Mary I crowned Fitzgibbon Cup champions for first time since 2017

University of Limerick 1-15

Murt Murphy reports from Abbeydorney

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE ended the three-in-a-row ambitions of UL as crucial late scores saw the Limerick college take a first Fitzgibbon Cup since 2017.

Mary I started the better of the two, and aided by long distance strikes by Jason Gillane, they were five points ahead by the fifth minute.

UL were on the board as Adam English ended their drought soon after. Mary I replied in emphatic fashion as Devon Ryan struck a bullet of a strike to the net for a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.

While Mary I started to become a little wasteful and struck five wides in the opening quarter, UL were taking their scores. Gearoid O’Connor and Sean O’Hanlon had vital contributions.

UL reduced arrears to four points as O’Connor struck another free. Mary I would again reply with a goal when a from a long-distance puckout by Gillane landed in the net. The sliotar struck defender Mark Fitzgerald en route to make it 2-7 to 0-6.

As the half neared completion a swashbuckling run by Adam English saw the forward pass across the face of goal for O’Connor to strike to the net, and it was 2-8 to 1-7 at the break.

Gearoid O’Connor and Sean O’Hanlon of UL in action against Vince Harrington and Diarmuid Ryan of MIC Limerick.

UL hit three opening scores on the restart to cut the deficit to a single point. They did start to strike a host of wides though, with Diarmuid Ryan sending Mary I two clear by the 38th minute.

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Points from Colm O’Meara and Ian Byrne levelled the game for the first time in the 41st minute. Frees from O’Connor had UL two points clear by the end of the third quarter.

Ryan pulled Mary I right back with a brace of frees, levelling the contest for just the second time on the 50-minute mark. Shane Meehan delivered the score of the game to give Mary I the lead after 52 minutes. Under serious pressure near the sideline, he dissected the posts, 2-12 to 1-14.

O’Connor and Ryan exchanged scores as the minutes ticked by to full time. Colin O’Brien struck a crucial free in the stoppage period as Mary I held firm to see out a nervy end.

Colin O’Brien lifting the 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup.

Scorers for Mary I: Devon Ryan (1-4, 3f), Jason Gillane (1-3f), Colin O’Brien (0-2, 1f), Diarmuid Ryan (0-2), Cathal Quinn, Ronan Power, Shane Meehan (0-1),

Scorers for UL: Gearoid O’Connor (1-8, 7f), Sean O’Hanlon (0-2), Adam English, Brian O’Grady, Colm Coughlan, Colm O’Meara, Ian Byrne (0-1 each),

Mary Immaculate College

1. Jason Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick)

2. Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare), 3. Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane, Tipperary), 4. PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford)

5. Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), 6. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), 7. Ronan Power (Ballygunner, Waterford)

8. Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), 9. Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary),

10. Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels, Cork – captain), 11. Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), 19. Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)

24. Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway), 14. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), 15. Shane Meehan (Banner, Clare)

Subs:

20. Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin, Clare) for Hennessy (46)
• 22. E Craddock (Holy-cross-Ballycahil, Tipperary) for Harrington (50)
• 13. James Devaney (Borris-Illeigh, Tipperary) for McDonagh (59)

University of Limerick

1. Conor Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock, Limerick)

2. Fergal O’Connor (Effin, Limerick), 3. TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge, Galway), 4. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Clare)

18. Cian Galvin (Clarecastle, Clare), 6. Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), 7. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown, Limerick)

8. Brian O’Grady (Kilteely Dromkeen, Limerick), 9. Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork)

5.Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East), 11. Gearóid O’Connor (Moyne/Templetuohy, Tipperary), 12. Sean O’Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway)

10. Adam English (Doon, Limerick), 14. Mark Rodgers (Scariff, Clare), 15. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown, Limerick).

Subs

24. Ian Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny) for A O’Connor (HT)
• 22. Colm O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare) for Sampson (36)
• 23. John Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare) for Coughlan (57)
• 13. Paddy O’Donovan (Effin, Limerick) for Byrne (59)
• 17. Ross Heyes (Crusheen, Clare) for O’Grady (60+1)

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)