Round-up: Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup action
Niall O'Farrell, TUS Midwest, and David Lee, UCD, in Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup action. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Round Two
Group A: DCU Dóchas Éireann 2-22 Maynooth University 2-19
Group B: MTU Cork 2-20 Garda College 0-13
Group C: UCD 5-18 TUS Midwest 1-17
Group D: SETU Waterford 3-15 ATU Galway 1-16
MTU Cork have secured a home quarter-final as Group B table-toppers, while UCD, SETU Waterford, and DCU Dóchas Éireann recorded wins in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup.
On Leeside, MTU Cork scored 1-6 without reply in the final quarter to shake off Garda College by 2-20 to 0-13.
Kilkenny’s Aaron McEvoy was the leading light with 1-5 from play, while captain Alan Walsh laid on the goal and added one of his own in a dominant second-half performance. Mikey Finn finished with 0-10 (7f, 1 65).
Cian Boyle’s shooting and two monster points from Daire O’Leary had the Templemore institution ahead approaching half-time, but three in a row from Finn, including two from play, gave the hosts a 0-11 to 0-10 edge.
McEvoy netted in the 37th minute and the gap was just four at the three-quarter mark, but it only grew from there.
It’s MTU’s third year in a row making the knockout stage, while Garda College welcome UCC next Thursday to determine the second-placed qualifiers.
After a first-round defeat against University of Galway, UCD revitalised their hopes with a five-goal showing against TUS Midwest, winning 5-18 to 1-17.
Dublin hurler Dara Purcell rattled an early goal to set the tone. With points from defender Peter McDonald and midfielder Conal Ó Riain, the Belfield side were well placed at half-time, leading 1-11 to 0-7.
Tipperary’s Jack Leamy gave TUS Midwest hope with a fine goal upon the resumption, and they remained within range with 15 minutes to go.
However, UCD broke loose from there. Westmeath free-taker David Williams added to his tally with a pair of green flags before Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing and David Lee extended the final margin of victory to 13.
TUS Midwest welcome University of Galway to Limerick in next Thursday’s final-round game.
SETU Waterford also bounced back from an opening-round loss to defeat ATU Galway by 3-15 to 1-16 at Carriganore.
John Groves and Cathal King netted the first-half goals to give the home side a 2-9 to 0-10 half-time lead.
Galway’s Rory Burke pulled one back to slash the deficit, but Éanna Guilfoyle’s long-range shot appeared to travel all the way to the net to seal a five-point success. ATU Galway host Mary I in the final round at Liam Mellows’ pitch next Wednesday.
On Wednesday, DCU Dóchas Éireann ensured a quarter-final berth by winning away to Maynooth University, 2-22 to 2-19.
DCU started strongly to leap into a six-point lead with goals from Sam Byrne and Ollie Gaffney. Maynooth came with a storming finish, featuring a goal from Cillian Hackett, to level by half-time, 2-9 to 1-12.
Four points on the spin gave DCU a cushion entering the final 10 minutes, but Maynooth struck the next 1-2, including a goal by Westmeath’s Darragh McCormack, to edge ahead.
However, DCU picked off the last four points, with Seán Gallagher slotting the lead score, to ensure next Wednesday’s final round match at home to UL, which is a repeat of last year’s Fitzgibbon final, will determine top spot. Kilkenny duo Denis Walsh (0-11, 8f) and Byrne (1-4) ended as DCU’s top scorers.
