Last Monday night on the main pitch in Bishopstown GAA Club the UCC Staff GAA Club started the 2010 season with a well-deserved 3-17 to 1-09 win over Cork Teachers in the first round of the Junior Hurling Cup. UCC now go on to play Cork Garda in the semi-final.
UCC lined out with most of the regulars from the last few years in position. Due to an initial shortage of players on the Teachers’ team the game began at 13-a-side. This meant there was plenty of space in the early stages which suited some of UCC’s players but was not so kind to others.
UCC began brightly and hit over the first scores of the game. Stephen Moylan looked dangerous in the extra space available in the full forward line and knocked over a fine point. Midfielder John Gorman burst through the Teachers’ defence and from 15 yards fired over the bar when a goal looked on. The Teachers’ goalkeeper made a number of fine saves that encouraged UCC to take their points rather than go for goals.
Pat Cremin also made use of the extra space, scoring one fine point and laying on an assist for two more. After eight minutes UCC led four points to zero but two quick points from the Teachers quickly narrowed the gap. UCC restored their lead with a well-worked points from Daniel Foley and Ronan Spillane. Eanna Martin added two points from frees and a fine long distance effort from play.
After twenty minutes UCC led by eight points to three. The UCC defence was well marshalled by Rory Rice who covered right across the line. He was ably assisted by the traditional first-time clearances of Sean O’Leary and Danny Buckley.
The first half’s defining moment came on 25 minutes when a high ball towards the square was bundled over the line by Stephen Moylan for a scrappy goal that put some clear daylight between the teams. An exchange of points between the teams left the half time score at 1-11 to 0-05 in favour of UCC.
By half time the Teachers had a full complement of players and the game resumed for the second half at 15-a-side. UCC dropped John Gorman back to centre half and he gave a dominant display in the second half, and along with wing backs Fergal Moloney and Donagh O’Mahony, they provided plenty of possession for the UCC attack.
For much of the second half the UCC attack misfired and didn’t really press home their advantage. It was much the same at the other end as Cork Teachers had plenty of possession but could not find the scores that would get them back into the game. UCC goalkeeper Seamus Cronin was alert to a couple of well-struck shots that bounced off the hard surface.
UCC’s best forward continued to be Stephen Moylan and he created a number of opportunities, but his colleagues failed to apply the required finish. UCC’s early first scores in the second half came from midfielder Brendan Keohane.
Ten minutes into the second half corner-forward Pat Cremin caught a high ball and only a rugby tackle prevented him from goaling. However, the green flag was raised moments later when Eanna Martin struck a brilliant penalty to the roof of the net. Even with an abundance of opportunities it was only now that UCC had assured victory.
Cork Teachers continued to plug away and their efforts were rewarded with a fine goal from their full forward. They failed to build on this and a number of chances for goals and points were squandered. With ten minutes to go UCC won a second penalty but this time Eanna Martin’s effort flew over the bar.
UCC added more points from Moylan, Cremin and Martin. With eight minutes to go Pat Cremin added UCC’s third goal. This came after Eanna Martin’s strong run through the middle was only halted by another rugby-style tackle but the referee played the advantage which allowed Cremin to force the ball over the line.
In the closing minutes UCC had a goal disallowed when Seamus Coffey was adjudged to be in the square after neatly flicking Daniel Foley’s strike to the net. At that stage the result was not in doubt and UCC ran out convincing 3-17 to 1-09 winners. UCC now play Cork Garda in the semi-final of the Junior Hurling Cup.
Team: 1. Seamus Cronin 2. Sean O’Leary 3. Rory Rice 4. Danny Buckley 5. Fergal Moloney 6. John Gorman (0-02) 7. Donagh O’Mahony 8. Eanna Martin (1-05, 1-03f) 9. Brendan Keohane (0-03) 10. Daniel Foley (0-01) 11. Kevin Kirstein 12. Ronan Spillane (0-01) 13. Pat Cremin (1-03) 14. Stephen Moylan (1-02) 15. Donnacha Madden. Sub. Seamus Coffey
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