UCD 1-16 DCU 1-10:UCD didn't have it all their own way as it took a strong finish to overcome DCU in the Fitzgibbon Cup at DCU Sportsgrounds yesterday.
Tipperary’s Noel McGrath led by example as top scorer with 10 points, including three in the final five points, for the Belfield outfit to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
In difficult wet conditions a fourth-minute goal from Wexford’s Jack Guiney kept UCD on top for the opening half as the visitors led by 1-9 to 0-8 at the interval.
Dublin’s Seánie McGrath did his best to keep DCU in touch with five first-half points and after the restart DCU fought back strongly. McGrath continued to punish UCD with his dead-ball accuracy, cutting the gap to two points inside four minutes of the restart.
A 48th minute goal from substitute Mark Aylward left a point between the sides on a 1-11 to 1-10 scoreline.
Despite UCD hitting seven second-half wides, including six in the closing 10 minutes, Nicky English’s side managed to find the required scores late on.
UCD tagged on five unanswered points, with Noel McGrath and Dublin’s James Gilligan and Galway’s Domhnall Fox on target to ensure a second win in this competition.
