UL 0-16 WIT 0-12:A LATE burst which yielded five points helped UL to see off the challenge of defending champions WIT in a first round Fitzgibbon Cup game at Newtownshandrum yesterday.

Two evenly matched sides were level four times before the more skilful Limerick university finished strongly.

The biting wind made it difficult, but the teams rose above the elements to produce an entertaining game.

With a host of intercounty players on view, the exchanges were extremely keen with the referee forced to issue seven yellow cards, a number of which could well have been red.

UL’s Brian Carroll was easily their best player. He chalked up seven points, and was well assisted by Limerick senior Séamus Hickey at midfield and Kilkenny’s Kieran Joyce at full back.

There was little to choose between the teams in the first half at the end of which UL led 0-8 to 0-6 and it didn’t look to be sufficient as they turned into the wind.

The teams were level on three further occasions before UL hit that purple patch.

UL: J Dempsey; B Fox, K Joyce , M Verney; S O’Brien, T Stapleton (0-1, f), M Walsh (0-1); S Hickey (0-3), M Gleeson (0-1); B Carroll (0-7, 5f), R O’Dwyer (0-1), J Green; D Hayden, S Ryan, A Egan (0-2). Subs: JB McCarthy for O’Brien; N O’Murchu for Ryan; P McCormack for Dempsey; M Ruth for O’Dwyer.

WIT: A Power; B Kenny, R McCarthy, C Cooney; PJ Rowe, E Barrett, J Ryan; S Lillis (0-3, 2f), M Dunne; R Good , TJ Reid (0-2), F O’Leary; T Hammersly , S Fives (0-1), R McLoughney (0-6, 6f). Subs: J Gahan for Dunne; E Hickey for Hammersly; K Grehan for Good.

Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea).