Sharp Mary I turn on the style to hand UCC defeat in Fitzgibbon opener
CONVINCING DISPLAY: Shane Meehan of Mary Immaculate College Limerick is tackled by Luke Elliot of UCC. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach, Sportsfile
Not a hectic 24 hours for the skull and crossbones. The end of UCC’s Sigerson Cup reign on Tuesday evening was followed yesterday afternoon by a comprehensive defeat in their opening Fitzgibbon Cup bow.
The hosts hummed a convincing tune from the off. Declan McLaughlin darted through in the opening minute. UCC gave thanks to goalkeeper Brion Saunderson for matching the green flag drive.
McLaughlin had been fouled on approach, Devon Ryan threw over the opener of his eight frees.
The hosts trailed only once throughout. Their support play was sharp and incisive. Their shooting was never wasteful.
Anchored by Clare senior Diarmuid Ryan, their defence was mean and miserly. They limited their guests to just five second half points from play. They limited their guests to no score from play beyond the 48th minute.
Their guests were complicit here, mind. Their guests racked up a daft number of second half wides.
Jamie Wall’s Mary Immaculate outfit led 0-15 to 0-13 at the break. Devon Ryan supplied one-third of that total from the placed-ball. He added a sixth from play before the half was out.
Their first meaningful burst came between the seventh and 14th minute. They outgunned UCC 0-6 to 0-1 to lead 0-10 to 0-4. As well as the aforementioned Ryans, goalkeeper Jason Gillane, captain Colin O’Brien, and his namesake Shane all chipped in.
Besides the Barrs duo of Brian Hayes and William Buckley, UCC hadn’t many chipping in or making an impression.
The winning burst came in the seven minutes after the restart.
UCC, who have Seán Óg Ó hAilpín in as coach, actually clipped the opening score of the second period through half-forward Brian Keating 40 seconds in. It was to be their sole score until Keating doubled his tally 10 minutes later.
In the meantime, Shane O’Brien announced himself to the tidy watching audience. The Limerick senior struck three points in as many minutes. It was followed by a pair of Ryan frees.
The five unanswered white flags shoved the home side 0-20 to 0-14 in front.
UCC, having lost defenders Cathal McCarthy and Rob Downey to ankle injuries late in the first half, and a third defender Luke Elliott at the break, were now further backed into a corner.
Instead of coming out swinging, they swung wide after wide. Between the 38th and 47th minute, they were off target on seven occasions. Deflating misses that inflated their opponents in this needley encounter.
The gap was five, 0-23 to 0-18, when Mary I struck for the deciding goal on 52 minutes. Midfielder Cathal Quinn found McLaughlin with a peach of a crossfield pass. The Galway forward navigated the necessary UCC shirts and buried.
McLaughlin and goalkeeper Gillane (free) would add late points to complete the eight-point win.
Maynooth are the third team in this Group A. Their game against Mary I last week was postponed because of the cold snap. The word is they will play twice next week. Whatever about the outcome of Mary I-Maynooth, UCC simply have to overcome the Kildare University if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.
And as they were told in the post-match huddle, their effort will need to be significantly better than it was here.
Devon Ryan (0-9, 0-8 frees); S O’Brien (0-5); D McLaughlin (1-1); J Gillane (0-1 free), J Devaney, C O’Brien, S Meehan (0-2 each); Diarmuid Ryan, R Power (0-1 each).
B Cunningham (0-7, 0-5 frees); B Hayes (0-4); W Buckley, R Cotter, B Keating (0-2 each); C McCarthy, R Downey, D Flynn (0-1 each).
J Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick); A Hogan (Feakle, Clare), K Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane), J Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill); PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford), D Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), R Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); C Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs), C Hennessey (Nenagh Éire Óg); C O’Brien (Liscarroll-Churchtown, Cork), D Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), S Meehan (Banner, Clare); S O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), D McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), J Devaney (Borris-Ileigh).
F McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway) for Devon Ryan (24-28, temporary); D Lohan (Wolfe Tones Shannon) for K Ryan (36); O O’Farrell (Askeaton) for Devaney (52); V Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick) for Hogan (55, inj); F McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway) for Devon Ryan (57); C Lloyd (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Hennessey (62).
B Saunderson (Midleton); C McCarthy (Sarsfields), S Kingston (Ballinora), G Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s); L Elliott (Sarsfields), R Downey (Glen Rovers), C O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); S Daly (Randal Óg), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s); B Keating (Ballincollig), D Hogan (Sarsfields), B Cunningham (St Finbarr’s); D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), B Hayes (St Finbarr’s), R Cotter (Blackrock).
I Daly (Lismore, Waterford) for McCarthy (25, inj); J Fitzpatrick (Dunamaggin, Kilkenny) for Downey (27, inj); D Flynn (Ballygiblin) for Elliott (HT, inj); S Barrett (Blarney) for Hogan (36); F Coleman (Blackrock) for Stakelum (48).
B Coen (Galway).
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