WIT 0-17
CIT 0-12

The Underdogs arose as Waterford IT defied all the pre-competition odds to take their first Fitzgibbon Cup title since 2008, and their ninth in total at Queens University tonight.

Colm Bonnar's charges had come back from a 10-point deficit in the semi-final to secure extra-time, and deliver an extra-time win over LIT, but today they failed to trail this game, with Man of the Match Jake Dillon among their heroes.

CIT were forced to make one change from their starting line-up in the semi-final, with injury forcing the withdrawal of Michael O'Sullivan, while the other change was also at midfield, with David Corbett withdrawn.

Cork duo William Murphy and Jamie Coughlan were called up for this evening's final, and both gave a good innings, with CIT contesting their second final in three years.

Having dethroned three-in-a-row title seekers UCC in yesterday's semi-final, CIT were keen to begin strongly, but it was WIT who were most eager from the throw-in.

WIT quickly raced 0-4 to 0-0 ahead, with Pauric Mahony, Dillon and team captain Eoin Murphy firing early scores.

CIT eventually opened their account in the 12th minute, with John O'Dwyer firing the first of his five pointed frees in this game.

Cathal Kenny and Conor Hammersley traded points, and although the score stood at 0-5 to 0-3 in WIT's favour after 16 minutes, WIT kicked on.

Mahony handed WIT a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after 21 minutes, but CIT were plucky with Youghal's Bill Cooper and a brace of O'Dwyer points, the perfect response from the Lee-side outfit before the break.

WIT never trailed this game, and pushed 0-10 to 0-7 ahead by half-time, with Dillon, Mahony and Harry Kehoe impressive.

O'Dwyer tried hard to keep CIT in contention, firing three first-half points from frees.

Scores from Hammersley and Mark Ellis brought CIT back into contention, with an Ellis score levelling the tie at 0-10 apiece in the 38th minute.

However, a Mahony free edged WIT into a lead they wouldn't relinquish, with scores from Johnny Hayes, Kehoe and Dillon late on confirming a five-point win.

WATERFORD IT: S O'Keefe; G Teehan, P Gahan, J Maher; T Hamill, J O'Dwyer, J Langton; S Roche, C Kenny (0-3); H Kehoe (0-3), P Mahony (0-4, 4f), E Murphy (0-1); L McGrath (0-1), J Dillon (0-4), G O'Brien. Subs: J Hayes (0-1) for McGrath (46); A Kenny for O'Dwyer (51); M Power for Kenny (60).

CORK IT: S Nylan; S Murphy, A Dennehy, T Lawrence; E Keane, M Ellis (0-1), P Butler; W Murphy, J Coughlan; J O'Dwyer (0-5, 5f), J Cronin (0-2), C Hammersley (0-2); B Cooper (0-2), D Dooley, D Drake. Subs: K O'Connor for Coughlan (23); K Hallissey for Drake (38); D Corbett for Murphy (45); D Brosnan for Corbett (55); S Murray for Cooper (57).

REFEREE: James McGrath (Westmeath)

Video by Jerome Quinn Media for the HE GAA . Tweet

Most Read Stories