Gaelic Games

Kelly to the fore as UL romp to fifth title

Clare star Tony Kelly instrumental as UL take Fitzgibbon Cup title for a fifth time

WIT’s Ger Teehan tackles John McGrath of UL. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
WIT’s Ger Teehan tackles John McGrath of UL. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Wed Mar 11 2015 - 23:08

UL 2-18 Waterford IT 1-14

Clare star Tony Kelly was instrumental as UL took this title for a fifth time in seeing off Waterford IT at Páirc Uí Rinn tonight.

Leading by six points, 1-9 to 0-6, at half-time, Brian Lohan’s side never looked like being overhauled in the second half, with Tommy Heffernan’s 51st-minute goal killing off any lingering WIT hopes.

There was just a point between the sides – UL ahead by 0-4 to 0-3 – when they struck for their first goal on 12 minutes.

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Wing-back Daire Quinn’s high ball wasn’t dealt with by the WIT defence and screwed into the net, with Kelly and Kevin O’Brien adding points immediately afterwards.

Had goalkeeper Paul Maher not saved well from Johnny Hayes, UL’s interval lead would have been less, but they made the most of their benefits and pushed further clear early in the second half.

Exhibition stuff

Kelly was playing exhibition stuff at midfield and John McGrath continued to send over frees while Jason Forde’s sideline cut put them 1-16 to 0-10 in front on 48. Maher was again called upon, this time saving from Ger Malone, and UL responded with another Kelly point before Heffernan got the clinching goal.

WIT finished strongly, with Gavin O’Brien netting for them, but UL were not to be denied.

UL: P Maher (Tipperary); J Browne (Clare), G Ryan (Clare), B Troy (Kilkenny); D Quinn (Tipperary), D McInerney (Clare), B Stapleton (Tipperary); T Kelly (Clare), D Morissey (Limerick); K O'Brien (Limerick), C Martin (Kilkenny), T Heffernan (Tipperary); C McInerney (Clare), J McGrath (Tipperary), J Forde (Tipperary).

Subs: S Bennett (Waterford) for C McInerney (50), PJ Scully (Laois) for O’Brien (56), S O’Gorman (Wexford) for Morrissey (57), K Walsh (Kilkenny) for Heffernan , E Moriarty (Kilkenny) for Forde (both 60).

WATERFORD IT: D Stapleton (Limerick); O McGrath (Kilkenny), G Teehan (Kilkenny), J Maher (Waterford); T Hamill (Tipperary), M O'Neill (Waterford), T Fox (Tipperary); J Langton (Kilkenny), S Roche (Waterford); P Mahony (Waterford), L McGrath (Tipperary), H Kehoe (Wexford); A Gleeson (Waterford), J Dillon (Waterford), G O'Brien (Waterford).

Subs: J Hayes (Kilkenny) for Gleeson (4, injured), G Malone (Kilkenny) for L McGrath (46), C O’Brien (Cork) for Roche (53), J O’Dwyer (Tipperary) for Hamill (56).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).