LIT 1-15 UCD 0-15:LIMERICK IT were deserving victors over UCD in this entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup tie at Belfield yesterday, but in a way both teams were winners.

By limiting their defeat to a three-point margin UCD also squeeze through to the quarter-finals at the expense of Waterford IT. The teams were tied on points and scoring difference, but UCD advance because they scored two more points than WIT over their two round-robin matches.

LIT deserved to win. They played the cuter and snappier brand of hurling, and when it looked like a wind-aided UCD might come from behind to snatch the win in the second half they showed great character to produce a late winning burst.

LIT looked like they were going to canter to victory when they lead by 1-10 to 0-7 a couple of minutes into the second half, but a storming fightback inspired by Tipperary star Noel McGrath brought UCD level with a couple of minutes remaining.

UCD seemed to have all the momentum, but instead it was LIT who came with a late winning burst to score three three unanswered points for victory.

LIT: M Ryan; E Glynn, C Cowan, C Cooney; P Donnellan, J McInerney, J O’Keefe; P Browne (0-1), P O’Brien (1-1); S Collins (0-1), W Hyland (0-1), D Reale (0-1); S Lambert (0-3), B Gaffney (0-4, three frees), S Tobin (0-3).

UCD: J Ryan; J Doyle, S Cummins, O Gough; N Prendergast, E O’Shea, S Norton; C MacGiolla-Bhride, D Fox; J O’Loughlin (0-1), L Rushe (0-1), D O’Connor; N McGrath (0-10, six frees, one 65, one sideline), K Hogan (0-1), W Walsh (0-2). Subs: C Allis for D O’Connor (41 mins).

Referee: O Elliott.