Sport

Galway sharpen up after the break

NUI Galway 1-11 DIT 2-5: NUI Galway made up for a very wasteful first half by showing deadly accuracy in the second 30 minutes…

Sat Mar 10 2007 - 00:00

NUI Galway 1-11 DIT 2-5:NUI Galway made up for a very wasteful first half by showing deadly accuracy in the second 30 minutes of this Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final at the Carlow IT grounds yesterday as the western college defeated Kehoe Cup holders DIT to earn a place in today's final against Limerick IT.

DIT led for the only time in the game when Kilkenny All-Ireland senior medallist from 2006 Willie O'Dwyer struck over a good point from play after two minutes.

The Galway side hit back and in the ninth minute opened their scoring when left-half forward Finian Coone hit home a goal from close range.

Tipperary's Dara Egan was a key figure for Galway. Playing at full forward the Kildangan clubman scored a total of 0-4 of his side's total and was an excellent target man for his outfield players.

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In a low scoring opening half Dublin's Kevin O'Reilly struck for a DIT goal on 16 minutes, which tied the scores at 1-1 each. By half-time NUI Galway had edged 1-3 to 1-2 in front with wind advantage to follow.

Having driven eight first-half wides NUI Galway got their radar working and scored some commendable points from play in the second half, Egan's three fine efforts being particularly vital.

DIT tried hard and were rewarded with a second goal when substitute Sam Lehane set up fellow substitute Niall Kelly in the 48th minute. This left only two points separating the sides, 1-8 to 2-3.

NUI Galway could always find a scoring response, however, and they contained the Dublin side for the majority of play.

NUI Galway: D Woods; R Whyte, M Ryan, L Geraghty; J Dunphy, J Lee, E Barrett, C Ryan (0-2); S Molumphy (0-1), P O'Brien (0-2); D Barrett, F Coone (1-1); D Kenny, D Egan (0-4, three frees), S Glynn (0-1). Sub: V Faharty for Barrett (59 mins).

DIT: D Flynn; J Doran, A Gaynor, P Breen; W Lyons, J Walsh, T Corcoran; E Connolly, D Kennedy; E Clarke, W O'Dwyer (0-1), B McEvoy; K O'Reilly (1-2, 0-1 free); D O'Dwyer, J Clarke. Subs: E Nolan for Breen (inj, 21 mins), S Lehane (0-1) for McEvoy (40 mins), N Kelly (1-0) for Clarke (45 mins), S McCann (0-1) for Kennedy (54 mins).

Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).