By Cóilín Duffy

DIT 2-14
Cork IT 2-8

Cork IT failed in their quest to ensure the Ulster Bank Freshers Football Championship was won by a non-Dublin college for the first time, as they succumbed to a six-point defeat to DIT at the Garda College in Templemore yesterday.

First half goals from Meath's Andrew Tormey and Westmeath's Ciaran Martin were the catalyst for victory as DIT captured their second title in three years.

Cork's new Senior star Ciaran Sheehan was a vital presence for CIT, but this was certainly a team effort, with full-back Mark Griffin impressing throughout.

This game began at blistering pace, with DIT having two points on the board in as many minutes thanks to a brace of Bernard Allen points.

The Offaly native, who is a first cousin of Ciaran McManus; certainly caused havoc throughout and finished with five points from play.

CIT battled back thanks to scores from John Dineen and Damien Kelly to ensure the sides were dead-locked at 0-2 apiece in the sixth minute.

However this was the only occasion for the teams to be level over the 60 minutes, as DIT hit a purple patch.

Billy O'Loughlin's charges led by 2-5 to 0-2 after 19 minutes, but a Simon O'Brien goal for CIT cut the gap to six points at the break.

DIT's first goal arrived in the tenth minute, when Allen sent a long ball in and had his delivery palmed to the net by the advancing Andrew Tormey.

Centre-half-back Ciaran Martin added a second goal ten minutes later, following a bursting run; but CIT responded brilliantly.

From the resulting kickout, the ball was worked upfield; with Ciaran Sheehan's initial shot saved, before Carrigaline's Simon O'Brien netted a vital goal.

The sides were well matched in the closing stages of the half, scoring two points each; with DIT leading by 2-7 to 1-4 at the break.

CIT done their utmost to keep the Lee-side outfit in contention, but with Dublin's Ciaran Reddin giving a man of the match performance, CIT struggled in the mid-field sector.

Graham Guilfoyle and Damien Kelly traded scores early in the second half, but CIT weren't to score for another 18 minutes, as DIT tagged on five points without reply.

CIT's wides tally began to mount heavily, while there was also a 49th minute goal chance from substitute Pa Joy which looked to have bounced off the inside post and back into play - which many believed was a legitmate goal.

CIT eventually got a second goal, when in the 62nd minute a speculative goal from Donal Og Hodnett was earned after a long range kick.

But this was merely consolation for CIT, as Mayo's Aidan O'Shea accepted the cup from CA PRO Cóilín Duffy after the game.

DIT (Dublin unless stated): P Collum (Longford); S Swords, P McLoughlin (Wicklow), S McGivney (Meath); C Walsh (Monaghan), C Martin (Westmeath) (1-0), D Nelson; C Reddin (0-2, 1f), C Walsh; P McKeever (Meath), A O'Shea (Mayo), G Guilfoyle (Offaly) (0-2); B Allen (Offaly) (0-5), I Coffey (Westmeath) (0-1, 1f), A Tormey (Meath) (1-4, 1f). Subs: J Cafferty (Mayo) for Guilfoyle (39); M Kenny (Wicklow) for McKeever (51); C Devereux (Meath) for Tormey (55); J Mahon (Laois) for Swords (59; B Hamilton (Louth) for McGivney (60)

CIT (Cork unless stated): A O'Donoghue; D Moynihan (Kerry), M Griffin (Kerry), P O'Connor (Kerry); W O'Mahony (0-1), P Minihane, C Kilcoyne; S Kelleher, C Brosnan; C Sheehan (0-3, 2f, 1 sl), D Kelly (Kerry) (0-2), S O'Brien (1-1); A Sweeney (Kerry), D Og Hodnett (1-0), J Dineen (0-1). Subs: D Collins for Sweeney (20); P Joy (Kerry) for Kilcoyne (39); C Cotter for O'Mahony (54);

Ref - Derek O'Mahony (Tipperary) Tweet

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