UCC 1-10 Garda College 0-12A goal by John Halbert for UCC after 20 minutes turned out to be the decisive score in a keenly contested Fitzgibbon Cup, third level colleges senior hurling tie at Templemore yesterday when the Cork college edged out Garda College, Templemore.
The win was deserved but UCC had to survive a late fright as a Garda College free by Michael Fitzgerald tailed off agonisingly to deny the home side a share of the honours.
UCC started slowly but Halbert's goal from an Eoin Murphy pass put them 1-2 to 0-3 ahead and they never looked back. Despite some sweet point-taking by Barry Nugent for Garda, UCC led at half-time 1-5 to 0-6.
In a competitive second half UCC kept their noses ahead, a point from Niall Moran, four minutes from time, finally giving them victory.
Garda suffered a big blow with the loss of influential defender Vincent Hurley in the first half.
UCC: E Martin; S O'Neill, P Murray, C Hickey; S Cronin, R Foley, K Hartnett; S O'Sullivan, M Cahill; P Cronin (0-4), N Moran (0-1), J Nagle (0-1); J Halbert (1-3), E Murphy, G O'Connor (0-1). Sub: S Moylan for O'Sullivan;
GARDA COLLEGE: D O'Dwyer; I Delaney, D Tanner, P Flynn; C McGrath, V Hurley, G Hurley; J Woodlock, C McNamara; B Moran (0-4), B Nugent (0-4), K Hooban (0-1); R O'Meara, A Owens, M Fitzgerald (0-2); Subs: P McAvinue for Moran; K Connolly (0-1) for McNamara; D Hickey for V Hurley.
Referee: M O'Connor (Limerick)
