Although it was only in the final quarter that UCD pulled away from their game opponents, the decisive blows were struck at the end of the first half. A strong, cold wind blew down the pitch in Belfield and the Limerick college played with its advantage for the opening half-hour.
The home defence was solid under pressure but bit by bit, Mary Immaculate College of Education were accumulating points, mostly from the flawless dead-ball striking of centre-fielder Dave Loughrey, and by the 23rd minute a five-point lead, 07 to 0-2, had been established.
However, UCD hit back in the five minutes leading up to the interval. Firstly, Mick Gordon's shot was deflected into the net in the 25th minute and three minutes later, Kevin O'Donovan's free dropped into the MICE goal-mouth where it broke for Paul Ormonde who finished to the net.
In this short space of time, the match effectively changed course. UCD were now a point ahead with the wind to follow and although John Dervan equalised before the break, the contest looked over.
MICE must have regretted the concession of those goals because they battled away throughout the third quarter and UCD's lead didn't grow as rapidly as expected. Loughrey's point from play in the 44th minute cut UCD's lead to a point, 2-5 to 0-10, but it was to be the Limerick team's last score of the afternoon.
Left corner forward Paul Darcy finished the match in the 53rd minute by dribbling and soloing in behind the MICE defence before taking UCD's third goal.
The winners were stronger throughout the field. In the first half, their defence absorbed great pressure with Tom O'Donoghue a major central influence at full back. Hugh Flannery was also very effective in marking and clearing. Centre back Dave Hegarty anchored the resistance and his presence was acknowledged by MICE coach Eamonn Cregan as one of the main obstacles on which his team foundered.
In attack, the corner forwards Gordon and Darcy always looked menacing and their 1-1 apiece fairly reflects their contributions.
UCD: P Dempsey (Dublin); B Walton (Tipperary), T O'Donoghue (Dublin), H Flannery (Tipperary); A de Paor (Dublin), D Hegarty (Clare), D O'Mahoney (Wexford; 0-1); K O'Donovan (Cork; 0-3, all frees), R Moore (Kilkenny; 0-1); P Ormonde (Tipperary; 1-0), J Berkery (Wicklow), P O'Brien (Tipperary; 0-1); M Gordon (Kilkenny; 1-1), D Mc- Carthy (Cork; 0-1), P Darcy (Tipperary; 1-1). SUBS: D McGrath (Waterford; 0-1) for Moore; B Murphy (0-1) for McCarthy; P Fitzgerald for Ormonde.
MICE: J McGrath (Limerick); E Fitzgerald (Limerick), B Cullinane (Limerick), D Fitzgerald (Limerick); S Lavin (Limerick), T Flanagan (Galway), B Wall (Waterford); J Dervan (Galway; 0-1), D Loughrey (Galway; 0-7, six frees); J Daly (Limerick; 0-1), D Hoyne (Kilkenny), P Carey (Limerick); M Brooks (Clare), C O'Shea (Tipperary; 0-1), B Dagg (Offaly).
Referee: A Murray (Westmeath).
