UCD Senior Hurlers gave up a half time lead to earn a lucky draw in the Fitzgibbon Cup

A contentious Finian Coone free two minutes into injury-time earned NUI Galway a deserved share of the spoils against UCD at Belfield yesterday.

Having let slip a four-point lead with six minutes left due largely to ill-discipline and Liam Rushe’s free-taking, UCD looked to have sneaked victory but the visitors were grateful to Coone and a draw will suit both sides as they look to advance from the group stages.  

UCD led by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break with David O’Callaghan and David O’Connor hitting five points between them from play, while Coone’s marksmanship and two points from Galway senior John Lee kept the visitors in contention.

NUI Galway assumed control upon the resumption and Coone’s goal from a 20-metre free after 37 minutes was just reward for their dominance. When substitutes Paul Gordon and Caimin Morey combined for the latter to crack home a superb goal and a four-point lead with 10 minutes remaining, the momentum was all with the Galway College.

However, UCD stayed in touch through an O’Callaghan point and three Rushe frees, before the latter put the hosts in front a minute into injury-time. But referee David Hughes penalised Maurice Nolan for an alleged illegal hand-pass and Coone popped over the free to produce a draw of 0-17 to 2-11. Both sides must now content themselves with joint top spot in the group. UCD play DIT next week to ensure a qualifying spot.

UCD: J Ryan; E O’Shea, D Kenny, O Gough; N Prendergast, D Langton, D Lyng; L Ryan, J Boland (0-1); M Nolan (0-2, frees), J O’Loughlin (0-1), D O’Connor (0-3); L Rushe (0-5, frees), D O’Callaghan (0-4), P Atkinson (0-1). Subs: C Lyng for Ryan (47 mins). 

NUI GALWAY: D Touhy; D Nash, P Nihill, D Connolly; D O’Donovan, S Hennessy, P Kelly; G Kelly, J Lee (0-2); D Barrett (0-1), K Keehan, K Heagney; S Quinlan, F Coone (1-8, 1-6 frees, two 65s), J O’Gorman. Subs: C Morey (1-0) for O’Gorman (17 mins), P Gordon for Heagney (half-time), N Casey for Nihill (45 mins). 

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow).