Maynooth University defeated in Fitzgibbon Cup
Electric Ireland Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup Group C clash saw Maynooth University defeated. Photo: INPHO
A well-drilled TUS Midwest outgunned Maynooth University to clinch their place in the knockout stages of the Electric Ireland HE Fitzgibbon Cup at the Kildare campus on Thursday night.
The winners, who had drawn their opening group game with DCU but now top the group thanks to a better scoring difference, owed much to an almost flawless display of free taking from Kyle Shelly, the Tipperary inside forward finding the target thirteen times from frees from various distances.
Clare’s Niall O’Farrell was outstanding in attack too, particularly in the opening half, the Broadford man registering three points from play inside the opening ten minutes and finishing on five before the end.
Tipperary’s Colm Fogarty provided resistance for Maynooth, shooting five points from placed balls in the opening half and finishing on eight but they were somewhat toothless in attack.
The sides shared the opening six points, but the scoring feats of Shelly and O’Farrell pushed TUS on to a commanding eight point half-time lead (0-15 to 0-7).
A disappointing Maynooth, who had no Kildare players on their panel, and who ran DCU close the previous week, briefly threatened a comeback immediately after the break when two points from Cillian Hackett helped them narrow the gap to six points but the visitors hit back with the next four points to stretch the lead to double scores (0-20 to 0-10) by the 40th minute.
It could have been worse for Maynooth had goalkeeper Niall Holland not brought off two close range saves from the dangerous Shelly, but they had little difficulty in stretching their lead out to fifteen points by the end of proceedings.
Aidan Enright (Clare); David Fitzgerald (Limerick), Evan Maxted (Clare), James Mahon (Offaly); Jack McCullagh (Carlow), Paddy Donnellan (Clare), Stephen Walsh (Tipperary); Darragh Casey (Limerick), Cian O’Dwyer (Tipperary) 0-2; Niall O’Farrell (Clare) 0-5, Paddy McCormack (Tipperary) 0-2, Robert Doyle (Tipperary) 0-2; Kyle Shelly (Tipperary) 0-13 (13fs), Seán Kenneally (Tipperary), Seán Canning (Roscommon) 0-1. Subs: Darragh Tynan (Tipperary) 0-1 for McCullagh 47, Darragh Guinan (Tipperary) for Canning 52, Jack Ryan (Tipperary) for O’Farrell 58, Barry Adams (Limerick) for O’Kelly 58.
Niall Holland (Kilkenny); Mark Donnelly (Kilkenny), Dara Maher (Offaly), Ciaran Phelan (Kilkenny); Eamonn Cunneen (Westmeath) 0-1, Jamie Young (Kilkenny), Conor O’Toole (Wexford); Finn Hogan (Kilkenny), Andy Hickey (Kilkenny); Tommy Maher (Tipperary), Colm Fogarty (Tipperary) 0-8 (7fs,1x65), Darragh Kenny (Dublin), Cillian Hackett (Kilkenny) 0-3, David Fogarty (Tipperary), Darragh Queally (Kilkenny). Subs: Harry Shine (Kilkenny) 0-2 (2fs) for Young 13, Rory Wymberry (Waterford) for Queally 43, Daragh McCahey (Tipperary) for Kenny 43, Jarlath Connolly (Laois) for Hogan 53.
Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).
