UCD 3-8 UL 0-15
Despite a last-gasp win over UL at Belfield tonight, UCD crashed out of the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Requiring a victory of at least 10 points to usurp second place NUIG, the south Dublin college fell short in their quest for a knockout spot. This result means 2018 champions UL finished Group A with three straight defeats – but they can consider themselves unfortunate to have lost out in this contest.
UCD had given themselves hope when a Stephen Quirke goal propelled them into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
However, after Barry Nash (two), Conor Cleary and JP Lucey found the target in quick succession, Barry Murphy restored parity on 15 minutes.
Paul Crummey got UCD back on track with a second goal, only for the dependable Murphy to provide the visitors with a slender interval cushion (0-9 to 2-2).
The expected UCD onslaught never quite materialised on the resumption, as UL kept themselves in the ascendancy through Nash and the increasingly-prominent Ian Galvin.
They remained in front for the majority of the second-half, but came unstuck when a Jake Malone sideline cut deep into stoppage-time drifted past stranded UL netminder Barry Hogan.
Scorers – UCD: R Hayes 0-5 (4f), J Malone 1-1 (1-0 s/line), S Quirke, P Crummey 1-0 each, M Cody, S Carey 0-1 each. UL: B Murphy 0-6 (5f), B Nash, I Galvin 0-3 each, R Lynch, C Cleary, JP Lucey 0-1 each.
UCD – B Hogan; I O’Shea, R Lennon, G Molloy; M Cody, H Lawlor, D Fitzgerald; C MacGabhann, R Hayes; R Purcell, S Flanagan, P Guinan; P Crummey, S Quirke, S Carey. Subs: J Malone for Purcell (h-t), B O’Connor for MacGabhann (50), C McGuckian for Flanagan (54), D Ryan for Crummey (58).
UL – J Power; J Henley, E Cody, A McGuane; R Lynch, C Cleary, B Coady; J Shelly, M Carey; T Hannon, B Nash, I Galvin; B Murphy, K O’Brien, JP Lucey. Subs: B Hogan for Power, K Hayes for Lucey (both h-t), L Lyons for Henley (42), D Joy for Murphy (56-58), Joy for McGuane (58).
REF – J Keenan (Wicklow).