Limerick hurling stars impress as UL inflict heavy defeat on Maynooth in Fitzgibbon Cup

THE University of Limerick got their defence of their Fitzgibbon Cup title off to a great start with a thumping 6-31 to 1-9 victory over Maynooth University at Maguire's Field, UL on Wednesday evening.

Brian Ryan’s clinical UL charges did most of the damage in the first half where they raced into a 30-point advantage at the short whistle.

Tipperary’s Oisin O’Donoghue was the star of the show on a bitterly cold night, notching 3-4 from play, while county teammate Darragh McCarthy and Ballybrown’s Aidan O’Connor fired in the other goals. Jamie Ormond completed the UL goalscoring with their sixth in the second half.

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

UL hit 2-14 without reply in the opening 21 minutes with O’Donoghue and McCarthy raising green flags early doors.

Maynooth were unable to cope with the slick UL delivery that saw McCarthy, O’Connor and Adam Screeney excel in the inside forward line.

Cathal O’Neill was in impressive form at wing back for UL, while Adam English and Sean Casey also chipped in with solid displays.

Jack O’Neill sent over four points as UL cruised to a 20-point advantage before an Eamon Cunneen free got Maynooth off the mark.

That was as good as it got for Maynooth in the opening half hour as O’Connor finished expertly to the net following a deft McCarthy set up. O’Donoghue added his second just before the short whistle to leave the half time score at 4-19 to 0-1 at the break.

Maynooth strengthened their side at the break, clearly with a crunch game against DCU on their mind next week, and were a much better challenge as a result.

Michael Brennan and Darragh McCormack making the biggest impacts with 0-6 and 1-1 apiece but UL flexed their muscles when needed.

O’Donoghue bagged his hat-trick on 36 minutes, while Fintan Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Stritch and Keith Smyth all provided strong cameos off the bench.

Ormond finished off the goalscoring for UL three minutes from time with a powerful finish after Stritch and O’Connor combined beautifully as the home side romped home.

McCormack’s goal in added time was scant consolation for a Maynooth with UL full value for their 36-point winning margin at full time.

SCORERS: UL: Oisin O’Donoghue 3-4; Darragh McCarthy 1-4 (3f), Aidan O’Connor 1-1, Jack O’Neill and Adam Screeney (2f), 0-4 each, Jamie Ormond 1-0, Jack Crotty, Cathal O’Neill, Diarmuid Stritch and Keith Smyth 0-2 each, Mark Fitzgerald, Adam English (1f), Killian Doyle, Aaron Morgan, Fintan Fitzgerald and Oisin Fitzgerald 0-1 each. Maynooth University: Michael Brennan 0-6 (3f), Darragh McCormack 1-1, Eamon Cunneen (1f) and Dara Maher 0-1 each.

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan, Galway); Ciarmhac Smyth (Midleton, Cork), Sean Casey (Bruff), Aaron Morgan (Kilruane McDonagh’s), Tipperary); Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister), Mark Fitzgerald (Passage, Waterford), Darragh Langan (Monaleen); Adam English (Doon), Killian Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny); Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormac’s, Tipperary), Jack O’Neill (Clooney-Quin, Clare) Patrick Crotty (Scariff, Clare); Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey, Offaly), Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, Tipperary). Subs: Oisin Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s, Cork) for M Fitzgerald (half-time), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls) for English (half-time), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara, Clare) for Doyle (h-t), Keith Smyth (Feakle, Clare) for J O’Neill (38 mins), Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens, Tipperary) for McCarthy (43 mins, blood sub), Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill, Laois) for C O’Neill (44 mins).

Maynooth University: Niall Holland; Michael Ahern, Ros Dermody, Ciaran Phelan; Dara Maher, Jack Hennessy, Colin Hayes; Tommy Maher, Oisin Bateman; Rory Wymberry, Matthew Coogan, Alex Lafferty; Eoghan Cassin, Luke Roche, Eamon Cunneen. Subs: Jeff Neary for Wymberry (29 mins), Michael Brennan for Phelan (29 mins), Darragh McCormack for Coogan (h-t), C Hackett for Hennessy (h-t), Cian Farrell for Roche (48 mins).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).