Offaly star Brendan Murphy stamped his class on proceedings as Dublin champions UCD overcame Carlow's St Mullin's in a hard-fought game at O'Toole Park yesterday. Murphy's contribution of 1-5 from play went a long way to ensuring the students secured a comfortable seven-point victory. However, on a difficult day for hurling, it took a nervous-looking UCD until the third quarter before they finally came to terms with the spirited challenge of the recently-crowned Carlow champions. Despite enjoying wind advantage and dominating possession, the students led by just 1-7 to 1-3 at the interval.
Three well-taken early points from the elusive Murphy helped UCD ease into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead at the end of the opening quarter, but an opportunist 19th-minute goal from left corner forward Sean Gahan, which was quickly followed by a superb point from Pat Coady, helped St Mullins draw level.
UCD recorded 11 wides before the interval and they required a 27th-minute goal from Paul Delaney, who fired home the rebound after Jim Byrne's effort had been parried by St Mullins keeper Pat Fenlon, to help establish their interval advantage.
The expected St Mullin's comeback failed to materialise during the crucial third quarter. Early points from Byrne, Murphy and Pat Fitzgerald extended UCD's lead to 1-10 to 1-4, before Murphy showed blistering pace to race clear and fire home a superb solo goal after 43 minutes. Inspired by fine displays from Doyle, Pat Coady, influential midfielder, Declan Kavanagh, St Mullin's never stopped battling and they recorded four unanswered points during the final quarter from Charlie Byrne, David Doyle, substitute Declan Murphy and Coady.
UCD: M Lyons; B Walton P Ormonde, C Murphy; H Flannery, D Hegarty, C Everard; R Moore (0-1), D Gorman (0-1); P Fitzgerald (0-3, two frees), J Byrne (0-2), P Delaney (1-0); A Barry, N Murphy, B Murphy (1-5). Subs: R Quigley for Barry, Barry for P Fitzgerald. ST MULLIN'S: P Fenlon; E McDonald, T Doyle, K Kielty; R Dreelan, S O'Shea, A Ralph; D Kavanagh (0-1), M Ryan; C Byrne (0-1), Pat Coady (0-3, 2 frees), A Doyle; P Murphy, D Doyle (0-2), S Gahan (1-0). Subs J Cahill for T Murphy, D Murphy (0-1) for Ryan, Paddy Coady for Doyle.
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)
