Fitzgibbon Cup UL vs Garda College Match Report [02-02-2002]

By Barry Duggan

University of Limerick 1-9                                       Garda College 0-7

‘An unbelievable feeling’ was the description Ollie Moran gave to University of Limerick’s victory over the Garda College in the first round of the Fitzgibbon Cup on Saturday. This was the first time in recent years UL have tasted victory over one of the big names in this prestigious hurling competition. Their manager was ecstatic after the match.

“It was a dogfight out there at times, but thankfully we pulled through in the end. Hopefully the experience gained today will stand to us in later rounds. NUI Galway await us in the quarter-finals, but hopefully we will have the beating of them” said Moran.

Indeed it was a dogfight at the University of Limerick, as both sides fought valiantly against the unsavoury conditions. Winter hurling is difficult at the best of times, but the turn of Spring offered little respite.

John Barron gave UL the lead with a fine point after 30 seconds. The Guards responded immediately and Owen Beehan levelled the scores, before Brian Begley gave the recruits from Templemore the lead with a great individual point after 5 minutes. After a fine catch and turn, Conor Fitzgerald put the sides back on a level pegging after 15 minutes.

Tempers began to flare and the tension reached boiling point as a scuffle broke out in the middle of the field. Referee Johnny MacDonnell booked Dermot Gleeson and Colm Forde (UL) and Darren Owens (Guards) before play resumed. UL seized the initiative before the break and efforts from Niall Moran and two from Fitzgerald saw the students lead by 3 points at half time.

The Guards came out with a newfound resolve at the resumption. Points from Brian Cuningham and Earl Touhy put the bare minimum between the teams. Fitzgerald (UL) and Cunningham (Guards) exchanged scores before the games only goal arrived. A high ball in from David Forde found Eoin Fitzgerald who in turn set up John Barron for a crashing drive to the back of the net to the delight of the Limerick students. UL were now firmly in the lead.

Conor Fitzgerald should have put the Shannonsiders out of reach after 57 minutes, but missed a gilt edged opportunity in front of goal after Willie Burke saved Forde’s goal bound shot. The Guards tried in vain to rally a comeback, but minors from Beehan and Cunningham were cancelled out by points from Niall Moran and David Donoghue (2).

David Kennedy and Brain Cunningham performed admirably for the Guards, but commanding performances from Brian Mahony, Brian Geary and Eoin Fitzgerald secured the students passage to the last eight of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

UL: T Houlihan, B Mahony, J Devane, D Gleeson, C Forde, B Geary, C Forde, R Murray, J Barron (1-1), C Fitzgerald (0-4), N Moran (0-2), E Fitzgerald, D Sheehan, D Forde, D Donoghue (0-2). Subs used: J Gantley, D Greene.

Garda College: W Burke, J O’Donovan, A Fitzgerald, J Quirke, A Murphy, D Kennedy, E O’Donoghue, S Kennedy, K Mulryan, D Owens, M Murray, B Cunningham(0-3), L O’Connor, B Begley (0-1), O Beehan (0-2). Subs used: E Tuohy(0-1), C Flanagan, B Murphy, M Greaney.