St Patrick’s 0-23 UUJ 4 - 9

ST PATRICK’S-MATER DEI rallied late on to take a hard-earned, two-point win at Drumcondra yesterday.

Antrim’s Neil McManus led the charge for UUJ with 2-5, but the superb free-taking of Kilkenny’s Mark Bergin edged the hosts to victory.

The sides were tied on three occasions in the opening half, including at the break on a 2-4 to 0-10 score-line.

McManus got the first goal within a minute of the throw-in, but with Bergin and Brendan Timmons on song for St Patrick’s no more than three points separated the sides during an entertaining opening half.

A second McManus goal tied the game at 4-7 to 0-19 with eight minutes remaining, but St Patrick’s stood firm and late Bergin scores secured victory.

ST PATRICK’S-MATER DEI: E Reilly; E Kearns, D Weafer, A Murphy; P Brennan, R Nolan, S Campion; JJ Farrell (0-1), E Doyle (0-2); C Henry, M Bergin (0-10, 8 frees), P Kehoe (0-2); T Brady (0-4), B Timmons (0-3), C Maher (0-1). Sub: C Phelan for Weafer (46 mins).

UUJ: C O’Connell; M Burke, S Henry, T McAlister; A Graffin, N McAuley (0-2, frees), J Downey; C O’Prey, S McCrory; D Hamill (1-1), N McManus (2-5, 4 frees), R Mulqueen; B Ennis, K Sheerin (1-0), P Henry. Subs: P Maguire (0-1) for Mulqueen (half-time); A Smiley for Downey (33 mins); K Maxwell for McAlister (46 mins); J Cowan for Henry (55 mins).

Referee: D O’Donovan (Dublin).