DIT hold off strong NUIG challenge
DIT………………………………………….. 1-15
NUIG……………………………………….. 0-17
A 0-8 haul by corner-forward Sean McGrath proved essential for DIT in Parnells GAA yesterday afternoon, as Joe Fortune’s charges narrowly held off a strong challenge from NUIG to get their Fitzgibbon Cup Group D campaign off to a winning start.
Westmeath’s Niall O’Brien had opened the scoring for the Westerners inside the opening 60 seconds, but a four-point salvo by Kilmacud Crokes’ Sean McGrath, along with a brace from centre-forward Kieran Bergin, helped DIT to develop a three-point cushion (0-6 to 0-3) by the 22nd minute.
A persistent NUIG did keep in touch thanks to well-taken points by attacking duo Dean Higgins and Ger O’Donoghue, but with inside forward McGrath displaying unerring accuracy, the Dubliners brought a 0-8 to 0-5 lead into the second period.
Momentum appeared to be with NUIG near the end but McGrath (free) and McMorrow points had swung the pendulum in DIT’s direction.
DIT: F McGarry; W Devereux, G McManus, F Power; L Prendergast, L Rushe, D Horan; J Henderson, N McMorrow (0-2); M Moloney, K Bergin (0-4, 0-1 s/line), T Connolly (0-1); S Morris, L Og McGovern, S McGrath (0-8, 4f, 2 ‘65’).
Subs: J Hobbs (1-0) for Connolly (34), C Robinson for Prendergast (48), P McDonagh for Power (55), K Whelan for Henderson (61).
NUIG: K Flynn; D Magner, E Fahy, C Diviney; O Teagle, J Hanbury, G Forde (0-1); C Cleary (0-3, 3f), N O’Brien (0-8, 7f); N Deasy (0-1), D Reidy (0-1), D Higgins (0-1); B Lane, K Downes (0-1), G O’Donoghue (0-1).
Subs: JP O’Connell for Magner (38), B Phelan for O’Donoghue (44).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).