FITZGIBBON CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Rampant Ryan seals UCC semi
DCU 1-23
WIT 2-14
DCU will face UCC in the last-four of the Fitzgibbon Cup following their triumph over Waterford IT.
With John Donnelly, Jim Ryan and James Bergin amassing 1-12, the Metropolitans proved worthy victors.
DCU created early daylight with unanswered points from Donnelly and Bergin, but Stephen Condon – who hit 11 points – did his best to keep WIT in touch.
After Eddie Meaney was fouled inside the square, Billy Nolan drilled the resulting penalty. However, six quick points propelled DCU into a 0-14 to 1-5 interval lead.
WIT offered an initial resistance on the resumption – Condon’s dead-ball accuracy cutting the gap to two on 40 minutes. Though WIT persevered with their challenge, Ryan’s kicked finish on 54 minutes placed the outcome beyond doubt.
Former Hurler of the Year Austin Gleeson capped his cameo with a superb goal late on, but it was a mere consolation for the Deise outfit.
Scorers – DCU: J Donnelly 0-6, J Ryan 1-3, R O’Connor 0-4 (3f, 1 ’65’), J Burke, J Bergin 0-3 each, R McBride 0-2, B Ryan, D Reck 0-1 each. WIT: S Condon 0-11 (10f), B Nolan 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), A Gleeson 1-0 (f), T Barron 0-2.
DCU: O Foley; L Gannon, P Smyth, C Firman; B Ryan, C Burke, E Shefflin; D Reck, D Gray; J Donnelly, R McBride, J Burke; J Bergin, J Ryan, R O’Connor. Subs: F Whitely for Gray (42), D Burke for McBride, E Delaney for J Ryan (both 55), K Burke for Gannon (59).
WIT: B Nolan; T Hayes, K Hassett, S Smyth; C Lyons, M De Paor, T Walsh; R Smithers, J Prendergast; R Flynn, C Flood, T Barron; E Meaney, C Kirwan, S Condon. Subs: M Daykin for Smyth (h-t), M Mahoney for Flood (49), A Gleeson for Meaney (57).
REF – P O’Dwyer (Carlow).