UCC repeat Mardyke heroics to make Fitzgibbon weekend | Michael Twomey

UCC 1-13CIT 1-11UCC overcame local rivals CIT in the Mardyke last Tuesday to secure their place in the last four of the Irish Daily Mail Fitzgibbon Cup as they attempt to retain the title they won in fine style last year. They will now advance to the finals weekend of the competition on the 1^st/ 2^nd March to be hosted in GMIT.In a repeat of last year's final, UCC were forced to come from behind against a resilient CIT side who held control for long periods of the game.While the home side opened the scoring it was CIT who settled better with Lorcan McLoughlin, Michael O'Sullivan and David Drake showing well as they moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the 12^th minute.UCC kept in touch with Conor Lehane, Brian O’Sullivan, Brian Lawton and Brian Hartnett striking first half points. CIT though were boosted when Lorcan McLoughlin's long range effort went all the way to the UCC net as Darren McCarthy was distracted by Ciarán Sheehan and David Glynn’s tussle for the dropping ball on the edge of the small square. That goal helped CIT into a 1-6 to 0-7 half time lead.CIT extended their lead to three upon their resumption but by now UCC had upped their game significantly and drew level 5 minutes after the restart when Brian O'Sullivan scrambled to the net from close range, 1-7 each.CIT however pushed ahead once more with Daire Lordan and Sheehan pointing to give them a 1-10 to 1-8 lead with ten minutes remaining.UCC though hit their best patch of the game in this period driven on by the outstanding Killian Murphy and William Egan in defence to turn the game in their favour. Five unanswered points from Brian Murray, Barry Lawton, Lehane and McCormack moved the holders into a three point lead entering injury time.CIT to their credit were not finished yet, they added a late free before Michael O'Sullivan was denied a match winning goal with Darren McCarthy saving well. The final whistle went soon after as UCC held on to secure a semi-final meeting with UCD on Friday.UCC: D McCarthy (Cork); S Maher (Tipperary), D Glynn (Kilkenny), K Murphy (Cork); J Barry 0-1f (Tipperary), D Fives (Waterford), W Egan; P Haughney, Brian Lawton 0-2; S Harnedy (all Cork), D McCormack 0-2 (Tipperary)  B Hartnett 0-1; B O'Sullivan 1-1, C Lehane 0-4f, B Murray 0-1sl (all Cork).Subs: C Murphy (Cork) for Haughney (27), W Griffin (Limerick) for Murphy (46), Barry Lawton 0-1 (Cork) for O'Sullivan (50).CIT: S Nyhan (Cork); B O'Sullivan (Cork), S Daniels (Waterford), S O'Halloran (Clare); L McLoughlin 1-0 (Cork), P O'Connor (Clare), J Goggins (Cork); N Kelly (Cork), A Walsh (Cork); J Cronin (Cork), D Drake 0-2 (Cork), M O'Sullivan 0-1 (Cork); D Lordan 0-5f (Cork), C Sheehan 0-1 (Cork), B Cooper 0-1 (Cork).Subs: E Concannon 0-1 (Galway) for Cooper (23), N O'Doherty (Cork) for Goggins (29), Cooper for Walsh (48), T Lawrence (Cork) for Kelly (56).