Two late second-half goals from full forward Alan Barry gifted UCD their 27th All-Ireland colleges' hurling title at Nenagh yesterday. The Kilkenny under-21 star popped up twice in the final minutes of the game to fire past helpless UCC custodian Richie O'Neill.
Replays rarely live up to their billing and this was true for the greater part of the game as both teams slugged it out in what in general was a dour, lifeless contest.
In a tension-filled first half, UCC settled into their rhythm after an early goal from Noel Brodie. However, UCD free-taker Pat Fitzgerald was deadly accurate from placed balls and brought them within two points of their rivals before Hugh Flannery and Garry Mernagh pointed to level matters 0-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
UCD emerged determined to capture their first title since 1993 and immediately laid siege to the UCC goal. Jimmy Murphy forced a fine save from UCC's Richie O'Neill minutes after the restart, before Fitzgerald added to UCD's tally with a pointed free in the 41st minute. However, in the 55th minute Barry, who wasn't even listed on the programme, popped up to hand UCD a timely two-point lead with a well-taken goal.
It was the stuff of fairytales seconds later as Barry again broke through the UCC cover to fire home his second goal of the game and ensure the cup was on its way back to Belfield.
UCD: M White; B Walton, D O'Connor, R Kirwan; H Flannery (0-1), D Hegarty, C Everard; G Mernagh (0-1), S Lucey; P Fitzgerald (0-6, four frees, two 65s), S O'Neill (0-1), R Barry; J Culkin (0-1), A Barry (2-0), B Murphy. Subs: T Murphy for Lucey; P Tennyson for Culkin; P O'Brien for Mernagh.
UCC: R O'Neill; J Browne, J Crowley, A Kirwan; R O'Doherty, R Flannery, J Olden; O Murphy, C Morrissey (0-1); B Phelan, S Fitzpatrick (0-1), N Brodie (1-0); D Sheehan (0-1), J Kingston, J Murphy (0-6, three frees). Subs: E Collins for Kingston; V Cusack for Sheehan.
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).
Carlow footballers leapfrogged south-east neighbours, Wexford in Division 2B of the National Football League by virtue of a 2-8 to 1-4 victory over the Slaneysiders at Dr Cullen Park last evening.
This Carlow win was set up by goals in the sixth minute from Brian Kelly and a great 28thminute effort from Mark Carpenter, who intercepted the ball in midfield and outpaced the Wexford defence before crashing the ball to the net off the crossbar.
CARLOW: J Kearns; J Hickey, B Farrell, V Fleming (0-1); S O'Brien (0-1), J Hickey, M Drea; S Kavanagh (0-4, three frees), J McGrath; P Nolan (0-1), W Quinlan (0-1), M Carpenter (1-0); B Kelly (1-0), J Nevin, A Bowe. Subs: P Dwyer for Farrell (inj), J Kavanagh for Nolan, J Hughes for Nevin.
WEXFORD: G Morris; M Carley, D Breen, M Gahan; D Murphy, W Carley, L O'Brien (0-3, two frees); J Berry, I Wickham; T Howlin, M Mahon, D Kinsella (1-0), E Galavan, J Hegarty, E Newport. Subs: P Forde (0-1) for Galavan, C Sutherland for Wickham, C Morris for Newport, E Doyle for Howlin.
Referee: E Whelan (Laois).
