Cork IT 1-16 Bride Rovers 2-10
IN 2004, Cork IT produced a famous upset when they defeated a Newtownshandrum team, fresh from having attained All-Ireland Club glory, in the first round of the county SHC.

They will attempt to replicate that triumph in the semi-finals of this season's competition following yesterday's quarter-final win over Bride Rovers at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The students toppled Bride for the second time in three years at the last eight stage yesterday and were rewarded for a powerful finish as they outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-1 in the closing quarter. CIT may not have scaled the sparkling heights of their previous round victory over Erin's Own, but instead displayed qualities of resilience and determination in chiselling out the honours in the second-half.

Bride Rovers were a typically stubborn force and it took CIT a while to break down their challenge.

"We knew it would be a tough match", admitted CIT GAA Officer Keith Ricken. "Bride Rovers are a fabulous side given the resources available to their club. So it was a big win for us. We opened up better in the second-half and started to set the trend. It's great for us. We've largely a Cork based panel, and we're doing our task which is to promote hurling in the college and the county."

The students were without Clare senior defender Patrick O'Connor due to club commitments and had difficulty at times in restraining the Bride Rovers attack. The Rathcormac club illustrated their threat after only 34 seconds when the opportunism of full-forward Michael Collins saw him find the net. Yet, within a minute, CIT had cancelled out that score when Colm Casey raised a green flag at the other end. But Collins bagged a second goal shortly after half-time, while Barry Johnson provided his customary haul of excellent scores as he shot over 0-6.

In defence Brian Murphy did a splendid job at right half-back in helping keep Aidan Walsh under wraps, although the Kanturk man did split the posts with an exquisite sideline cut in the 60th minute.

CIT persisted with the task at hand and were grateful to a couple of brilliant individual displays from David Drake and Michael O'Sullivan that helped to illuminate a largely mundane encounter. Drake flashed four balls over the bar and was heavily involved in their play, while O'Sullivan's influence was more pronounced in the second-half and he also chipped in with 0-3.

The match was evenly balanced at the break when the teams were locked together at 1-8 apiece. Yet Bride Rovers opened the second-half in a more positive fashion. Collins' goal, when he knocked the ball to the net, after a Barry Johnson shot from halfway came back off the bar, was of major assistance in that regard and they lead 2-9 to 1-10 entering the final quarter.

However, CIT had a wide array of scorers during the finale with Tommy Quaid flawless from frees and substitute John Sheedy, nephew of former Tipperary senior manager Liam, Lorcan McLoughlin, O'Sullivan and Walsh all claiming points. Bride Rovers pounded the CIT goalmouth in the closing stages as they desperately sought the scores that would haul them back into contention.

But a rearguard manned by Eoin Dillon and Ross Cashman held firm, and a 20-yard free from goalkeeper Denis Fitzgerald that flew over the bar was all they could muster. CIT progressed now to face Newtownshandrum, a clash that will carry plenty intrigue according to Ricken.

"Newtownshandrum will be an incredible task now. They'll have inside knowledge of us in that Pat Mulcahy has done great work with the CIT Fitzgibbon Cup team this year while lads like Ryan Clifford, Michael Bowles, Jack Herlihy and Cathal Naughton have all been involved in recent years with us.

"That'll add great spice to the build-up and to that match. We beat them back in the first round in 2004 but they beat us a few months later then in the quarter-finals. It'll be interesting."

Scorers for Cork IT: D Drake 0-4, C Casey 1-0, T Quaid (0-3f), M O'Sullivan 0-3 each, A Walsh (0-1 sideline), L McLoughlin (0-1f, 0-1 ‘65) 0-2 each.

Scorers for Bride Rovers: B Johnson 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65), M Collins 2-0, D Burke, D Fitzgerald (0-1f), S Ryan, D Dooley 0-1 each.

CORK IT: K Roche (Banteer); S Leahy (Tourin, Waterford), R Cashman (Kilbrittain), J O'Callaghan (Inniscarra); B O'Sullivan (Fermoy), E Dillon (Milford), B Withers (Banteer); N Kelly (Mayfield), L McLoughlin (Kanturk); D Drake (Carrigaline), C Casey (Inniscarra), A Walsh (Kanturk); T Quaid (Effin, Limerick), M O'Sullivan (Tracton), S O'Brien (Carrigaline).

Subs: J Cronin (Lisgoold) for Leahy (half-time), J Sheedy (Portroe, Tipperary) for Casey (40), K Hallissey (Éire Óg) for O'Brien (44).

BRIDE ROVERS: D Fitzgerald; A Collins, B Walsh, S Kearney; Brian Murphy, Barry Murphy, L Forde; M Kearney, B Johnson; M Collins, D Burke, P Murphy; J Mannix, S Ryan, D Dooley.

Subs: J Pratt for Kearney (35), C O'Keeffe for Mannix (45), J O'Driscoll for Burke (52), D Ryan for Collins (56).

Referee: John Sexton (Ballyhea).

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, August 22, 2011