In a high-scoring encounter played in Bishopstown on Monday evening UCC advanced to the semi-finals of the Junior A Hurling Championship with a 2-24 to 2-11 win over Teagasc/Cattle Breeders. Although there was a wide gap at the end it was only in the last ten minutes that UCC pulled clear.
Teagasc played with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half but it was UCC who started the brighter. Top scorer Eanna Martin fired over a smart point with UCC’s first attack after 30 seconds. He followed this a minute later with a batted goal, after being set up by a Ronan Spillane solo run from the left corner. Martin continued to dominate proceedings, and after four minutes, fired over another point, on this occasion of his own making.
Teagasc were not about to let UCC completely dictate proceedings, and with their half back line getting on top, began to provide possession for their attack. Aided by the strong breeze Teagasc hit over a number of excellent long-range efforts, but they also saw a number of other efforts drift wide. The Teagasc defence continued to dominate their UCC opponents and a huge clearance turned defence into immediate attack with the Teagasc full-forward first-timing an excellent shot to the back of the UCC net.
The game was now being controlled by Teagasc and they added two more white flags to open up a three point lead at the mid-way stage of the first half. The UCC attack were struggling to make inroads and it was midfielder Pa Cronin’s brace of points which kept the scoreboard ticking over.
An attack down the right hand side put the Teagasc corner forward through on goal and he struck the ball past the onrushing Seamus Cronin. A small bit of commotion ensued about the legitimacy of score but referee Donal Kickham quickly put umpire Diarmaid Hallissey right and the green flag was duly raised.
Teagasc were now four points to the fore, 2-5 to 1-04, but a couple of well-placed puck-outs saw UCC gain some much needed primary possession which led to half-forward Brendan Keohane and impressive midfielder Pa Cronin scoring, to narrow the gap to two points. With half time approaching the teams traded points to leave UCC two points in arrears at the break, 1-06 to 2-07, though they would have the benefit of the strong breeze in the second half.
UCC’s start to the second half meant the breeze was of little use as they did not have the ball. Teagasc once again extended their lead to four points with a point from play and a huge free from their own half against the wind by their centre back. UCC finally settled to their task and began to chip into the Teagasc lead. Points from Eanna Martin, Ronan Spillane, Pa Cronin and Leo Sexton narrowed the gap but Teagasc kept their noses in front with a couple of their own.
The UCC half back line of Timmy Geaney, Fergal Moloney and Michael O’Donoghue provided an avalanche of possession for UCC’s attacking sextet and as the half wore on they finally began to make inroads. An excellent cross-field ball from Tomas Murray saw full-forward Seamus Coffey flash a shot over the bar from 20m when a shot for goal could have paid more dividends. With the game entering the final quarter this score saw UCC take the lead for the first time since Eanna Martin’s quick-fire scoring burst at the start of the game.
The goal UCC sought wasn’t long in coming and with their next attack, a strong run through the middle from Eanna Martin drew the last defender, and a well placed pass saw Coffey finish to the Teagasc net. UCC were now in firm control of the game and this goal pushed them four points clear 2-10 to 2-14 with just over ten minutes left.
UCC pressed home this advantage to the full and in the last ten minutes UCC outscored Teagasc by ten points to one. Pa Cronin added to his impressive haul from midfield with three fine points in this period. His midfield partner Tomas Murray also struck over a couple of excellent long range efforts. The closing minutes saw UCC’s full forward line of Martin, Coffey and Spillane hit over points as those further out the field created a host of opportunities.
In the end UCC ran out comfortable winners, 2-24 to 2-11 and now move on to play the winners of North Cork Garda and Bank of New York in the semi-finals of the championship.
1. Seamus Cronin 2. Sean O'Leary 3. Rory Rice 4. Denis Murphy
5. Timmy Geaney 6. Fergal Moloney 7. Michael O'Donoghue 8. Patrick Cronin (0-07, 1f) 9. Thomas Murray (0-02) 10. Brendan Keohane (0-01) 11.Ger McGlacken (0-01) 12. Leo Sexton (0-01)13. Ronan Spillane (0-03) 14. Seamus Coffey (1-02) 15. Eanna Martin (1-07)
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