Action from the McGrath Cup semi-final between ITT and UCC. Photo by Dermot Crean.
McGrath Cup Semi Final, ITT
IT Tralee 0-6
UCC 0-18
THE reigning Sigerson champs UCC cruised to victory at a sodden ITT pitch against a Tralee side who had precious little opportunity to do any real damage to the Leesiders who booked their place in the McGrath Cup Final.
It’s a reflection on the lack of real scoring threat from the ITT that all but one of their points came from frees.
Even more so that they had to wait 63 minutes before, Conor Keane registered their only point from play.
All of ITT’s frees were scored by Jack Savage, who was also their stand-out performer. Too often he had to drop deep to try and get his forwards ticking. Conor Keane, who excelled last week against Kerry scoring 2-4, found the going far tougher.
Three Kerrymen led the full-forward line for the Cork side scoring 11 points between them. Listowel’s, Conor Cox was very impressive kicking six points in total, five from play.
He was ably supported by last year’s Kerry Junior captain, Tom Hickey who kicked three scores and Paul Geaney who notched up two points, one of them a spectacular effort 45 yards out on the wing in the first half.
UCC’s Paul Geaney puts pressure on ITT’s David Cullhane. Photo by Dermot Crean.
After UCC went two points up early on the first half, ITT equalized in the eighth minute. The Tralee side had the lion’s share of possession and were coping well with what UCC were throwing at them.
Unfortunately ITT just couldn’t get scores on the board and UCC kicked eight points without reply going in at the half 0-2 to 0-10.
The second half went much the same with UCC more than happy to funnel players back and crowd out ITT attacks.
When they did move the ball forward, they attacked with purpose and in truth were unlucky not to finish off a few goal chances.
Jack Savage kicks over one of his five frees for the ITT. Photo by Dermot Crean.
ITT poked out a goal chance of their own half way through the second half when Jack Savage laid on a exquisite pass to the marauding Monaghan man, Cillian Cromwell, who, through on goal, fired into the side netting.
All in all, the McGrath Cup campaign has been good for Noel Kennelly and his charges, they got their first win in the competition against a cobbled together Kerry side and tested themselves against the best that college football had to offer.
All good preparation for their Sigerson Cup first round meeting against Carlow IT at home on Tuesday, February 3.
Scorers:
ITT: Jack Savage 5f, Conor Keane 1p
UCC: Conor Cox 6,1f, Tom Hickey 3f, Paul Geaney 2, Brian O’Driscoll 2, Sean Kelly 2, Gary O’Sullivan 1, Luke Connolly 1, David Harrington 1.
Teams
ITT: Shane Kenny, Mark Egan, Gavin Crowley, Jason Lyne, Ciaran O’Connell, Cian Horan, Cillian Cromwell (Monaghan), George Bastible, Padraig O’Shea, Alan Duggan, Conor Keane, Padraig Quille, Gavin O’Shea, Peter Nash, Jack Savage.
Substitutes: Conor O’Brien, Jason Brennan, Sean Flynn.
UCC: Micheal Martin, Padraig O’Connor, Jack McGuire, David Cullhane, Conor Dorman, Brian O’Driscoll, Tomas Clancy, Ian Maguire, Gary O’Sullivan, Sean Kelly, Luke Connolly, Alan O’Donovan, Tom Hickey, Conor Cox, Paul Geaney.
Substitutes: Ronan Murphy, Adrian Spillane, Eanna O Conchuir, David Harrington
