8 to 0-2 in the 15 minutes that followed. Cian Dorgan’s 42nd minute goal put the issue beyond doubt.

Ten players hit scores for the winners, including all six attackers. Captain and 2014 Cork minor Sean O’Donoghue bagged six while Conor Gleeson (Waterford) and Jordan Kiely (Kerry) chipped in with three each.

Maynooth custodian Bob Fitzgerald also caught the eye. The Wicklow shot stopper denied O’Donoghue, Barry O’Sullivan, Kiely and Dorgan with fantastic reflexes. UCC raced four points up within seven minutes but efforts from Brian O’Connell, Joey Wallace, Henry Walsh and Luke Murphy left Maynooth three adrift at the break (0-7 to 0-4). UCC stormed out on the restart with Stephen Cronin, O’Donoghue, Jack O’Mahony, Ross Mulcahy and Kiely on target. Gleeson then guided over a brace off left and right before Dorgan slid the ball to the far corner of the net. Kildare minor Sean Dempsey had four consolation points from play for Maynooth. UCC face league champions UCD in the decider.

Scorers for UCC: S O’Donoghue 0-6 (3fs); C Dorgan 1-1; J Kiely, C Gleeson 0-3 each; J O’Mahony 0-2; R Mulcahy, J Kelly, P De Bruin, E Courtney, S Cronin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Maynooth: H Walsh (4fs), S Dempsey 0-4 each; B O’Connell, J Wallace, L Murphy 0-1 each.

UCC (Cork unless stated): D O Sé (Kerry); M McSweeney, D Quinn, S Kelleher; R Mulcahy (Tipperary), M Walsh (Kerry), J Kelly (Kerry); B O’Sullivan (Kerry), J O’Donovan; J O’Mahony, S O’Donoghue, S Cronin; C Dorgan, C Gleeson (Waterford), J Kiely (Kerry).

Subs: E Courtney (Clare) for O’Donovan (46); P De Bruin (Kerry) for O’Mahony (52); M Finnerty (Kerry) for Kelly (53); K Sayers (Kerry) for Kiely (55); T Lynch (Kerry) for O’Donoghue (57); J Murphy for Gleeson (60).

MAYNOOTH: B Fitzgerald (Wicklow); B McCarthy (Louth), A Brennan (Laois), S Fagan (Westmeath); D Feehily (Leitrim), M McGee (Cavan), C Julian (Kildare); B O’Connell (Cavan), T Hanafin (Dublin); C Maguire (Cavan), J Wallace (Meath), S Dempsey (Kildare); L Murphy (Leitrim), H Walsh (Roscommon), P Byrne (Meath).

Subs: E O’Carroll (Laois) for Maguire (H-T); D Bradley (Kildare) for Feehily (47); C Maguire (Cavan) for Byrne (50); K Deely (Dublin) for McGee (57).

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow).