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Canning points the way for LIT

FITZGIBBON CUP/LIT 1-15 UCD 2-9: GALWAY STAR Joe Canning gave a superb display and scored a total of 1-9 as he edged LIT into…

Fri Feb 26 2010 - 00:00

FITZGIBBON CUP/LIT 1-15 UCD 2-9:GALWAY STAR Joe Canning gave a superb display and scored a total of 1-9 as he edged LIT into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup in Limerick yesterday. And another Galway player Niall Quinn turned in a marvellous second-half performance by scoring three splendid points.

At one stage the Limerick side seemed to be coasting when they led 1-14 to 1-9 with only seven minutes remaining.

But a goal for UCD by Dublin player Liam Rushe following a free by Maurice Nolan left only two points between them.

And in the final minute UCD were awarded a 21-yard free. Nolan shot low in an effort to earn extra-time but his effort was scrambled clear.

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UCD had the opening two points by Joe Boland and Rushe and it took nine minutes for Canning to have the first point for LIT. Rushe and Nicky O’Connell exchanged points but a goal by David O’Connor held UCD to a 1-6 to 0-8 at the interval.

Canning’s goal 10 minutes into the second half had his side in front for the first time and they never lost their lead.

That was the first time they led in a game that provided some outstanding individual performances with Willie Hyland superb for LIT.

Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan made one marvellous save to preserve LIT’s interest in the competition and James McInerney and Nicky O’Connell also put in five-star performances but it was Canning who stole the show.

For UCD David Langton, and Oisin Gough did well in a defence that was very tight in the opening half but came under intense pressure afterwards.

Liam Ryan, Rory O’Carroll and Rushe were best up front but the Dubliners had a string of wided at one point when backed by the breeze in the second half.

LIT: M Ryan; C Chaplin, J McInerney, J Gunnings; N O’Connell (0-1), W Hyland, R Sherlock; S Collins, P O’Brien; P Browne, S Callinan (0-1), N Quinn (0-3); S Tobin, J Canning (1-9, 0-6 frees, 0-2 65s), B Gaffney (0-1). Subs: T Dalton for Browne (38 mins), J O’Keeffe for O’Brien (47 mins).

UCD: J Ryan; E O’Shea, C Gleeson, O Gough; N Prendergast, D Langton, D Kenny; L Ryan, J Boland; M Nolan (0-3, frees), D Lyng, J Boland (0-1); R O’Carroll (0-2), P Atkinson, L Rushe (1-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: D O’Connor (1-0) for L Ryan (22 mins), D O’Callaghan for Boland, (39 mins), R O’Loughlin for Gleeson (44 mins).

Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).