DCU 5-15
DIT 2-17

At the end of sixty minutes of intense hurling it was the students of Dublin City University who came home winners in this hardly fought 1st round league match at Terenure.

Being the first game of the season it was obvious that players on both sides were eager to impress and with positions up for grabs and the opportunity for both sides to get the best possible start to their respective campaigns you could feel the eagerness of both players and management to get out of the blocks at pace.

It was DIT that got the better start with early scores from Martin Foley and Sean Seach. DCU responded well though with Brian O'Donnell, Paddy McAvinue and Conor O'Loughlan all on target.

With the new DCU partnership of Colm Hennebry and Paddy McAvinue starting to establish themselves at midfield Barry Lyons in the DIT goal came under fierce pressure and it took a fine save from him after 12 minutes to keep the ball out of the DIT net. However, as the game progressed it seemed that goals were inevitable and within minutes both Willy Doran and Shay Ryan fired ground balls past the helpless DIT keeper.

DIT remained unfazed as Sean Seach punished the DCU defence from the placed ball and all of their full forward line got on the score sheet. On the stroke of half time DCU were hit with a double blow as goalscorer Ryan had to be substituted with a nasty hand injury and Joe Corcoran grabbed a well deserved goal, after a scramble in the DCU goalmouth. This left the sides level on 2-6 to 1-10 at the interval.

The 2nd half started much like the 1st with DIT again getting early scores-the first a marvellous overhead effort from full forward Dara Connery. Five minutes later though and the signs were bad for DIT as 2 points from play were followed by an opportunistic goal from Brian O'Donnell. DCU proceeded to pull away with corner forward Vinny Kelly spotting the DIT keeper off his line and punishing him with a magnificent lob.

Midway through the 2nd half and DCU were now flying as they began to enjoy their greatest period of dominance. Both Colm Hennebry and Ronan Screeney struck 2 points a piece and it looked as though DCU were going to run away with it. DIT however had other ideas and four pointed frees from Seach were followed by a converted penalty and with ten minutes to go it was still all to play for. DIT proceeded to pile on the pressure and it took a fine block on the line by DCU full back Aidan Darcy to preserve DCU's lead.

Any chance of a revival was then dashed as corner forward Vinny Kelly pounced on a fumble by the DIT keeper. The goal was followed by points from John O'Brien and Paddy McAvinue and two late points from Seach were little consolation to the now defeated DIT team.

Teams

DIT: Barry Lyons, Paul O'Connell, James Moran, Brian Ferns, Brian de Piorra, Michael McEvoy, Sean O'Eochlain, Patrick Kelly, Sean O'Finneadh, John O'Conner, John O'Se, Sean Seach (1-12, 10 frees), Martin Foley (0-2), Dara Connery (0-2), Joe Corcoran (1-1).

DCU: Cillian Breathnach, Niall O'Ceallachain, Aidan Darcy, Brendan Franks, Paul Leonard, Ciaran Regan, David Lennon, Colm Hennebry (0-2), Paddy McAvinue (0-7, 5 frees), Conor O'Loughlan (0-2), Shay Ryan (1-0), Brian O'Donnell (1-2), Vinny Kelly (2-0), Willy Doran (1-0), Ronan Screeney (0-2). Subs: John O'Brien for Shay Ryan (0-1), Leonard Skelly for Brian O'Donnell, David Kelly for Ronan Screeney.