Eight Tipperary players feature as TUS Midwest exit Fitzgibbon Cup

Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final

MTU Cork 4-18

TUS Midwest 1-17

TUS Midwest bowed out of the Fitzgibbon Cup at the quarter-final stage after suffering a 4-18 to 1-17 quarter-final defeat to MTU Cork at a bitingly cold Moylish on Thursday evening.

The Limerick-based side looked well-placed to advance to the semi-finals when leading their visitors 1-13 to 1-8 at half-time in a lively contest. The home side had led by eight, 1-11 to 0-6, after 25 minutes. 

However, powered by a hat-trick of goals from corner forward Alan Walsh, of Kanturk, the Cork students turned the quarter-final decisively in their favour in the final quarter.

The sides were level 1-15 to 2-12 some 10 minutes into the second half. However, the winners, who included Cork senior hurling stars Ciaran Joyce in defence and Alan Connolly in attack, outscored their opponents 2-6 to 0-2 in the final 20 minutes to convincingly book their semi-final spot.

The evening had opened brightly for TUS Mid-West who made an explosive start after racing into a 1-0 to 0-0 lead after less than three minutes. 

Sean Canning pointed the home side in front inside a minute and when Kian O'Kelly was felled as he bore down on goal, TUS Midwest's topscorer Kyle Shelly rifled the resultant penalty award to the net.

MTU Cork settled down, but their opponents kept them at arms length during the opening 20 minutes. A string of points from Paddy McCormack, Niall O'Farrell and topscorer Shelly had the home side who were backed by a stinging breeze in the opening half, 1-9 to 0-4 in front after 20 minutes. 

TUS Midwest included two Limerick players in their starting line-up, with David Fitzgerald, of Kildimo-Pallaskeny, in defence and Darragh Casey, of Granagh-Ballingarry in midfield. The Moylish side also introduced Ballybrown's Barry Adams as a substitute late in the second half. 

The Jimmy Browne-managed TUS Midwest side held the upperhand when leading by seven points, 1-10 to 0-5, after 24 minutes.

However, the complexion of the game changed soon after when Cork star Connolly pointed a free and Alan Walsh netted the first of his hat-trick of goals after being set up by Brian Lynch.

Suddenly the TUS lead was down to four points. Still the home side's five point interval lead looked useful.

There were still four points between the sides seven minutes after the re-start as TUS Midwest led 1-15 to 2-11. 

The complexion of the game changed significantly, however, when Walsh seized on an Alan Connolly delivery in the 38th minute, before rifling the ball to the net to leave a point between the sides. 

After the Cork students drew level soon after, Kyle's Shelly's pointed free pushed the home side a point to the good. However, TUS Midwest were hit by a real body blow in the 42nd minute as Diarmuid Healy surged at the heart of the TUS defence, before slipping the sliotar out to Walsh who blasted to the net to complete his hat-trick of goals. 

MTU Cork were suddenly two points in front, 3-12 to 1-16. The momentum was behind them and the visitors kicked for home, reeling off a further 1-8 without reply, as Jack Cahalane got in on the goal-scoring act in the 57th minute.

There was no way back for TUS Midwest who were unable to trouble the MTUS Cork defence sufficiently in the second half to stage a comeback. 

SCORERS: TUS Midwest: Kyle Shelly 1-12 (1-0 pen, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65); Niall O’Farrell 0-2; Paddy McCormack, Sean Canning, James Mahon (free) 0-1 each. MTU Cork: Alan Walsh 3-1; Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-5 frees); Jack Cahalane 1-3; Mikey Finn, Darragh O’Sullivan 0-2 each; Rhys McCarthy, Sam Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Healy 0-1 each.

TUS MIDWEST: Rory Brislane (Toomevara, Tipperary); David Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Limerick), Evan Maxted (Clooney-Quin, Clare), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey, Offaly); Jack McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels, Carlow), Paddy Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), Stephen Walsh (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary); Darragh Casey (Granagh-Ballingarry, Limerick), Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary); Niall O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty Rossmore, Tipperary); Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs, Tipperary), Sean Canning (Padraig Pearses, Roscommon).

Subs used: Eoghan Cuddy (Camross, Laois) for McCullagh; Darragh Guinan (Lorrha, Tipperary) for Casey (both 48 mins); Barry Adams (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Canning (55 mins).

MTU CORK (Cork unless stated): Cathal Wilson (Newcestown); Fionn O'Connell (St Catherine's), Eoghan Varian (Glen Rovers), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); Ronan Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore, Waterford); Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Mikey Finn (Midleton); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Brian Lynch (Ballinhassig), Rhys McCarthy (Carrigaline); Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Alan Connolly (Blackrock) Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr's). Subs: Richard O’Sullivan (Newcestown) for Lynch; David O’Sullivan (Ballincollig) for McCarthy (both 58 mins); Mark Tobin (Mallow) for Fitzgerald (64 mins).

REFEREE: Shane Hynes (Galway)