Dublin outclass Students
MANAGER Ger Cunningham hailed a win-win scenario as Dublin got their Walsh Cup hurling campaign off to a strong start. Paul Ryan’s 2-7 haul allied to 2-1 from Eamonn Dillon at the UCD sports grounds helped the Dubs overcome a five-point half-time deficit, but Cunningham also had his eye on plenty of the UCD players as seven of them are on his Dublin panel. He described the tie as effectively ‘an internal practice match’ with UCD full-forward and Dublin panellist Oisin O’Rorke weighing in with 3-2. Dublin will return to action on Sunday when they face Antrim and wrap up their group campaign away to Laois. Ryan and Dillon will hope to impress again along with fringe talents like Cian MacGiolla Bhride, Ryan McBride, Chris Bennett and Fiontan McGibb. Cunningham had no update on the future of veteran Conal Keaney who has hinted he may retire from inter-county duty. O’Rorke shot a first-half hat-trick and UCD were good value for their 3-8 to 2-6 half-time lead, but only added one more point until the 59th minute. Dublin had the wind after the break and bossed the contest with Ryan adding 1-4 to his earlier 1-3, as UCD found Dillon’s penetrating runs hard to handle
DUBLIN: C Dooley; J Boland, C Crummey, O Gough; B Quinn, L Rushe, S Durkin (F O Riain Broinn 61); C MacGiolla Bhride, D O’Connell (R Hardy h/t); R McBride (S O’Reilly 61), N McMorrow, E Dillon; C Bennett (D Treacy 46), F McGibb, P Ryan. Scorers: P Ryan 2-7 (0-7f), E Dillon 2-1, N McMorrow 0-3, F McGibb 0-2, C MacGiolla Bhride, R McBride 0-1.
UCD: D Holohan; P Hannon, S Murphy, J Madden (E Conroy 52); C Devitt (S Moran 48), C O’Callaghan, J O’Connor (C MacGabhann 40); J Malone, J Mullaney (JJ Ryan 52); J Maher (J Griffin 60), P Guinan, C Cronin; C Keane, O O’Rorke, T Phelan. Scorers: O O’Rorke 3-2 (1-1f), C Cronin 0-3, J O’Connor 0-2 (0-1f), C O’Callaghan, J Malone, J Maher, P Guinan, J Griffin 0-1.
Referee: Michael Murtagh (Westmeath).