Sharp-shooting their way into the final.
A devastating UL forward line swept up on Tuesday night as Gary Kirby’s side powered into the Fitzgibbon Cup final at the expense of IT Carlow.
The Limerick side won 4-16 to 0-19 and were good value for their nine-point winning margin, setting up a mouthwatering final with DCU, who overcame DIT at Parnell Park.
Tipperary duo Jason Forde and John McGrath shot 3-9 between them during a virtuoso display, to which DJ Carey’s ultimately had no answer.
UL’s immense power ultimately separated the sides but the Carlow students were by no means pushovers. UL went into the half-time break 1-12 to 0-10 up but only after Colin Dunford, Mark Russell and Cathal Dunbar had scored three quickfire points to edge IT Carlow ahead 0-7 to -0-6.
Super performance from these lads! Now face @DCUGAACLUB in the final in Mallow on the 24th February! #ULAbú pic.twitter.com/EOPUSkW7s0
— UL Wolves GAA Club (@ul_gaa) February 13, 2018
But UL rallied impressively, not to be deterred by their opponents’ graft and steely determination. As the end of an exciting first-half loomed, Forde scored UL’s first goal after fine work by McGrath, who skipped through the Carlow defence before teeing up his Tipp teammate.
UL’s strength in depth showed when Kirby introduced Ronan Lynch for the injured David Fitzgerald.
The named line outs for tonight's Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final v @ITCarlowGAA @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/RclVybXIF9
— UL Wolves GAA Club (@ul_gaa) February 13, 2018
Although Carlow battled admirably in the third quarter to reduce the deficit to two points, two goals in as many minutes from McGrath and Pat Ryan made it 3-14 to 0-15 to put paid to IT’s chances.
Forde scored a penalty late on to put some gloss on the scoreline for UL as they set up a final date with DCU.
Watch Pat Ryan’s goal for UL below, courtesy of Jerome Quinn.
