Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-finals: Goalkeeper Darren McCarthy rescued champions UCC with an injury-time save to deny Cork IT in a closely-fought quarter-final at the Mardyke yesterday.
Cork IT pushed for the winning goal when Michael O’Sullivan burst through only for McCarthy to divert his stinging shot around the post for a ‘65’.
UCC trailed 1-10 to 1-8 entering the closing 10 minutes, but then hit five unanswered points, starting with Brian Murray’s sideline cut and finishing with Conor Lehane’s fourth free, to seize control.
Cork IT led 1-6 to 0-7 at half-time after UCC registered 10 wides, the goal coming from long range by wing-back Lorcan McLoughlin in the 18th minute.
UCC’s Brian O’Sullivan struck for a goal early in the second-half and UCC defended superbly for the rest of the game with Killian Murphy and William Egan impressing.
UCC:D McCarthy; S Maher, D Glynn, K Murphy; J Barry (0-1 free), D Fives, W Egan; B Murray (0-1 sideline), P Haughney; S Harnedy, D McCormack (0-2), Brian Lawton (0-2); B Hartnett (0-1), B O'Sullivan (1-1), C Lehane (0-4 frees). Subs: C Murphy for Haughney (27 mins), W Griffin for Murphy (45 mins), Barry Lawton (0-1) for O'Sullivan (50 mins) CORK IT: S Nyhan; B O'Sullivan, S Daniels, S O'Halloran; L McLoughlin (1-0), P O'Connor, J Goggin; N Kelly, A Walsh; J Cronin, D Drake (0-2), M O'Sullivan (0-1); C Sheehan (0-1), D Lordan (0-5 frees), B Cooper (0-1). Subs: E Concannon (0-1) for Cooper (23 mins), N O'Doherty for Goggin (29 mins), Cooper for Walsh (48 mins), T Lawrence for Kelly (55 mins).
