UCC came out on top of a nine-goal semi final in the Junior A Hurling Championship, getting the better of the Bank of New York on a scoreline of UCC Staff 7-13 Bank of New York 2-13. In the end it was UCC'’s ability to get goals that saw them progress to this year’s final.
It was the Bank of New York who settled first and they hit over the first three points of the game. UCC responded with a pointed free from full-forward Stevie Moylan. Bank of New York continued to apply the early pressure and opened up a four point lead. Ger McGlacken hit over a fine point for UCC and corner forward Niall Griffin worked hard to add a point all of his own making. However, these two instances apart UCC failed to make productive use of the possession they had and after 14 minutes BNY led by six points to three.
On the quarter hour mark UCC got a break when long sideline ball broke behind the BNY full back line and Stevie Moylan was on hand to race through and finish to the net. This did not change the general pattern of play as BNY responded to hit over a number of excellent long range points. UCC kept the scoreboard ticking over with a point from Tomas Murray following an excellent cross-field ball by Moylan and a well-taken effort from Olan Casey following a strong run through the heart of the BNY defence.
With five minutes of the first half remaining UCC took the lead for the first time with a great goal by Ger McGlacken, striking on the run to the top corner from just outside the 13m line. This gave UCC a 2-05 to 0-09 led but BNY got back on level terms with two long range frees. Donal Harold struck over the final score of the half to give UCC a one point lead, 2-06 to 0-11 at half time.
UCC had a slight wind advantage for the second half and made immediate use of it with points from Pat Cremin and Niall Griffin. Following the second of these scores corner forward Pat Cremin intercepted a short puckout from the BNY keeper and a clever side-step past the full back put him through on goal and he easily finished to the net. This established the lead that UCC were to maintain for the rest of the game.
Both teams exchanged points before UCC fourth goal came on 45 minutes. A long ball from defence by Fergal Moloney was won by Stevie Moylan who rounded the full back and audaciously tapped the ball over the onrushing keeper. He met the ball on far side and guided it into the empty net. Ger McGlacken and Moylan added points to further extend UCC’s lead.
BNY did not simply give up the game and two quick goals with ten minutes left had narrowed the UCC lead to six points, 4-11 to 2-11. However this was to be as close an BNY got. Moylan scored his hat-trick goal with six minutes left to re-establish UCC’s lead. BNY did push forward but their late pressure only yielded a brace of points.
As BNY sent more and more players forward in a bid to chase the game, UCC’s forwards exploited the space and slack marking left behind. Pat Cremin raised his second green flag of the night with a stunning first-time pull from just inside the 20m line. The very final play of the game saw an unmarked Stevie Moylan score yet another goal as he walked the ball into an empty net.
These late scores which put some daylight between the teams only came about as BNY surged forward in a bid to salvage the game and the six point lead that UCC had entering the final minutes was a truer reflection of proceedings. UCC will now meet Cork Garda in a bid to win the Junior A Championship for only the second time and the first time since 2008.
Team: 1. Seamus Cronin 2. Sean O'Leary 3. Rory Rice 4. Eoin Barrett 5. Rob Phelan 6. Fergal Moloney 7. Donal Og O'Donovan
8. Tomas Murray (0-01) 9. Brendan Keohane 10. Olan Casey (0-02) 11. Ger McGlacken (1-02) 12. Donal Harold (0-02) 13. Niall Griffin (0-02) 14. Stevie Moylan (4-03) 15. Pat Cremin (2-01) Subs: John Eakins, Seamus Coffey
