Limerick IT 2-29 St Patrick's, Dublin 3-9A LANDSLIDE win for the Joe Canning-inspired LIT ensured a home quarter-final after a one- sided contest at the LIT Grounds.
By the time he was hauled ashore midway through the second half, Canning had scored 1-9, including seven points from frees and two from 65s as Davy Fitzgerald’s side issued a clear warning they aim to go one better than last year when they lost the final to University of Limerick.
Goals from Canning, a superb effort, and McInerney helped LIT ease into a 2-12 to 0-5 interval lead against a team that failed to replicate their gutsy previous display against UL.
LIT were in such cruise control that they conceded late goals to substitute Dean Wright and the excellent Mark Bergin, who beat Andrew Fahy twice, once from a free. Cathal McInerney and Eoin Ryan made handsome contributions for the winners and scored 1-8 between them.
LIT: A Fahy; E Glynn, R McCarthy, B Glynn; J Hayes (0-1), J O'Keeffe, P O'Brien (0-1); P Browne, S Lambert (0-2); S O'Brien (0-3), S Collins (0-2), E Ryan 0-6 (two frees); C McInerney (1-2), J Canning (1-9 (seven frees, two 65s), C O'Connell (0-2). Subs: C Nelson (0-1) and R Horan for S O'Brien (both 42 mins)C Madden for OConnell and M Duggan for Canning (both 45), J Guilfoyle for P Browne (52).
ST PATRICK'S: S Murphy; D Glynn, D Wafer, D Byrne; N Ring, M Quilty, I Duggan (0-1); L Ryan, P Kehoe; L French, M Bergin (2-4 1-2 frees), T Breen; K Nimmo, C Maher (0-1), N Arthur (0-3) (three frees). Sub: D Wright (1-0) for Arthur 37.
Referee: A Kelly (Galway).
