Sport

Scroope leads NUIG to surprise victory

NUIG 1-15 UCC 1-11: Galway produced a superb second-half display against the wind to score a surprise, but fully deserved, win…

Thu Feb 17 2005 - 00:00

NUIG 1-15 UCC 1-11: Galway produced a superb second-half display against the wind to score a surprise, but fully deserved, win over UCC in a cracking Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final at Dangan.

The Galway college seemed to be in serious trouble when they trailed by 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval, but they hurled with great conviction in the second-period to qualify for a semi-final showdown against Limerick IT or Cork IT.

UCC, led by the Kilkenny duo of Tommy Walsh and James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, were on top for most of the opening half, with their more direct approach yielding a high dividend.

Fitzpatrick got in for a goal on 24 minutes after Galway's Paul Dullaghan produced one of many excellent saves to deny Mark O'Connor.

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The Kilkenny star also shot two points from play, as well as three frees, in the first-half. However, like most of his colleagues, he faded after the restart as NUIG seized the initiative.

The accuracy of free-taker Tony Scroope, until he retired injured, was a key factor with the Tipperary man returning 11 points and not a single wide.

He struck four points without reply in nine minutes after the restart to level the match before Cork's Tom Kenny and Walsh added points within a minute.

However, NUIG again got on top and a goal from full forward Dara Egan nine minutes from time put them 1-12 to 1-11 in front and they sealed victory with points from Egan, Cathal Lafferty and James Dunphy.

NUIG: P Dullaghan; J Lynch, D O'Brien, G O'Grady; J Lee, T Regan, D Clancy; T O'Donovan, D Shannon; C Lafferty (0-1), K Hayes, P O'Reilly; T Scroope (0-11, seven frees, two 65s), D Egan (1-1), F Coone (0-1). Subs: R White for Lynch, half-time, J Culkin for O'Reilly (42 mins), J Dunphy (0-1) for Coone (47 mins), B Connolly for Scroope (50 mins), D Kelly for Lafferty (62 mins).

UCC: R O'Neill; J Tennyson, C Hickey, D McSweeney; K Harnett, R Flannery, E Hanley; R McGregor, M Rice; T Walsh (0-2), M O'Connor, T Kenny (0-1); J Fitzpatrick (1-6, three frees), R Doherty (0-1), P O'Brien (0-1). Sub: B Carey for O'Connor (62 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).