Gaelic Games

Walsh Cup: Dublin come out on top in goal-fest

After being behind at half-time a second half resurgence saw Dublin begin with a win

Dublin’s Cian McBride chases Jack Malone of UCD during the sides’ Bord na Mona Walsh Cup clash. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Dublin’s Cian McBride chases Jack Malone of UCD during the sides’ Bord na Mona Walsh Cup clash. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Paul Keane at Belfield
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 21:41

UCD 3-12 Dublin 4-15

Manager Ger Cunningham hailed a win-win scenario as Dublin got their Walsh Cup hurling campaign off to a strong start.

Paul Ryan’s 2-7 haul allied to 2-1 from Eamonn Dillon at the UCD sports grounds helped the Dubs overcome a five-point half-time deficit.

But Cunningham also had his eye on plenty of the UCD players as seven of them are on his Dublin panel.

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He described the tie as effectively ‘an internal practice match’ with UCD full-forward and Dublin panellist Oisin O’Rorke weighing in with 3-2.

Dubs duo Cian O’Callaghan and Colm Cronin also impressed with four points between them for the Students.

Dublin will return to action on Sunday when they face Antrim and wrap up their group campaign away to Laois.

Ryan and Dillon will hope to impress again along with fringe talents like Cian MacGiolla Bhride, Ryan McBride, Chris Bennett and Fiontan McGibb.

Cunningham had no update on the future of veteran Conal Keaney who has hinted he may retire from inter-county duty. The dual star is currently focusing on club football with AIB All-Ireland semi-finalists Ballyboden St Enda’s.

“He’s focusing on his club stuff, we respect that and we’ll leave him focused on trying to win an All-Ireland,” said Cunningham.

O’Rorke shot a first-half hat-trick and UCD were good value for their 3-8 to 2-6 half-time lead. But they added just one more point until the 59th minute.

Dublin had the wind after the break and bossed the contest with Ryan adding 1-4 to his earlier 1-3. UCD found Dillon’s penetrating runs hard to handle and Niall McMorrow was impressive at centre-forward.

Dublin: C Dooley; J Boland, C Crummey, O Gough; B Quinn, L Rushe, S Durkin; C MacGiolla Bhride (0-1), D O'Connell; R McBride (0-1), N McMorrow (0-3), E Dillon (2-1); C Bennett, F McGibb (0-2), P Ryan (2-7, 0-7f). Subs: R Hardy for O'Connell h/t, D Treacy for Bennett 46, S O'Reilly for McBride 61, F O Riain Broinn for Durkin 61.

UCD: D Holohan; P Hannon, S Murphy, J Madden; C Devitt, C O'Callaghan (0-1), J O'Connor (0-2, 1f); J Malone (0-1), J Mullaney; J Maher (0-1), P Guinan (0-1), C Cronin (0-3); C Keane, O O'Rorke (3-2, 1-1f), T Phelan. Subs: C MacGabhann for O'Connor 40, S Moran for Devitt 48, E Conroy for Madden 52, JJ Ryan for Mullaney 52, J Griffin (0-1) for Maher 60.

Referee: Michael Murtagh (Westmeath).