SIX unanswered points in the final 20 minutes saw UCD take victory in the opening round clash of the Fitzgibbon Cup at a wet CIT yesterday.

UCD 0-10 Cork IT 0-8 

UCD survived the elements and a stiff Cork IT challenge to open their campaign with a deserved victory in treacherous conditions at the Cork IT grounds yesterday.

The visitors played against the howling wind in the first half and trailed by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval, but Cork IT’s Adrian Mannix stretched the advantage to 0-8 to 0-4 with a fine 40th-minute point.

That was the home side’s last score, though, and UCD took over in the pouring rain to first draw level with a superb John O’Loughlin point following Neal Prendergast’s magnificent sideline cut.

Then, two points in the closing 10 minutes from a long-range Liam Rushe free and Joseph Boland’s second from play edged UCD in front and they stayed there despite late home pressure.

UCD : J Ryan; E O’Shea, S Cummins, D Langton; N Prendergast, O Gough, D Kenny; L Ryan, R O’Carroll; M Nolan (0-1 free), J O’Loughlin (0-1), J Boland (0-2) ; P Atkinson, L Rushe (0-2, 1 free, 1 65), D O’Callaghan (0-4). Subs: D O’Connor for Nolan (inj 57 mins), D Lyng for Atkinson (58).

CORK IT : J Condon; E Clancy, C Murphy, J O’Callaghan; L Desmond, R Cashman, S White; B Lawton, S McDonnell; E Dillon (0-1) , B Corry, A Mannix (0-2); P Horgan (0-3 from frees) , C Cusack, T Murphy (0-2). Subs : P Gould for Clancy (half-time), S Corcoran for McDonnell (39 mins), E Keane for C Murphy (inj 58 mins).

Referee: D Copps ( Cork ).