Mary Immaculate College edge past ATU Galway in opening round of Fitzgibbon Cup

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MARY Immaculate College(MIC) got their Fitzgibbon campaign off to winning start with a narrow 2-14 to 0-22 victory over ATU Galway in Liam Mellows GAA club on Wednesday evening. 

Seven points in a row midway through the second half proved the difference as Mary I just did enough in the end. Young hurler of the year Adam Hogan was introduced on 36 minutes and Clare hurler made a significant difference.

Oisin O'Farrell who has recently been added to the Limerick senior hurling panel got the scoring underway after two minutes. ATU Galway responded and were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after four minutes through a Kevin Cooney sideline cut, a Darragh Donohue placed ball and space then opened up for Oisin Lohan. 

Three minutes later, Mary I were back into the lead. Declan McLaughlin and Shane Meehan combined to level matters and then full back Eoin Lawless drove forward to get his name on the scoresheet. 

ATU Galway free taker Darragh Donohue was proving accurate from the placed ball and Donohue added two more placed balls. Tipperary native Conor Hennessy levelled the contest for the third time on 13 minutes. 

Galway senior hurler Kevin Cooney sent over a spectacular sideline cut which was quickly followed up by efforts from Oisin Lohan and Damien McGlynn and the home side were now 0-8 to 0-5 in front. 

Last year's Fitzgibbon cup winners rallied and went on to hit the next seven points in a row. Jamie Wall's side made advantage of the strong breeze through Shane Meehan, Oisin O'Farrell, goalkeeper Darragh Conway, Cian Scully and Ronan O'Connor. 

Darragh Donohue added two more placed balls right before the break as Mary I led 0-12 to 0-10 at the interval. 

The south circular road college were a dealt a hammer blow in the opening forced when Clare senior hurler Shane Meehan was forced off the pitch with an injury. Oisin O'Farrell took over the free taking duties and he tapped over a free two minutes into the second half. 

The Galway college regrouped and outscored their opponents 1-4 to 0-1 in an eight minute period. Full forward Darren Shaughnessy set up ATU Galway centre half forward Nathan Earner up for the opening goal of the evening on 40 minutes. 

Similar to the first half, Mary I responded excellently. The victors went on to hit the next seven points. Conor Hennessy, Jamie Ryan and Oisin O'Farrell all managed to chip in with 0-2 each, while Limerick senior hurler Shane O'Brien landed a placed ball from range. Mary I looked to be in the asscendency and were now leading 0-21 to 1-14.

ATU came back once again. On 57 minutes Darren Shaughnessy pulled on the sliotar along the ground and Shaughnessy reduced the gap to the minimium. 

Shane O'Brien settled things down after that when the Kilmallock man nailed his second free of the evening. Mary I hung on for a narrow two-point victory. 

Oisin O'Farrell, Conor Hennessy and Declan McLaughlin were some of the players to impress for the Limerick college.

The three-time Fitzgibbon Cup champions will travel to SETU Waterford next Wednesday in round two.

SCORERS: 

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE:  Oisin O'Farrell (0-5, 0-2 frees), Shane Meehan (0-3, 0-1 free), Conor Hennessy 0-3, Shane O'Brien (0-2, 0-2 frees), Declan McLaughlin and Jamie Ryan 0-2 each, Darragh Conway, Ronan O'Connor, Eoin Lawless, Cian Scully, and Diarmuid Cahill 0-1 each

ATU GALWAY: Darragh Donohue (0-8, 0-8 frees), Nathan Earner and Darren Shaughnessy 1-0 each, Kevin Cooney (0-2, 0-2 sideline cuts), Oisin Lohan 0-2, John Cooney and Damien McGlynn 0-1 each

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: Darragh Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry); William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick, Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick); Ronan Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); Ronan O’Connor (Feakle, Clare), Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway), Declan McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), Shane Meehan (Banner, Clare); Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton, Limerick), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick),  Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin, Clare). 

SUBS: Jamie Ryan (O'Loughlin Gaels; Kilkenny for Quilty (20 minutes-24 minutes blood sub), Jamie Ryan (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny) for Meehan (24 minutes, injury), Ben Currivan (Golden-Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for Cahill (half-time), Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare) for Dore (36 minutes), Eoin Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Currivan (46 minutes, injury), Patrick Finn (Bruff, Limerick) for Quilty (60 minutes)

ATU GALWAY: Mark Grealish; Robert Meehan, Rory Burke, Oisin Clune; Dylan Dunne, John Cooney, Conor Cosgrove; Darragh Donohue, Oisin Lohan; Eoin Burke, Kevin Cooney, Jack Linnane; Darren Shaughnessy, Nathan Earner, Damien McGlynn. 

SUBS: Eoin Horan for Kevin Cooney (Half-time, injury), Darren Murphy for Burke (Half-Time), Cian Duggan for McGlynn (57 minutes). 

REFEREE: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)