Limerick hurling star Oisín O’Farrell leads Mary Immaculate College to Fitzgibbon Cup victory over SETU Waterford

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE opened their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign on Wednesday afternoon with a 4-22 to 2-16 victory over SETU Waterford. 

Despite falling seven points behind in the early stages, Mary I steadily found their rhythm and pulled clear to record a comfortable win over SETU Waterford.

Limerick senior hurling panelist Oisin O'Farrell was in inspirational form scoring an impressive 4-3 from play, while his inter-county teammate Shane O'Brien finished up with 0-7.

The 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup winners will look to seal a home quarter-final against ATU Galway on Wednesday January 21. 

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SETU Waterford made a blistering start, racing into an early 1-1 lead inside the opening two minutes, with Thomas Carey finding the net after just 12 seconds. However, Mary Immaculate College responded immediately through the lively Oisín O’Farrell, who carved through the SETU Waterford defence before firing the sliotar to the net to bring the Limerick side straight back into contention.

The visitors continued to capitalise on their fast opening as Tom O’Connell linked up with Luke Codd, who finished his shot clinically past Mary I goalkeeper Darragh Walsh to extend Waterford’s advantage to 2-2 to 1-0 after six minutes.

Limerick senior star Shane O’Brien trimmed the deficit to four points before O’Farrell struck again, his second goal reducing the margin to 2-2 to 2-1. O’Brien followed with another score to level matters, and moments later Clare U20 hurler Sean Boyce picked out O’Farrell in space. The forward made no mistake, completing a remarkable hat-trick inside eleven minutes to hand Mary I the lead for the first time as the hosts began to take control of this contest. 

Further points from O’Brien, Walsh and Boyce saw Jamie Wall’s side move ahead 3-5 to 2-3 by the end of the opening quarter. SETU Waterford responded through Luke Codd and Tom O’Connell to narrow the gap to 3-5 to 2-5 on 16 minutes.

On 24 minutes, O’Brien flicked to Cathal the sliotar out to Cathal Quinn, who in turn found O’Farrell, and the in-form forward blasted home his fourth goal of the afternoon. Scores from O’Farrell and Eoin Craddock before the break helped Mary I establish a commanding 4-9 to 2-6 lead at half-time.

Mary I manager Jamie Wall introduced 2024 Young Hurler of the Year Adam Hogan at the interval, and the early exchanges of the second half were evenly contested. The Limerick outfit edged that period 0-5 to 0-4, with O’Brien and O’Farrell continuing to shine in attack.

Luke Codd and John Groves reduced the deficit to 4-16 to 2-11 on 48 minutes, but Mary I maintained control in the closing stages. Wall emptied his bench, with Cappamore native Sean Whelan making a significant impact by registering 0-4 off the bench.

Waterford’s Luke Codd assumed free-taking duties in the second half and contributed 0-3 from placed balls along with a 65 in the final 12 minutes. However, it proved to be too late as Mary Immaculate College powered home to a comfortable twelve-point victory.

SCORERS: 

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: Oisin O'Farrell (4-3), Shane O'Brien (0-7, 0-4 frees), Sean Whelan (0-4), Sean Boyce (0-2), Eoin Craddock, Joe Caesar, Conor Lawless, Ronan O'Connor, and Adam Daly (0-1 each) and Darragh Walsh (0-1, 0-1 free).

SETU WATERFORD: Luke Codd (1-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Thomas Carey 1-0, Tom O'Connell (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65), John Groves and William Beresford (0-2 each), James Walsh, Christian Connick, Cathal King and Sean O'Rourke (0-1 each). 

Mary Immaculate College: Darragh Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); Conor Lawless (Athenry, Galway); Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); Bobby Drohan (St. Molleran’s, Waterford), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick), Ronan O’Connor (Feakle, Clare); Dara Whelan (Turloughmore. Galway), Donnchadh Campbell (Cappataggle, Galway); Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary); Sean Boyce (O’Callaghan Mills, Clare), Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Oisin O’Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick).

Subs: Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickams, Tipperary), Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare) for Harrington (both half-time); Sean Whelan (Cappamore, Limerick) for Quinn (41); William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick) for Caesar (45); Ben Currivan (Golden-Kilfeacle, Tipperary).

SETU Waterford: Kyle Foley (Naomh Eoin, Carlow); Padraig Jones (Tara Rocks, Wexford), Gary Cullinane (Passage, Waterford); Dean Walsh (Mullinavat, Kilkenny), Conor Keane (De La Salle, Waterford), Gearoid Dunne (Tullaroan, Kilkenny); William Beresford (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty, Waterford), Cathal King (Carrig and Riverstown, Offaly); Luke Codd (Rathnure, Wexford), James Walsh , John Groves (Dunhill, Waterford); Eanna Guilfoyle (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Thomas Carey (Passage, Waterford), Tom O’Connell (Brickey Rangers, Waterford).

Subs: Luke Carey (Kilworth, Cork) for King (blood – 29 – ht); Sean O’Rourke (Ballyduff lower, Waterford) for T Carey (38); Luke Carey (Kilworth, Cork) for Lalor (41); Christian Connick (St. Patrick’s Ballyragget, Kilkenny) for Walsh (45); Killian Carey (Young Irelands, Kilkenny) for Walsh (50).

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).