Battling TÚS Mid West secure draw with UG but miss out on Fitzgibbon Cup knock-out stages

DESPITE playing out a battling draw, 2-15 to 0-21, against a fancied University of Galway (UG) outfit, TÚS Midwest bowed out of the Fitzgibbon Cup on home soil on Wednesday evening.

In this group of three, a draw was not enough for the Limerick side, who had lost to UCD last week in their competition opener, to progress to the quarter-finals.

It took late scores from Sam O’Farrell and Darragh Neary to tie the game for UG, who progress to the last eight, and will have a home tie against SETU Waterford next week.

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For TUS Midwest, they featured Kildimo Pallaskenry’s Davy Fitzgerald in their defence, in a side that also featured Clare, Tipperary, Laois and Cork involvement. He was the only Limerick man to feature on a cold evening in Moylish.

University of Galway had rising Tipperary talent, Sam O’Farrell as their top scorer while Gavin Lee and Dan Bourke were among the other stand out names.

There was little to separate the sides who were level eight times during the contest, though twice the Galway University looked like pulling clear, before twice TUS goaled and kept themselves in the fight.

Needing a victory of at least ten points to qualify, TUS must be credited for their approach, especially after shipping five goals in Dublin last time out.

By half-time, Paddy McCormacks’ kicked goal helped the hosts to a 1-9 to 0-11 lead, with Fred Hegarty near-flawless from frees.

However, a five point spurt at the start of the second stanza gave Galway a firm foundation to bag the result they needed, though once more Jimmy Browne’s men fought back. Trailing 0-18 to 1-11, they scored 1-4 to just a point, to lead with time running out.

The goal, came when they eventually found a way beyond Liam Hoare. The Offaly goalkeeper had pulled off a string of saves earlier on, but this time, after an initial save, was powerless to stop Tipperary panellist Seanie Keneally from raising a green flag.

Now two up and hunting more scores, TUS failed to register again. The final brace of points came from O’Farrell, who brought his tally to nine with another free, and then Neary.

The wing-forward blasted over from 50 meters to give Frank Lohan’s outfit a morale boosting result ahead of their last eight tie.

SCORERS: TUS Midwest: Fred Hegarty 0-10 (0-8 frees); Paddy McCormack 1-3; Seanie Kenneally 1-1; Niall O’Farrell 0-1. UG: Sam O’Farrell 0-9 (0-8 frees); Darragh Neary, Tiarnan Leen, Liam Hoare (both frees), Dan Bourke 0-2 each; Greg Thomas, Gavin Lee, Ruben Davitt, Fiachra O Brioin 0-1 each.

TUS Midwest: Adam Enright (Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare); Eoghan Cuddy (Camross, Laois), Stephen Walsh (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary), Davy Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Limerick); Daragh Keogh (Clooney-Quin, Clare), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary), Andy Holohan (Moneygall, Tipperary); Adam Mongovan (St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield, Clare), Callum Hasset (Clooney-Quin, Clare); Fred Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare), Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperay), Niall O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare); Paddy McCormack (Borrisoleigh, Tipperary), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary), Seanie Kenneally (Moneygall, Tipperary). Subs: Denis Cashman (Bride Rovers, Cork) for Holohan (19); Sam Rowan (Mullinahone, Tipperary) for Hasset (40); Conor Peril (Éire Óg, Clare) for O’Farrell (54); Colin Byrne (St Lazerians Abbeyleix, Laois) for Mongovan (54).

UG (Galway unless stated): Liam Hoare (Carrig/Riverstown, Offaly); Joshua Ryan (Clarinbridge), Ben O’Donovan (Gort), Mark Hardiman (Athenry), Fiachra O’Brioin (Sixmilebridge, Clare), Daniel Comar (Kilnadeema – Leitrim); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary), Ian McGlynn (Kilconieron); Darragh Neary (Castlegar), Tiarnan Leen (Craughwell), Liam Leen (Clarinbridge); Dan Bourke (Ballinamere, Offaly), Greg Thomas (Castlegar), Ruben Davitt (Oranmore-Maree). Subs: Diarmuid Davouren (Moycullen) for Bourke (48); Patrick Burke (Oranmore Maree) for D Comar (48); Colm Cunningham (Moycullen for L Leen (54); Ter Guinan (Kilcormac/Killoughey, Offaly) for T Leen (58).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)