In today’s Fitzgibbon Cup action, UL went down to a surprise one-goal defeat away to DIT while Mary Immaculate College salvaged a last-gasp draw against UCC to give themselves a great chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Mary I recovered from the concession of an early Brian Hartnett goal to lead by 0-10 to 1-6 at half-time. In front of a boisterous home crowd, they got the last five scores of the first half. Full-forward John Conlon hit no fewer than six frees in the first half for Mary I.
Just before the second half began there was a mass free-for-all in the middle of the pitch, but when the play resumed Mary I forged further ahead. Then UCC hit a purple patch to take a 1-13 to 0-13 lead going into the final five minutes.
It looked as if the defending champions would depart with a win but, with the last play of the game, Declan Hannon’s shot was saved by UCC goalkeeper Dan McCarthy and the ball fell kindly for Brian O’Halloran to finish to the net and leave the teams level at 1-13 each at the final whistle.
With NUI Galway being neighbours GMIT in today’s other Group A match, Mary I know that a win against already-eliminated GMIT next week would almost certainly be enough to see them advance to the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere in the Fitzgibbon Cup, UL were defeated 1-14 to 0-14 by DIT, having trailed 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time. UL had managed to pull level in the second half but DIT finished the stronger to seal the victory.
UL will still go through to the last eight courtesy of last week’s big win over St Pat’s/Mater Dei, but unless St Pat’s beat DIT next week, the 2011 winners will have to settle for a runner-up spot in Group D.
This afternoon’s other match saw UCC beat DCU 1-16 to 1-10 in Group C, with the Group B fixture between Cork IT and Carlow IT taking place tonight.
RESULTS
Group A: Mary Immaculate College 1-13 UCC 1-13, NUI Galway 2-12 GMIT 2-11
Group C: DCU 1-10 UCD 1-16
Group D: DIT 1-14 UL 0-14
Mary Immaculate team: Shane Nolan; Eanna Hogan, Robert O’Donnell, Cillian Fennessy; Niall O’Meara, Declan Hannon (0-2, 2f), Jamie Wall (0-1); Killian Fitzgerald, Lar Considine; Colm Galvin, William Hickey, Sean Curran; Brian O’Halloran (1-0), John Conlon (0-8, 8f), Luke O’Farrell (0-2).
Subs: Eoin Hogan for Fitzgerald, Mark O’Connell for Considine, Darragh O’Carroll for Hickey.
