LIT stood firm to book Fitzgibbon final spot yesterday in Limerick as they overcame UCD 1-15 to 2-9

It was a very crowded scene in the LIT goalmouth yesterday in the final seconds of this Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final as UCD’s Maurice Nolan – his side needing a goal to send the game into extra-time – stood over a 30m free.

With only one option open to him, his well-struck low shot was saved, came back from the near-solid wall of bodies and was returned goalwards by UCD midfielder Liam Ryan, a dangerous low ground shot. For an instant the massed ranks of the LIT support were stunned into silence, but a goal-line save and clearance by outstanding full-back James McInerney saved the day. LIT were through to the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend in Galway on March 6/7.

It was a strange encounter, a match where, had LIT built on the six-point lead they had established in the 51st minute (1-13 to 1-7) and ran out comfortable winners, no-one would have quibbled – they looked much the better team, more dangerous finishers in their ranks, not least the ever-deadly Joe Canning. And yet, had UCD got a few more breaks from the referee (Mr Richardson won’t be hearing from any of the UCD party this Christmas, that’s for sure!), and had they managed to get some better quality ball into high-soaring Liam Rushe, they could well have stolen this one. A steal it would have been, however – even stuttering as they were, LIT were still clearly the better side.

On a decent surface, it was the visitors looking sharper in the opening half, leading by a point at the break, 1-6 to 0-9. It would have been more had they been awarded a few clear-cut frees in attack, with LIT awarded – and scoring – at least one of the very soft variety at the other; nevertheless UCD would have been reasonably happy at the break with the way things were going. Offaly’s David Kenny was coping reasonably well with big Joe (damage limitation is the name of the game here) while Kilkenny’s David Langton was keeping Seamus Callanan (LIT’s other big gun) very quiet. Their own attack, meanwhile, was having reasonable success against a Clare-dominated LIT defence (all three full-backs, plus the impressive Nicky O’Connell on the right wing). Corner-forward David O’Connor notched the goal, an opportunist effort in the 21st minute, pouncing on the rebound of a fine save by Matthew Ryan.

The second half began well for UCD, a point inside a minute by free-taker and danger-man Maurice Nolan extending their lead to two, but that was almost that for the visitors. Driven on by the powerful play of man-of-the-match Willie Hyland, the pacy Sean Collins and Paudie O’Brien also coming more into it in midfield, LIT upped the pace and the scores began to flow. Three points from Canning, two from Wexford-man Peter Atkinson, one from big Bernard Gaffney (Clare native but now playing for Cavan, his father’s people); most crucially of all, a net-bursting goal – Canning again – after a deft aerial flick and pass by Gaffney, and LIT were well clear. A late goal – dipping long-range free by Nolan that deceived everyone – gave UCD hope, but that late opportunity didn’t happen, and Davy Fitz’s well-drilled charges march on.

Scorers for LIT: J Canning 1-9 (0-5 frees, 0-2 65s); N Quinn 0-3; S Callanan, B Gaffney, N O’Connell, 0-1 each. Scorers for UCD: M Nolan 1-3 (2f, 1’65’); L Rushe 0-3 (2f); D O’Connor 1-1; L Ryan, P Atkinson, 0-1 each. LIT: M Ryan (Tipperary); J Gunning (Clare), J McInerney (Clare), C Chaplin (Clare); N O’Connell (Clare), W Hyland (Laois), R Sherlock (Tipperary); S Collins (Clare), P O’Brien (Limerick); N Quinn (Galway), S Callanan (Tipperary), P Browne (Limerick); S Tobin (Limerick), J Canning (Galway), B Gaffney (Cavan). Subs: J O’Keeffe (Tipperary, for Chaplin 39); T Dalton (Tipperary, for Browne 39).

UCD: J Ryan (Galway); E O’Shea (Kilkenny), D Kenny (Offaly), O Gough (Dublin); N Prendergast (Kilkenny), D Langton (Kilkenny), C Gleeson (Tipperary); L Ryan (Kilkenny), R O’Carroll (Dublin); M Nolan (Kilkenny), C Lyng (Wexford), J Boland (Dublin); L Rushe (Dublin), P Atkinson (Wexford), D O’Connor (Dublin). Subs: R O’Loughlin (Dublin) for T Dalton, 44; J Foley (Wexford) for O’Connor, 60+4. Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).

By Diamuid O'Flynn, Irish Examiner