College GAA lives on.
The Fitzgibbon Cup isn’t budging from Limerick for a fourth successive year. After two years across the city tucked away in a cabinet in Mary I, the trophy for the highest level of college’s hurling has returned to UL.
It was an enthralling year of Fitzgibbon Cup action. Beaten finalists DCU were the scéal of the comórtas. Their opening round victory over Davy Fitz’s LIT perhaps the moment of the entire tournament.
Just three years on from their first ever Fitzgibbon win, the biggest family in Glasnevin in DCU Dóchas Éireann made it all the way to the decider.
UL’s firepower burned them there, but they gave a good account of themselves and there’s loads more to come.
It’s a team game, but individuals make up a team and here are the best of them over the last mighty month.
1. Eoghan Cahill (Mary I, Limerick)
Never put a foot wrong for Jamie Wall’s men. Solid under the dropping ball, well able to pull off saves. One for the future, but also for the present as he is showing with the Offaly seniors. An excellent penalty taker, too.
2. Darren Mullen (DCU, Kilkenny)
Another versatile sort, the Ballyhale Shamrocks club man must have played in every position on the park during DCU’s journey. Looks most at home in the corner where he sticks like glue.
3. Conor Cleary (UL, Clare)
It’s a true measure of the UL number three’s character that he played the full 70 minutes for Clare the day after winning the Fitzgibbon Cup with his college.
That took steel. That’s what he showed.
Congrats to Clare's Tony Kelly, David Fitzgerald, Aidan McGuane, Ian Galvin, Conor Cleary and Colin Crehan who were part of the UL Fitzgibbon Cup winning team today. pic.twitter.com/c2S9fq7dBW
— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) February 24, 2018
4. James Doyle (IT Carlow, Carlow)
A forward for his county, Carlow’s most gifted hurler lined out in defence for his college. So versatile, so skillful. Played a key role in their league win. Was unlucky to lose out to UL in the semi-finals.
5. Conor Delaney (DCU, Kilkenny)
The Kilkenny senior gave ‘Bonner’ Maher a tough time of it in his side’s convincing semi-final victory over DIT. Tough as nails and clever on the ball. Brian Cody is taking notice.
6. Derek McNicholas (DIT, Westmeath)
One of the few DIT men who showed up in their last four rollicking at the hands of DCU. The stocky centre back has quads like tree trunks. He’s well able to move them though, and got forward to good affect on numerous occasions.
A tight, teak tough man-marker too. He showed well throughout this campaign.
7. David Fitzgerald (UL, Clare)
The player of the competition.3
The tall, rangy and physical number 7 seemed to be operating on a different level to his opponents and many of his teammates alike for many of UL’s games.
He was so dominant in his territory. Really kicked on here and Clare eyes will be licking their lips at his threatening, gliding forward busts and dominant defensive play.
The Inagh-Kilnamona hound came out of tussles after scuffle, schemozzle after ruck, aerial battle after break with the ball under his control. When it was in his hand, it was in UL’s control.
8. Luke Meade (Mary I, Cork)
Was Mary I’s best player in this campaign. Was the best player on the pitch in quarters’ loss to DCU. A very similar player to O’Connor beside him – left handed, fast, diminutive, wristy and clever.
9. Joe O’Connor (DCU, Wexford)
DCU lost their St Martin’s man to a hamstring injury on the stroke of half-time in Mallow. That would prove a decisive blow for them.
O’Connor’s speed, both of hands and feet, was causing plenty of problems for Gary Kirby’s side in the early stages. The Wexford senior panellist rarely gives away possession and his first touch is killer.
10. DJ Foran (UCD, Waterford)
A disappointing campaign for JJ Doyle’s men, exiting at the quarter final, but Foran stood tall in every game.
A strong, direct runner, he didn’t deserve to lose that last eight clash to DIT, after racking up 0-13.
11. John Donnelly (DCU, Kilkenny)
The Thomastown club man has two of the desirable wrists in hurling. Rolex, silky, loose and wristy. He may lack a yard of pace, but he more than makes up for it with his sharp intuition and instinct.
Hurled well for Eoin Roche and Nick Weir’s men every step of the way. Proved his ability under the dropping ball on countless occasions during a standout semi-final performance.
Acquitted himself well in tough circumstances in the Mallow showpiece, too.
12. Donal Burke (DCU, Dublin)
Burke enjoyed a sensational campaign for the Glasnevin College. Marked himself as one of the most accurate shooters in the competition, from both open play and placed balls.
Wristy as they come, his reintroduction to the Dublin set-up is so, so timely.
13. Cathal Dunbar (IT Carlow)
Your textbook corner forward. Swift, nifty and with a low centre of gravity. Was DJ Carey’s main threat up top. He was on song in their victory over LIT, causing Davy Fitz’s men untold problems.
14. Jason Forde (UL, Tipperary)
6-25 in four games. Stop that.
15. John McGrath (UL, Tipperary)
The Loughmore-Castleiney club man barely ever has a bad game. That’s because he’s such a natural. The UL captain makes the game look dangerously easy.
Made it look dangerously hard for any defenders he came up against. Didn’t shoot the lights out in the final but so often he played the defence-splitting pass.
