UL collected the first piece of silverware on offer for college hurling with a hard fought victory over NUIG in Puckane on Saturday. This was the first time
since 2003 UL had won the competition. Played in heavy difficult conditions this was never going to be a hurling spectacle however the heart and commitment
shown by both teams is a credit to both the players and management of the respective colleges.
NUIG began the brighter and were two points to the good before Ryan O’Dwyer had UL on the scoreboard and another point from centre forward
O’Cairealain quickly followed to leave the teams level. Darragh Egan for NUIG and Alan Egan for UL shared two pointed frees apiece while UL had
further scores from the impressive Seamus Hickey at midfield and Ritchie Ruth. NUIG had the final say of the first half with a good point from play to
leave them trailing by one on a score line of 0-06 to 0-05.
Underfoot conditions were worsening as the second half progressed and it was very apparent that victory would go to the team that battled the
hardest and wanted it most. UL began well in the second half registered scores through Hickey and two Egan frees. NUIG to there credit never
lay down and continued to pressurise the UL defence and were rewarded through scores from Egan and a fine effort from wing forward Peter O’Brien.
Ritchie Ruth added his second point of the day before Alan Egan fired over another two frees to leave the final score at 0-12 to 0-08.
On a very difficult day for hurling, UL had outstanding performances from both Alan Kennedy and Seamus Hickey. Others to impress were
Peter Dowling, Brendan Bugler, Ryan O’Dwyer, Alan Egan and Ritchie Ruth.
Team:
Tadhg Flynn, Pat Holland, Peter Dowling, Aidan Murphy, Matt Whelan, Brendan Bugler, Seamus Hickey, Tom Stapleton, Sean Ryan, Alan Kennedy, Ainle O Cairealain, Ryan O Dwyer, Ritchie Ruth, David McCormack, Alan Egan.
Substitutes:
Peter O Brien for Flynn (ht), John Greene for McCormack, Kieran Joyce for O’Cairealain, Shane O Brien for Kennedy, Paul O Flynn for O’Dwyer.
Nicky Kenny, Ger Flood, Gearóid Ryan, Andy O Connell, Connor Hassett, Pat Kelly, Noel O Muriciu, Aidan Ryan, Matt Ruth, Pa Donnellan (inj), Michael Collins, Eoin Ryan.
Scorers:
Alan Egan (0-6) all frees, Ritchie Ruth & Seamus Hickey(0-2), Ryan O’Dwyer & Anile O’Cairealain(0-1) each.
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