Limerick star Shane O’Brien hits 0-8 as Mary Immaculate College reach Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final with victory over UCD

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE booked their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals with a commanding 3-22 to 0-13 quarter-final victory over University College Dublin on Wednesday afternoon.

Jamie Wall’s side delivered arguably their most complete performance of the campaign, with clinical finishing in front of goal proving decisive. Limerick senior hurlers Oisín O’Farrell and Shane O’Brien were central to the win, combining for an impressive 2-11. Limerick's Jimmy Quilty and Cian Scully produced solid displays in the half back line for the victors. 

Injuries kept Adam Hogan, Vince Harrington, and Joe Caesar out of the game for Mary I. Mary Immaculate College will now be aiming to reach their first Fitzgibbon final for the first time since 2024.

Mary I recorded victories over SETU Waterford and ATU Galway, while UCD overcame TUS Midwest but suffered defeat to the University of Galway during the group stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

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Jamie Wall's side got off to a lively start, with early points from Eoin Craddock and Shane O’Brien settling them into the game. On seven minutes, Shane Walsh, brother of former Kilkenny star Tommy Walsh, burst through the UCD defence before coolly finishing to the net. A point from play by Adam Daly followed soon after to leave the hosts 1-3 to 0-1 ahead.

O’Brien and O’Farrell continued to cause serious problems up front and on 18 minutes Mary I had stretched their advantage to 1-9 to 0-3, with UCD’s scores coming through Conal O’Riain and David Williams. The Dublin side rallied late in the half, as Williams, Peter McDonald and Luke Connellan reduced the deficit to 1-11 to 0-8. However, O’Brien struck his seventh point of the half to ensure Mary I led by seven at the break.

The Limerick college began the second half in similar fashion, with points from O’Farrell and Cappamore native Sean Whelan, before Daire Guerin responded for UCD and McDonald narrowed the margin to 1-15 to 0-10 after 38 minutes.

Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished moments later when O’Farrell struck for Mary I’s second goal, and he added his second major just before the third-quarter mark to put the result beyond doubt at 3-16 to 0-11.

With the outcome sealed, Wall was able to empty his bench, withdrawing O’Brien and O'Farrell, while Shane Walsh assumed free-taking duties and converted four placed balls. Adam Daly added two further points from play as Mary I comfortably closed out the contest. Dara Purcell and Simon Roche registered late scores for UCD as the south circular road college sealed their place into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup. 

University of Limerick face UCC, University of Galway take on SETU Waterford and MTU Cork meet DCU in the three remaing Fitzgibbon quarter finals on Wednesday evening. 

Scorers:

Mary Immaculate College: Oisin O’Farrell 2-3; Shane O’Brien (0-8, 0-6 frees and 0-1 65); Shane Walsh (1-5, 0-4 frees); Adam Daly 0-3; Eoin Craddock, Ronan O’Connor and Sean Whelan 0-1 each.

UCD: David Williams (0-3, 0-2 frees); Luke Connellan, Conal Ó Riain, Peter McDonald 0-2 each; Dara Purcell, David Lee, Simon Roche and Daire Guerin 0-1 each.

Mary Immaculate College: Darragh Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); Conor Lawless (Athenry, Galway); Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway), Bobby Drohan (St. Molleran’s, Waterford); Donnchadh Campbell (Cappataggle, Galway) Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Dara Whelan (Turloughmore. Galway), Ronan O'Connor (Feakle, Clare); Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Shane Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny) , Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary); Sean Boyce (O'Callaghan Mills, Clare), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Oisin O’Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick).

SUBS: Mark Callinan (Inagh-Kilnamona, Clare) for Boyce (8 minutes, injury), Sean Whelan (Cappamore, Limerick) for Craddock (19 minutes, injury), Mikey Gavin (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Scully (43 minutes), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for O'Brien (46 minutes), Patrick Finn (Bruff, Limerick) for O'Farrell (49 minutes). 

University College Dublin: Sean McGrath (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny); Peter Connellan (Thomastown), Eoin Ryan (St Anne's, Wexford), Joe Pearson (Clough-Ballacolla, Laois) ; Daire Guerin (Naas, Kildare), Peter McDonald (Thomastown, Kilkenny), David Lucey (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin); Fionan Mahony (Abbeyleix, Laois), Conal O'Riain (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin); Luke Connellan (Thomastown, Kilkenny), Simon Roche (Oulart-The-Ballagh), David Lee (Clarinbridge, Galway); David Williams (Lough Lene Gaels, Westmeath), James Duggan (The Harps, Laois), Dara Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin). 

SUBS: Pádraig Rafter (Rathdowney-Errill, Laois) for Mahony (35 minutes), Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing (Commercials, Dublin) for Duggan (40 minutes), James Conheady (Crecora-Manister, Limerick) for Lee (50 mminutes), Cian Ó Túama (Naomh Eanna, Wexford) for Pearson (50 minutes), Cian McCarthy (Southern Gaels, Westmeath) for Connellan (50 minutes), Justin Moran (St Anne's, Wexford) for Guerin (53 minutes).