Echo Report of Hurling Semi Final

The Evening Echo (26/08) featured a report of UCC's recent win over The Bank of New York in the semi-final of the Junior A Hurling Championship. Click to enlarge.

The paper also featured two pictures from UCC's success in the Junior Football Cup earlier in the Summer. The first features stalwart Sean O'Leary at the toss before the game and the second is Rory Rice accepting the cup following UCC's win. Again click both images to enlarge.



The Echo report of the Junior Cup Final and a team photo are posted here.

UCC success in First Round of Murphy Cup

On Monday UCC overcame the challenge of Teagasc/Cattle Breeders in the first round of Murphy Football Cup on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-05 in Delaneys GAA Grounds. UCC were always in control of this game and ran out convincing 11 point winners.

After some initial confusion following the toss UCC had the strong wind at their backs in the first half. A bright opening saw points scored by corner forward Don O'Connell and midfielder Colm O'Connell. After ten minutes centre forward Michael Byrne cleanly won a Teagasc 20m kickout and immediately played a great ball through to corner forward Jerry Reen who beat the corner back and rounded the retreating goalkeeper to take a great goal.

Teagasc reacted well but some poor finishing meant their response was limited to two points. UCC added further points from the lively Don O'Connell, Michael Byrne, Brendan Hallissey and Colm O'Connell, and at half time UCC led 1-08 to 0-02.

Teagasc started the second half brightly and even though they more than held their own in the possession stakes their wayward shooting continued. The UCC defence, in which Diarmuid Herlihy and Olan Casey were particularly impressive, held out under the pressure. Some great interplay between excellent midfielders Colm O'Connell and Ronan Power saw UCC extend their lead.

With 15 minutes remaining Teagasc turned their attention to getting the goal or two that would get them back into the game. As with earlier in the game many of these attacks were cut out by Diarmuid Herlihy's great reading of the play, with Robert Phelan in complete control outside him. UCC added a few late points from Colm O'Connell and Dave Prendergast to take the sting out of the Teagasc/Cattle Breeders efforts and ran out 11-point winners.

This was one of UCC's most impressive performances of the year and they await their opponents in the next round of the competition.

Team: 1. Diarmaid Hallissey 2. Bob Dunphy 3. Rory Rice 4. Diarmuid Herlihy 5. Robert Phelan 6. Olan Casey 7. Dave Stafford 8. Colm O'Connell (0-03) 9. Ronan Power (0-01) 10. Brendan Hallissey (0-01) 11. Michael Byrne (0-02, 1f) 12. Dave Prendergast (0-02) 13. Don O'Connell (0-04, 3f) 14. Barry Horan 15. Jerry Reen (1-00). Subs: Garrett Casey, Denis Lynch, Nathan Stevenson, Seamus Coffey.

The First Game

After being refounded in 2004 UCC's first game was against Cork Airport in the first round of the Junior C Football Cup. This was not a game of much distinction and in a low scoring affair UCC lost out by a goal 2-06 to 1-06.

The team that was led out onto the field in The Farm that day by Frank Dillon was:

1. Pat Hanrahan 2. Paudie Harrington 3. Rory Rice 4. Brendan McElroy 5. Noel McCarthy 6. Brian Coffey 7. Rowan McSweeney 8. John Eakins 9. Tom Byrne 10. Dara Cott 11. Seamus Coffey 12. Thomas Murphy 13. Rob Moylan 14. Tim Crowley 15. Michael Richardson Sub. Mark Copley

The UCC goal was scored by Mike Richardson. Some five years later the soul survivors from that game are Rory Rice (still at full back!), John Eakins and Seamus Coffey.

A full list of the games played in 2004 has been added to the sidebar. This shows that UCC failed to get past the first round in all football competitions played; the Junior C Cup, Junior B Championship and Murphy Cup B. In hurling following another first round defeat in the Junior A Championship, UCC managed their sole win of the year in the semi-final of the Junior B Hurling Championship before going down to Novartis in the final.

It is hoped that a full list of fixtures (and scorelines) for all years can be put together and will be added in due course. After a poor 2004 UCC had a much better 2005 reaching both the Junior C and Junior C1 Championship Finals in football and reversing the previous year's defeat to Novartis in capturing the Junior B Hurling Championship.

UCC Qualify for Junior A Hurling Final

In a high scoring game UCC defeated Bank of New York 4-15 to 3-13 to qualify for the final of the Junior A Hurling Championship where they will meet Cork Garda. UCC played with the aid of a strong wind in the first half but it was the Bank of New York who started best and hit the first scores of the game. UCC responded with a close range free before midfielder Eanna Martin hit an 80 yard free over the bar. This was to be the first of seven well struck frees he scored from 65 metres out and he also added some excellent long range points from play.

After 15 minutes UCC were leading by four points to three when they were awarded a 20m free. The initial goal-bound effort was deflected out for a 65 which the unerring Martin converted. Shortly afterwards Thomas Mullane got on the ball about 40 metres from the Bank of New York goal and after a strong run through the middle he finished to the net to push UCC into the lead.

Both teams exchanged points from there until the half time whistle and UCC led at the break 1-08 to 0-07, with all of their remaining scores coming from Eanna Martin as they struggled to make an impact up front. A four point lead was the least UCC needed as they turned to face the strong wind.

However UCC made a great start to the second half and had doubled their lead after a few minutes. A hard earned goal by full forward Ger McGlacken was quickly followed by a point by Eanna Martin to give an eight point lead which was more in line with what was needed against the stiff breeze.

After a relatively quiet first half UCC's defence saw much more action as UCC failed to keep the ball for long in their attacking half of the field. In this regard corner backs Denis Murphy and Denis Twomey, flanking forceful full back Rory Rice were particularly impressive.

Eventually the pressure told and the Bank of New York got in for two quick goals the second coming from a 20m free. With some impressive long range points of their own the Bank of New York had wiped out UCC's eight point advantage to draw level with 10 minutes to go. The score at this stage was 2-12 apiece with UCC again dependent on Eanna Martin for most of their scores.

With the wind at their backs it looked as if the Bank of New York would push on for victory. However the UCC forwards finally found their range and a great goal by Ronan Spillane was quickly followed by two quick-fire points from substitute James Ryan. The Bank of New York hit back with a third goal of their own to reduce the margin to two points with only a few minutes remaining. However the best they could manage in the closing minutes was a point which was quickly cancelled at the other end. As the Bank of New York pressed forward to find the winning goal to overturn the two point deficit the last play of the game saw the impressive Eanna Martin finish unmarked to the net to seal a five point win.

Team: Seamus Cronin, Denis Murphy, Rory Rice, Denis Twomey, John Eakins, Timmy Geaney, Robert Phelan, Robert Dunphy, Eanna Martin (1-10,7f), Ronan Spillane (1-01), Thomas Mullane (1-00), Traolach Martin, Mossey Crowe, Gerard McGlacken (1-01), Seamus Coffey (0-01,1f). Subs: Frank Hickey, James Ryan (0-02).