FITZGIBBON CUP QUARTER-FINALS NUI Galway 1-24 St Patrick's 1-12: NUIG BOOKED their place in the last four of the Fitzgibbon Cup which they will host in Galway at the end of next week after seeing off the challenge of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, at Dangan yesterday.
Finian Coone’s accuracy from placed balls was a key factor in NUIG’s victory, while Tipperary’s Séamus Hennessy thrived when he moved to midfield and Galway’s John Lee reverted to his more accustomed centre-back role.
But the superb stickwork of St Pat’s captain Mark Bergin was the highlight of the encounter with the promising Kilkenny star crowning a fine display with 10 points, mainly from frees.
His Kilkenny colleague JJ Farrell was also prominent in a tight opening half as St Pat’s began well with an early goal from Alan Cowman. Two points from Clare’s John Conlon helped NUIG lead by 0-12 to 1-6 at the interval.
The Galway college hit three points in as many minutes after the restart from Coone, Hennessy and David Barrett and they never looked back from there. Shane Quinlan sealed victory with their only goal three minutes from time.
NUIG: D Tuohy; D Nash, N Casey, D Connolly; P Gordon, S Hennessy (0-7, three frees), P Kelly; J Lee, D O'Donovan; B Daly (0-1), K Keehan (0-3), D Barrett (0-1); G Kelly (0-2), J Conlon (0-2), F Coone (0-8, six frees, one 65). Subs: S Quinlan (1-0)for Daly (39 mins), J O'Gorman for Barrett (51 mins).
ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE: E Reilly; D Waters, E Kearns, A Murphy; P Brennan, S Campion, N Kirwan; JJ Farrell (0-2), E Doyle; P Keogh, M Bergin (0-10, seven frees, one 65), C Henry; P Barrett, B Timmons, A Cowman (1-0). Subs: G Spollen for Doyle, (inj 24 mins).
Referee: M Haverty(Galway).
