Late Hayes point secures win for UCC in Canon O’Brien Cup final

UCC 2-18 Cork 1-20

AN injury-time point by Sean Hayes gave UCC victory over Cork in the recent Canon O’Brien Senior Hurling Cup final at the Mardyke. Exchanges were close all through with the lead changing hands on a number of occasions. Luke Meade opened the scoring with a Cork goal in the first minute. UCC replied from a Shane Kingston free. In the fourth minute Brian Turnbull pointed for Cork.

The College replied with four rapid points before Chris O’Leary levelled at 1-2 to 0-5. Points for Cork by Jack O’Connor and Tim O’Mahony were followed by a UCC pointed ‘65’ by Shane Conway. Cork edged a goal clear when Tommy O’Connell and Brian Turnbull had a point each 1-6 to 0-6. UCC regrouped well, they had points by Shane Conway and Darragh Fitzgibbon before Michael O’Halloran with a goal had the students ahead 1-8 to 1-6.

Further pressure saw the College add three late points while Chris O’Leary and Seamus Harnedy replied for Cork. At the break the winners led 1-11 to 1-8.

On the changeover exchanges continued to be very close. After six minutes

UCC moved 1-13 to 1-10 clear. Luke Meade kept Cork in touch with a point. William Henn pointed for the College 1-14 to 1-11.

Cork came back strong, Brian Turnbill, Chris O’Leary and Shane O’Regan with minors had them deadlocked 1-14 each. They were also tied at 1-15 apiece by the 48th minute. Cork did well. Rapid points by Damian Cahalane and Patrick Horgan (2) opened up a three-point lead 1-18 to 1-15. Sean Hayes goaled in the 53rd minute levelling for the fourth time at 2-15 to 1-18.

UCCagain hit the front with points by John O’Sullivan and Shane Kingston. Shane O’Regan had a very good point for

Cork with Conor Lehane levelling from a free in the dying moments. In injury time Sean Hayes struck the winning point giving UCC a close one-point win.

After the game Mark O’Brien presented the cup to the winning captain Eoghan Murphy.

UCC: S Hurley (St. Finbarr’s), D Lowney (Clonakilty), E Murphy (Sarsfields), S Roche (Kilnadeema-Leitrim, Galway), B Hennessy 0-1 (St Finbarr’s), N O’Leary (Castlelyons), P O’Loughlin (Kilmallock), A Casey 0-1 (Ballyduff Upper, Waterford), R Connolly 0-1 (Adare), D Fitzgibbon 0-2 (Charleville), S Kingston 0-2 (1f) (Douglas), C Boylan (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), J O’Sullivan 0-1 (Blackrock), S Conway 0-5 (2 ‘65’, 1f) (Lixnaw, Kerry), M O’Halloran 1-0 (Blackrock). Subs: J Cashman (Blackrock) for S Roche, S Roche (Kilnadeema-Leitrim) for A Casey, N

Montgomery (Abbeyside, Waterford) for N O’Leary, B Sheehan (Dicksboro, Kilkenny) for D Fitzgibbon, S Hayes 1-1 (Mallow) for S Conway, W Henn 0-2, (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick) for B Hennessy.

CORK: A Nash (Kanturk), C Spillane (Castlelyons), E Cadogan (Douglas), S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), C O’Leary 0-4 (1f) (Valley Rovers), B Cooper (Youghal), D Cahalane 0-1 (St. Finbarr’s), T O’Mahony 0-1 (Newtownshandrum), T O’Connell 0-1 (Midleton), C Lehane 0-1f (do), L Meade 1-1 (Newcestown), S Twomey (Courcey Rovers), J O’Connor 0-2 (Sarsfields), S Harnedy 0-2 (St. Ita’s), B Turnbull 0-3 (Douglas). Subs: E Roche (Bride Rovers) for C Spillane, P Horgan 0-2 (Glen Rovers) for T O’Connell, S O’Regan 0-2 (Watergrasshill) for S Twomey, J Keating (Kildorrery) for T O’Mahony, E Carey (Kilworth) for S Harnedy, G Collins (Ballinhassig for A Nash.

REFEREE: Simon Stokes (Tullylease)