DCU kick-started their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign in style tonight, when they claimed a surprise home victory over Waterford IT.

Liam McGrath of WIT and DCU full-forward Patrick Curran traded a brace of points early on, before the impressive Curran recorded a goal from a tight angle in the 10th minute. The dead-ball accuracy of Tipperary’s McGrath helped nine-time champions WIT to subsequently cut the gap, but following scores by Peter Hogan and Rian McBride, the hosts entered the interval with a 1-7 to 0-7 lead.

Unanswered points by McGrath and midfielder Andrew Joyce reduced the WIT deficit after the restart, but a strong purple patch from DCU produced scores from Waterford native Curran (two), Gavin Bailey, Killian Doyle and AJ Murphy.

This left WIT with an uphill task in the closing moments, and even though substitute Callum Lyons was on target from the right wing, stoppage-time efforts by Curran and Joe O’Connor guided DCU towards a seven-point triumph.

SCORERS – DCU: P Curran 1-6 (3f), J O’Connor, R McBride 0-2 each, G Bailey, P Hogan, K Doyle, AJ Murphy 0-1 each. WIT: L McGrath 0-7 (5f, 1 s-l), A Joyce, S McNulty, C Lyons 0-1 each.

DCU –R Gillen; S McCaw, E O’Donnell, C Delaney; A Maddock, P Foley, P O’Dea; G Bailey, J O’Connor; L Fahey, R McBride, J Byrne; P Hogan, P Curran, E Conroy. Subs: K Doyle for Byrne (45), AJ Murphy for Hogan (47), T French for Bailey (56).

WIT – M Fanning; W Hahessy, J Henderson, T Fox; S O’Donahue, J O’Dwyer, JP Tracey; S Murphy, S McNulty; A Joyce, J O’Connor, P Walsh; S Ryan, C O’Brien,  L McGrath. Subs: C Lyons for O’Connor (41), G Lane for Joyce (45), C Neven for O’Brien (51).

REF – P Murphy (Carlow)