UCC advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup after beating local rivals MTU 0-23 to 0-19 in an emphatic performance.
Cork star Ben Cunningham was the leading man for the winners, scoring 12 points, but his fine performance came at a cost.
He sustained a hamstring injury during the middle of the second half after coming out of a pitch-perfect tackle from marker Sam Fitzgerald second best, preventing the Finbarr’s man from making his tally 13 before his day came to an end.
For Cunningham’s and Pat Ryan's sake, they will hope it's not serious and that they won't miss a large chunk of the league.
Ciarán Joyce and Alan Connolly were on water duty for MTU, while Eoin Downey and Ethan Twomey missed out for UCC because both sides had already qualified.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for MTU as Jack Cahalane and Waterford hurler Sean Walsh stood out as saves from UCC shot-stopper Paudie O’Sullivan denied them.
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The other big game saw a Limerick derby, with UL beating neighbours Mary I 0-23 to 0-15, with Tipperary hurler Gearoid O’Connor scoring six points for the winners.
However, the main talking point from today's encounter was who did not play. UL were without Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Paddy O'Donovan, and Aidan O'Connor, while Adam Hogan, Shane Meehan, Fionn McDonagh, and Shane O'Brien were all absent for Mary Immaculate College perhaps both sides being through was the reason for such absentees.
While up in Dangan, the University of Galway went to town on UCD, winning 4-27 to 0-11 points, with goals from Ruben Davitt, Kieran Hanrahan, Ian McGlynn, and Matthew Tarpey for Connacht College. It was the same story there with a number of big names missing out, though Colm Molloy starred with six points from play. Both sides are out of the competition regardless with the win serving only to restore pride for the Galway side.
TUS Midwest and Maynooth contest the final group game tonight, with the winner progressing to the quarter finals next week.