The University of Limerick Senior Hurling team qualified for the knockout stages of the Higher Education League with a hard fought win over UCG. University of Limerick, who have been in outstanding form so far this season faced their toughest game yet, against a highly motivated Galway outfit. The game was but two minutes old when two off the ball incidents occurred. This certainly laid down the gauntlet for both teams who conjured up a championship type game. UCG had three points on the scoreboard, coming from Daragh Coen (2), and John Looney (1), before Limerick’s John Foley opened UL’s account, with a fine taken point from all of ninety yards. David Forde and Jimmy Coogan added further points for UL before the Gantley brothers exchanged points for either side, Rory for UL and Finbarr with a fine effort for UCG. UL finished a highly entertaining and highly charged first half with further points from Brendan Coleman, Jimmy Coogan and Fergal Healy. This left the half time score at UL 0-7, UCG 0-4. On the resumption UCG had points from Lorcan Hasset and Daragh Coen. They took control of matters when Looney crashed a ball to the back of the UL net following a fine run by Hasset. UL levelled matters with points from Coleman and Wexford’s Rory McCarthy. Further points were added by Rory Gantley and Coleman for UL with Coen and Terence Fahy replying for the Galway side. This left matters at UCG 1-8, UL 0-11 entering the final quarter. Sean Stack, the UL coach made a shrewd tactical move by playing Rory Gantley in the half-forward line alongside McCarthy, Coleman and Forde. These outstanding players along with a dominant Marty Phelan at centre back ensured a plentiful supply of ball for the two man full-forward line of Coogan and Healy. In the space of ten minutes Healy added five points from play with Forde adding on a further two. It could have beeen more but for the outstanding play of UCG’s full back, Clareman John Kenirons who gave Coogan a difficult afternoon. Galway had the final say with a point from Francis O’Connor, leaving the final score at UL 0-18, UCG 1-9. This was a very hard fought and physical game. There were however very few "dirty" strokes. The players took their knocks and got on with the game. Damian Garrihy had an outstanding game in goals for UL. Michael Healy and Marty Phelan were solid at the centre of defence. The forward play of McCarthy, Coleman, Forde, Healy and Gantley was a source of great entertainment for the large attendance. For UCG John Kenirons and Terence Fahy were outstanding in defence. Lorcan Hasset had a fine game at midfield. Up front O’Connor, Looney and Coen caused problems for the winners. It is worth noting that the superior fitness of UL along with the shrewd positional changes were the telling factor in their dominance in the closing stages. It is possible that these two sides could meet in the quarter final stage of the Fitzgibbon campaign. UL open their campaign at home to Mary Immaculate Training College, Limerick while UCG are away to the Garda Training College, Templemore.

UL Team: Damian Garrihy(Clare), Eoin O’Sullivan (Cork), Michael Healy (Galway), Tom Hickey (Kilkenny), Enda Flannery(Clare), Marty Phelan (Kilkenny), Eoin Sheedy(Clare), John Cormican (Limerick), John Foley (Limerick)(0-1), Rory McCarthy (Wexford)(0-1), Brendan Coleman (Cork)(0-3), David Forde(Clare)(0-3), Fergal Healy (Galway)(0-6), Jimmy Coogan (Kilkenny)(0-2), Rory Gantley (Galway)(0-2). Subs: Donal Murphy (Cork) for Cormican (inj.).

Karl Quinn. PRO University of Limeick Hurling Club.