Drama at the death in Dangan

NUIG 1-9

DIT 1-9

NUIG Hurlers image: tuamherald

This really was a match that NUIG should have won. After a slow start they dug deep to claw their way back into the match only to let a four point lead slip away in injury time. In the end they needed Niall Burke and his nerves of steel to slot home a free in the dying seconds to earn them a point.

On a wet afternoon in Dangan and with the pitch cutting up badly as the game went on, the conditions weren’t ideal for hurling. Nevertheless there were some excellent scores by both sides in the mud. Niall Burke’s fourth point was outstanding. Daithi Burke blocked a pass on the half way line and quickly moved the ball to Niall Burke who scored with a curling shot.

It took the home side 20 minutes to register their first point, a fine effort from top scorer Niall Burke. By that stage DIT had score three. The Dublin side were well on top in the first half and added two more points to take a five points to three half time lead.

They got the first point of the second half too. With less than a minute played, Paul Morris increased their lead but it was to be their last point for 25 minutes.

NUIG responded well to Morris’ point, replying almost immediately through Dean Higgins. It was the catalyst they needed and the college team scored 1 – 4 without reply.

Shane Quinlan wasn’t long on the pitch when Caimin Morey raced through the DIT midfield and rushed through on goal. He squared the ball to Quinlan who put it beyond the goalkeeper’s reach into the far corner.

The crowd was ecstatic as NUIG led by four points with just four minutes of normal time remaining but there was to be a twist in the tale.

DIT were shocked out of their slumber by the goal and immediately went on the attack. A foul gave Dave Treacy the chance to reduce the deficit to three and he duly did. The play moved back down field and a fine point from Niall Burke restored the four point lead. With just a minute of normal time left to be played NUIG looked certain to win.

However Treacy was given the opportunity to score two more frees in quick succession and he grabbed it with both hands. With less than a minute to play he had another free. This time he dropped the ball in and amid the crowd of hurls, Niall Quinn reached highest to guide the ball into the back of the net.

A shellshocked NUIG regrouped quickly and didn’t panic. They worked the ball downfield looking for the equalizer and when the free came, Niall Burke held his nerve to rescue a point for his side.

Coach Jeff Lynskey and the team were disappointed to only get a draw having led by four points lead with less than five minutes on the clock. “With five minutes to go I thought we were there but it’s not over till after the final whistle and we had a huge sucker punch at the end but the lads showed good resolve and character to get the free.”

Lynskey paid tribute to his side’s heart and determination, which saw them recover from the potential killer blow of the injury time goal to level the match with the last shot of the game.

“Fitzgibbon hurling is about character and team spirit and they are all the components that you need. Whoever has the strongest resolve, even though today was a draw, usually wins out,” he said.

Lynskey explained that their slow start to the match was because they haven’t had much game time together as many of the team have been involved in matches for their counties but all those problems will be ironed out ahead of their crunch clash away to Carlow IT next Tuesday.

“We were slow to get started. It was the first time all year the lads had played together as a group because they had been off playing with their counties. As the game progressed we got better because our team play improved.”

Immediately after the game his focus had already switched to that vital tie. “We’ll learn an awful lot. The lads are fine even though their heads were down at the end but we will pick them up and the next challenge is on Tuesday. We have to win next week to top the group,” he added.

Scorers – NUIG: Niall Burke (0-5, 1 free); Shane Quinlan (1-0); Daithi Burke (0-1); Mark Kelly (0-1); John Paul O’Connell (0-1, 1 free); Dean Higgins (0-1).

DIT: Dave Treacy (0- 5, 1 65, 3 frees); Niall Quinn (1-0); Ciaran O’Shaugnessy (0-2); James Mulrooney (0-1); Paul Morris (0-1).

NUIG: Donal Touhy; David Magner; Eoin Fahy; Sean McCormack; Mark Kelly; David Kenny; Pat Kelly; John Paul O’Connell; Cormac Diviney; Dean Higgins; Niall Burke; Daithi Burke; Eoin Hayes; Caimin Morey; Rory Shanahan (Shane Quinlan 50). Yellow card: Mark Kelly (24). Management: Johnny Kelly and Jeff Lynskey.

DIT: Finn McGarry; Dave English (Eoin Doyle 39); Ollie Walsh; Lars Prendergast; Dean Curran (Pat Kenny 50); Pat Hartley; Jamie Diviney; James Mulrooney; Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, Paudge Whelan; Mike Maloney (Michael Murphy 33, Ger McManus 57); Niall Quinn; Paul Morris; Aodhan McInerney; Dave Treacy.  Management: Martin McKenna, Timmy Dooley, Gerry Tully.

Refereee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)