WIT 0-21 UL 3-12
A late Tom Fox point deep in the second half of extra-time forced a draw for WIT in tonight’s Fitzgibbon Cup final, on a 0-21 to 3-12 scoreline against UL.
UL pushed four points clear in the second period of extra-time, thanks to a point from Laois’s PJ Scully, after a Stephen Bennett goal.
However, four unanswered points including Pauric Mahony’s eighth, a brace of Martin O’Neill points and a late Fox equaliser forced a replay.
The final will go to a replay for the first time since 2001 after that late score from corner-back Fox, with a time and venue yet to be decided at a meeting of Comhairle Ardoideachais on Monday night
It was a game to set the hearts racing, as for the second time in two days, WIT were taken to extra-time.
Colm Bonnar started the game with the same line-up that accounted for Cork IT by 1-20 to 0-19, while UL boss Brian Lohan included Eoin Moriarty instead of the suspended Jack Browne.
UL started this game impressively, with Tipperary’s John McGrath in fine form in the opening quarter.
UL claimed a 0-03 to 0-00 lead after four minutes, before Wexford’s Harry Kehoe opened the WIT account.
UL made WIT pay for their inaccuracy in the first quarter, and moved 0-05 to 0-02 ahead after 18 minutes, with Tommy Heffernan on target.
0-06 to 0-04 ahead at half-time, UL looked good, but WIT cut the gap to the minimum following a superb strike by Austin Gleeson.
However, UL weren’t keen to lie down with Heffernan netting their opening goal, after good initial work by Kevin O’Brien.
Cathal McInerney had a further chance to stretch UL’s advantage, but shot wide, before Pauric Mahony and McGrath swapped scores.
WIT bounced back with three points from play, including a Jake Dillon effort, cutting the gap to the minimum in the 43rd minute.
UL held WIT scoreless over the next seven minutes, as they tagged on three unanswered scores, including points from Tony Kelly and Jason Forde.
1-10 to 0-09 ahead after 49 minutes, it looked likely a UL victory might be on the cards, but WIT once again displayed their never say die spirit.
Substitute Johnny Hayes was the catalyst to this resurgence with two fine points from play in the 53rd minute, inside a 45 second spell.
A brace of Mahony points levelled the tie in the 59th minute, before a third Hayes point pushed WIT ahead.
A late foul on Dan Morrissey, resulted in Stephen Roche picking up a yellow card, with Kelly landing the resulting free to ensure extra-time.
Colm Bonnar had been in this situation before with WIT, when in 2008, it took two periods of extra-time before eventually coming out on top against LIT in Cork IT.
This time around just one period of extra-time would be played, and both sides certainly gave it their all, producing an epic finish.
WIT started extra-time strongly with points from Mahony and Dillon, but a Jason Forde goal, after a kick-pass from O’Brien ensured a 2-11 to 0-16 interval lead.
Mahony tied the game on the restart, and although UL pushed four points clear with Waterford native Stephen Bennett netting a 73rd minute goal, and PJ Scully following up with a point, WIT weren’t finished.
Bonnar’s charges fired four unanswered points, with Fox’s last gasp equaliser on the stroke of the 80th minute, as referee Brian Gavin blew for full-time, and both sides must meet again for a replay.
Scorers for UL: J McGrath (0-05, 0-03f), T Heffernan (1-01); J Forde (1-01);S Bennett (1-00); T Kelly (0-02, 0-01f); K O'Brien, C McInerney, PJ Scully (0-01 each).
Scorers for WIT: P Mahony (0-08, 0-05 frees, 0-1 65); J Hayes (0-3); J Dillon (0-2); T Fox (0-2); M O'Neill (0-2); A Gleeson (0-2, 0-1 sc); H Kehoe, T Hamill (0-1 each).
WATERFORD IT: D Stapleton (Limerick); T Fox (Tipperary), G Teehan (Kilkenny), J Maher (Waterford); T Hamill (Tipperary), M O’Neill (Waterford), O McGrath (Kilkenny); J Langton (Kilkenny), S Roche (Waterford); H Kehoe (Wexford), P Mahony (Waterford), G O’Brien (Waterford); L McGrath (Tipperary), A Gleeson (Waterford), J Dillon (Waterford). Subs: J Hayes (Kilkenny) for L McGrath (49 mins), C O'Brien (Cork) for Gleeson (78).
UL: P Maher (Tipperary); G Ryan (Clare), B Troy (Kilkenny), E Moriarty (Kilkenny); D Quinn (Tipperary), D McInerney (Clare), B Stapleton (Tipperary); D Morrissey (Limerick), T Kelly (Clare); C Martin (Kilkenny), J McGrath (Tipperary), J Forde (Tipperary); K O’Brien (Limerick), C McInerney (Clare), T Heffernan (Tipperary). Subs: S Bennett (Waterford) for J McGrath (49), PJ Scully (Laois) for C McInernery (56), M Carmody (Limerick) for O'Brien (68), A McGuane (Clare) for Martin (75).
