Mary Immaculate College 2-14 University of Limerick 1-15
A strong finish propelled Mary Immaculate College to their third Fitzgibbon Cup crown after victory over local rivals University of Limerick.
Abbeydorney, a proud part of hurling heartland in North Kerry, played host to a thrilling decider and though it failed to reach the quality that may have been expected, there was no shortage of drama before a huge crowd.
Jamie Wall's love-affair with the competition continues and his underdogs were able to score six of the final seven points to wrestle back control against a formidable UL outfit.
It denies the Castletroy University a third crown in the bounce, a feat last achieved by UCC way back in 1998. Indeed, it is a first loss for UL since Mary Immaculate defeated them, after extra-time in a quarter-final pre-covid.
A wasteful Mary I were wondering if they had scuppered their chances when UL took control by the third quarter but they showed their quality, as they had in wins over UCC, Maynooth University, TUS Midwest and SETU Waterford earlier in the competition.
The soft underfoot conditions as well as a strong end-to-end breeze saw the winners take full advantage early on. Jason Gillane, goalkeeper and younger brother to Limerick star Aaron, scored three frees from deep inside his own half.
These added to earlier points from Cathal Quinn and captain Colin O’Brien while Adam English got the holders into it with a fine score on six minutes.
Mary I’s direct play was, at times, a throw back and it led to both their goals. Gillane's long delivery to goalmouth was scrambled home by Devon Ryan on eight minutes before Gillane himself raised a green flag, via a huge deflection, for their second goal on 22 minutes.
Seven down, it took Tipperary senior Gearoid O’Connor to get UL firing and he landed frees and a sideline cut to get them into the contest. His goal, the final score of a frantic half, made it 1-07 to 2-08. Mary I only four ahead, mainly after hitting 13 wides.
Brian Ryan’s charges opened with seven of the first eight points of the half. Colin Coughlan, O’Connor and sub Colm O’Meara all on target as they took complete control.
Wall, and selector Podge Collins, rolled the dice. They brought Limerick senior Shane O’Brien out towards the middle third and began to arrest the slide.
Scores from Devon Ryan (frees) as well as Clare star Shane Meehan put them back in front with five to play. Then, as UL fumbled and stumbled in their attempts to level the clash, captain Colin O’Brien added the insurance score.
He nailed a free, the only one he took all day, from in front of the UL dugout, to put them two ahead. During the additional three minutes, UL failed in their search for a goal that could have won it, instead, the South Circular Road side holding on to add to titles won in 2016 and 2017, having lost in 2013 and 2019.
University of Limerick: C Hanley Clarke (Limerick); F O'Connor (Limerick), TJ Brennan (Galway), D Lohan (Clare); C Galvin (Clare), M Fitzgerald (Waterford), C Coughlan (Limerick) (0-01); B O'Grady (Limerick) (0-01), B O'Sullivan (Cork); K Sampson (Offaly), G O'Connor (Tipperary) (1-08; 0-6f, 0-1 s/l, 0-1 ’65), S O’Hanlon (Galway) (0-02); A English (Limerick) (0-01), M Rodgers (Clare), Aidan O'Connor (Limerick).
Subs: I Bryne (Kilkenny) (0-01) for A O’Connor (h-t); C O’Meara (Clare) (0-01) for Sampson (35); J Conneally (Clare) for Coughlan (56); P O’Donovan (Limerick) for Byrne (59), R Hayes (Clare) for O’Grady (60)
Mary Immaculate College: J Gillane (Limerick) (1-03); A Hogan (Clare), K Ryan (Tipperary), PJ Fanning (Waterford); J Ceasar (Tipperary), Diarmuid Ryan (Clare) (0-02), R Power (Waterford) (0-1); C Hennessy (Tipperary), C Quinn (Tipperary) (0-01); C O’Brien (C) (Cork) (0-02, 1f), Devon Ryan (Tipperary) (1-04, 0-4f), F McDonagh (Galway); V Harrington (Limerick), S O’Brien (Limerick), S Meehan (Clare) (0-01).
Subs: D Cahill (Clare) for Hennessey (46); E Craddock (Tipperary) for Harrington (51); C Marren (Galway) for McDonagh (59).
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
