Fitzgibbon Cup Final UL vs WIT Match Report

By Barry Duggan

UL 2-14

WIT 2-11

After a long gap of 8 years, the Fitzgibbon cup is back on Shannonside after the University of Limerick (UL) splendidly saw off the challenge of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). Played in a tremendous fashion and spirit, UL had to dig deep into their resources to claim the blue riband of colleges hurling. It was not until deep into injury-time, when UL substitute Mick O’ Hara found the back of the net was the outcome clear. This game was a cracker from start to finish and enthralled the large crowd in Castlegar, Galway, from start to finish.

Kilkenny star, Henry Shefflin opened Waterford’s account after 2 minutes with a fine point from an acute angle. UL quickly replied and a Conor Fitzgerald pointed free, followed by a fine point from David Donohue saw the Limerick side lead. Damien Murray found the target twice from frees as WIT regained the lead. However, the classy Limerick forwards soon turned on the style. John Barron, Richie Murray, David Forde and a Fitzgerald free all in the space of 3 minutes saw UL race into a 3 point lead before the game’s first goal arrived.

After an excellent pass from Shefflin, Damien Murray found the back of the net to the delight of the Waterford students after 15 minutes. The Limerick side refused to panic and Fitzgerald (UL) continued to show his composure with 2 further pointed frees. Alan Geoghan replied with a minor for WIT before Niall Moran set up Adare’s Donnacha Sheehan for a crashing drive to the back of the net to put the Limerick students 4 points ahead. Fergus Flynn replied with a point for WIT to leave the half time score 1-8 to 1-5 in UL’s favour.

WIT came out with all guns blazing upon the resumption and efforts from Murray and Flynn saw the bare minimum between the teams. Fitzgerald continued to be the bane of WIT and each pointed free he drove over the bar pierced Waterford’s resolve greatly. However in typical fashion, WIT continued to fight back and were rewarded when substitute Stephen Browne set up Murray for his second goal of the game mid way through the second half. A minute later a great point from Shefflin drew the sides level for the 5^th time.

The game was in the melting pot and in the heat of the battle, man of the match, Richie Murray took the game by the scruff of the neck. Two inspirational long range points from the Galway man saw UL lead by 2 points with 10 minutes remaining. Jacob (WIT) and Fitzgerald (UL) exchanged points as the tension grew. With 2 minutes remaining Murray put a solitary score between the teams with a pointed free. Then Mick O’Hara struck to the back of the net after a scramble in the box to finish the challenge of WIT off. Brian Geary, Brian Mahony and Niall Moran were all in splendid form among an excellent team display from the Limerick students under the guidance of Ollie Moran.

  UL: T Houlihan, B Mahony, J Devane, D Gleeson, C Forde, B Geary, C Earley, R Murray (0-3), J Barron (0-1), C Fitzgerald (0-7 6f), N Moran, E Fitzgerald, D Donohue (0-1), D Forde (0-2), D Sheehan (1-0). Subs used: P O’Reilly, M O’Hara(1-0)

WIT: D Young, D Joyce, P Curran, J.J Delaney, M Fitzgerald (0-1), J Brady, J O’Neill, A Geoghegan (0-1), G Coleman, M Jacob (0-1), F Flynn (0-2), H Shefflin (0-2), B Dowling, S O’ hAlpin, D Murray(2-4). Subs used: S Browne, N Murphy.