NUI Galway qualify for Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final

NUI GALWAY 2-20 DCU 2-16

NUI Galway qualified for the quarter-finals of by virtue of their four-point victory over DCU at Dangan yesterday.

Westmeath native Niall O'Brien hit 12 points for Johnny Kelly's troops, while a goal in each half from Gerard O'Donoghue and Brendan Phelan clinched the win for the Galway students.

Donal Breathnach was masterful for DCU, but his 12 points were not enough to give his side the win, and they now need a victory over DIT next week to quality.

Two early goals from Mark Aylward had given DCU the upper hand, but Kelly was thankful that O'Brien was in form.

“We were under pressure coming in here. We had a good game against a very good DIT team and we missed a few scoring chances the last day.

“But Niall is a rare talent; it is a credit to everyone in Westmeath that they have produced a young hurler like this. To be honest, he really is the linchpin there for us between half-back and midfield, but still comes up with important scores,” he said.

NUI Galway led by 1-13 to 2-5 at the break, with O’Brien keeping them in touch early on, but once Brendan Phelan rattled the net 12 minutes from time NUI Galway eased to the victory.

NUIG: K Flynn; D Magne, E Fahy, C Divney ; G Forde (0-2), C Clear, E Teagle (0-1); J P O'Connell, N O'Brien (0-12, nine frees, 65); D Higgins (0-1), B Lane (0-1), M Mullins (0-1); G O'Donoghue (1-0), B Phelan (1-1), D Reidy (0-1). Subs: G Joyce for Diviney (blood 26-28), G Joyce for Magner (51).
DCU: P Burke ; G Grace , R Lennon, G Bennett ; A Cormican, P O'Carroll, E Corcoran; D Breathnach (0-12, nine frees, 65), P Breheny (0-2); C Ryan , T French, D Gavin (0-1); P Bolger, M Aylward (2-0), C Curran (0-1). Subs: N Walsh for Corcoran (34), C Egan for French (37), J Divilly for Bolger (46).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).