UCC lose out in Junior Hurling Cup

In a busy week for the UCC Staff GAA team, the hurlers lined out in the semi-final of the Junior Hurling Cup against Cork Garda in the scenic Mardyke GAA grounds on Wednesday evening.  With the hard ground extremely slippery after a light shower conditions were testing but this did not prevent a fine game from been played out.  When the final whistle went Cork Garda were ahead but UCC will rue a lack lustre first half that left them with two much to do.

UCC won the toss and played with the breeze in the first half.  However, from the throw-in, Cork Garda seemed to be interested outfit.  They hit a couple of quick points to open up a two point lead.  The UCC attack finally kicked into gear and a well-struck Stephen Moylan from the right wing was followed by a point from play from Ronan Spillane.

Cork Garda responded straightaway and hit three unanswered points and but for a number of errant shots could have pulled further ahead.  Two more frees from Moylan and a pointed effort from corner forward James Moylan were separated by a couple of excellent points from play from the Cork Garda half forward line.

With Garda two points in the lead with twenty minutes gone, the game changed in a two-minute period when Garda struck for two fine goals. Both were the result of first-time pulls on the sliotar from balls that broke around the UCC goalmouth.  Cork Garda built on this strong position and with apparent lethargy among the UCC outfit Garda held a deserved 2-08 to 0-06 advantage at the half time interval.

UCC shot down by Naval Services

UCC bowed out of this year’s Junior B Football Cup following a nine point defeat to a much improved Naval Services side in game played in Shanbally on Monday evening.

UCC lost the toss and played against the first half facing a very stiff breeze and up the substantial slope of the second pitch of Shamrocks fine grounds in Shanbally.  In spite of this UCC started brightly and full forward Willie Fahy kicking a fine point.  Unfortunately most of the play was at the other end of the field for the rest of the half and this proved to be UCC’s sole score of the opening period.

A very strong Naval Services team dominated possession and kept UCC pinned into their own half of the field.  In response the UCC full back line defended resolutely with full back Sean O’Leary marshalling those around him.

UCC struggled under Diarmaid Hallissey’s kick-outs and this gave a steady stream of possession to the Naval Services attack.  It is a credit to the UCC defence that few goal chances came the way of the Navy and all their scores in the first half resulted in the white flag being raised by hard-working umpire, Conrad Donovan.

UCC granted walkover

UCC were granted a walkover after Novartis forfeited in the first round of the Junior B Football Cup.  UCC will now play Naval Services in the semi-final.

UCC get year off to winning start

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.