There was more heartbreak for DCU last Tuesday as they were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat to a Seamus Callanan inspired LIT. The loss brings the curtain down on another disappointing year for the hurlers in the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Full forward Padraig Breheny was disappointed following the game: “We went into the match with a bit of confidence from the UCD game because we played well so we were going into the game in good spirits. We did think that we could really put it up to these lads. To be honest, they had three or four very key players back. Their style of play was using short passing and we just couldn’t get to grips with it early enough.”
Breheny’s own performance was quite productive as he hit four points from play in what was one of the plus points in the game for DCU.
Despite what the scoreline suggests, DCU were not just blown away. “They didn’t really dictate the game. I just don’t think it was a really one-sided game at all. At half-time it was 1-11 to 0-5 and we were playing into the scoring goals for the second half, so we did think we could launch a bit of a comeback but it just never happened. It wasn’t embarrassing but we just kind of lost our way as the match went on and they got a good few scores towards the end.”
Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan shot the lights out, scoring 1-9 in a barnstorming performance and Breheny feels that the absence of players like this is what is hurting DCU.
“Seamus Callanan is a top player to come into any team, it probably gives players around him a bit of confidence as well. Other colleges probably have a better pick of inter-county players than we do but we are going forward and we would hope for the best in the future.”
“We were very happy the way we played against UCD. It really gave pride back to DCU hurling. They had a lot of county players on their team, albeit they were missing three Kilkenny lads but it was a performance we were delighted with.”
The full forward still looks forward to next year with great optimism as he sees good potential coming through.
“I think next year we can hopefully do a bit better if we get an easier draw and get a few wins on board at the start of the year. Next year there will be a good few freshers added to the Fitzgibbon panel, so they should help to improve the quality of the team. Maybe in the next three or four years we can qualify for the Fitzgibbon weekend. But that’s us gone for this year so we’ll have to start looking at what we can do next year.”
DCU avoided a relegation match because of a victory they achieved over St Patrick’s College earlier in the year.
Patrick Ward
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