Gaelic Games

DCU dethrone Fitzgibbon Cup holders Mary Immaculate College

Strong finish earns Dublin college a place in the last four

DCU will face the winners of UCD and DIT in an all Dublin semi-final. Photograph: Inpho
DCU will face the winners of UCD and DIT in an all Dublin semi-final. Photograph: Inpho
John Fallon
Wed Feb 07 2018 - 21:58

DCU 0-20 Mary Immaculate College 2-12

DCU ended Mary Immaculate College's hopes of winning the Fitzgibbon Cup for the third year in a row as they produced a strong finish in this quarter-final.

The tie seemed destined for extra-time when they were deadlocked for the eighth time in the closing stages but DCU came good when it mattered most.

Killian Doyle and Conor Burke delivered the points which ended Mary Immaculate's reign and sends them into an all-Dublin semi-final against either UCD or DIT.

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An early goal from Michael O'Loughlin for Mary I was cancelled by three frees from Dublin's Donal Burke and that set the tone for the night, with the sides constantly exchanging points.

They were level four times in the opening half but points from Conor Delaney and Burke saw DCU lead by 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.

Mary I, forced to line out without injured Limerick player Aaron Gillane, hit back after the restart with good points from Gary Cooney and Cian Lynch after Doyle had got an early score for the home side.

Burke’s accuracy was augmented by three great points from Joe O’Connor which left DCU ahead by 0-14 to 1-6 going into the final quarter.

The champions got back into contention when goalkeeper Eoghan Cahill blasted home a penalty before Lynch levelled and Colm Stapleton edged the holders in front.

Burke and Rian McBride put DCU back in front before Luke Meade and Cooney pointed for Mary but with extra-time looming, DCU pushed for home and Doyle and Conor Burke delivered the winning points.

DCU: O Foley; D Brennan, E O'Donnell, C McSweeney; A Maddock, C Delaney (0-1), P Foley; D Mullen (0-1), D Grey; R McBride (0-2), F Whitely, J O'Connor (0-3); J Donnelly, P Curran (0-1), D Burke (0-8, 6f). Subs: K Doyle (0-3) for Donnelly (20 mins), C Burke (0-1) for Whitely (41 mins), P Hogan for Grey (51 mins).

MIT: E Cahill (1-0 pen); C McCullagh, D Peters, D Browne; S Taylor, T O'Mahony, D Prendergast; J Mackey, P Ryan; C Guilfoyle, C Lynch (0-2), L Meade (0-1); G Cooney (0-2), M O'Loughlin (1-5, 5f), B Corry (0-1). Subs: C Stapleton (0-1) for Mackey (45 mins), M Corry for B Corry (58 mins).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).