A galaxy of stars.
The Fitzgibbon Cup is back and it’s back with a bang. While club games all over the country fell victim to the heavy overnight and morning rain on Sunday, the three college’s hurling games went ahead.
All of the games were played on 3G surfaces. Gary Kirby’s University of Limerick hosted D.I.T in the Treaty county. Limerick man Kirby is spoilt for choice with an array of distinguished inter-county hurlers at his disposal.
Indeed, while Fitzgibbon hurling is regularly referred to as the next best thing to inter-county at the highest level, it’s fair to say this U.L side would fancy their chances of toppling most county sides. On paper anyway.
They lined out as follows for the 3.15 throw-in on their AstroTurf pitch.
From number 8 in Tony Kelly, a former Hurler of the Year to number 15, their attack is brimming with star quality.
8 – Tony Kelly (Clare) –Â Former Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year. One of the most talented hurlers in the country.
9 – Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick) –Â Has been impressing for the Shannonsiders’ seniors in their route to Munster League glory this pre-season. Widely tipped to make a mark for John Kiely’s men this summer.
10 – Ian Galvin (Clare) –Â Will be hoping to nail down a consistent starting berth for the Banner this year. So much class about this Clonlara man.
11 – Kevin O’Brien (Limerick) –Â Has never really broke through with the Limerick seniors, but the speedy attacker has always performed well for his college.
12 – Tom Morrissey (Limerick) –Â One of the brightest up and coming talents in the country.
13 – John McGrath (Tipperary)Â –Â Needs no introduction.
14 – Jason Forde (Tipperary) –Â A class act who has been on and off the Tipperary team for the last four years.
15 – Colin Crehan (Clare) –Â Lively and clever, he’s impressed throughout the college’s League campaign.
Their backs include Clare seniors David Fitzgerald and Conor Cleary and Limerick’s Ronan Lynch.
One only has to look at their bench to see their savage strength in depth. You’ve five Limerick seniors in Michael Casey, Dan Joy, Pat Ryan, Barry Nash and Sean Finn. Highly rated Kerry senior Jack Goulding is there as is Tipperary duo Barry Heffernan and David Gleeson.
D.I.T also boast a number of high profile hurlers, including former All-Star Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher from Tipperary and Liam Blanchfield from Kilkenny.
Westmeath’s highly rated pair of Tommy ‘Jogger’ Doyle and Derek McNicholas man the centre and full back positions, while the best of the Lake County’s forwards in Niall Mitchell, Niall O’Brien and Robbie Greville are in attack.
It says a lot about the U.L team, that they were defeating this classy outfit by 14 points after 30 minutes of hurling. 2-15 to 0-7 was the half-time score.
They could understandably have been guilty of thinking they had the game already won, and goals from O’Brien and Bonner Maher early in the second half ensured this contest wasn’t over.
U.L kicked on again, though. They eventually won out on a final scoreline of 3-29 to 4-17.
Defending champions Mary Immaculate took on DJ Carey’s four-in-a-row League champions I.T Carlow in Heywood Community school in Laois.
Game over
IT CARLOW: 1-22(25)
OPPOSITION: 0-22(22)— SETU Carlow GAA (@SETUCarlowGAA_) January 21, 2018
Jamie Wall’s side, minus six of last year’s defenders started the brighter, reeling off four unanswered points in the first few minutes.
A strong, tough and dogged Carlow side fought back, however, and eventually edged this ebbing and flowing contest by three, on a scoreline of 1-22 to 0-22.
Carlow have star quality in Waterford’s Colin Dunbar and Kilkenny’s Richie Leahy. They’re teak tough, too and they’ll take stopping.
