Limerick hurling stars return to college action in Fitzgibbon Cup

THREE Limerick colleges are in action this week in the Fitzgibbon Cup. In a repeat of last year’s final, reigning champions University of Limerick travel to Dublin to take on DCU on Wednesday evening at 8pm, while Mary Immaculate College head to Galway to face ATU Galway at 7:45pm.

Victories for both UL and Mary Immaculate would secure home quarter-final ties for the Limerick sides.

UL made a strong start to their campaign, running out comfortable 6-31 to 1-9 winners over Maynooth University in the opening round. Limerick senior hurler Aidan O’Connor impressed in attack, finishing with 1-1 for the Ballybrown clubman. Cathal O’Neill also stood out at wing-back for the Castletroy-based college, with Adam English, Fintan Fitzgerald, Darragh Langan, and Sean Casey contributing solid performances.

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Mary Immaculate College got their campaign off to a winning start with a 4-22 to 2-16 victory over SETU Waterford. Limerick senior panelist Oisin O’Farrell was inspirational, scoring an eye-catching 4-3 from play, while teammate Shane O’Brien added 0-7.

After an opening round defeat to UCD, TUS Midwest will look to get their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign back on track when they host University of Galway on Thursday evening at 7:30pm in Moylish. Limerick senior hurlers Dara Ferland and Fionn O’Brien were part of the UCC side that fell to MTU Cork in round one. The Cork college take on the Garda College on Thursday evening in Templemore.

Fitzgibbon Cup 

University of Limerick: Adam English (Doon), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul's), Sean Casey (Bruff), Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Conor Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock), JJ Carey (Na Piarsaigh) and Tadgh Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca). 

Mary Immaculate College: Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Oisin O'Farrell (ABK Desmonds), Patrick Finn (Bruff), William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca), Sean Whelan (Cappamore), Jack Daly (Croom), Michael Gavin (Ballybrown), Killian Aherne (Blackrock), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh) and Wayne Kearns (Na Piarsaigh). 

TUS Midwest: David Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Euan Sheridan (Murroe-Boher), Jim Beary (Na Piarsaigh) and and Sean Murnane (Bruff). 

University College Cork: Fionn O'Brien (Bruree), Dara Ferland (Monaleen) and Daniel Scully (Dromin-Athlacca). 

Garda College: Liam Dunne (Adare), Shane Fitzgibbon (Dromin-Athlacca) and Michael Moore (Cappamore). 

MTU Cork: Ruairi O'Connor (Feenagh-Kilmeedy). 

UCD: James Conheady (Crecora-Manister).