Limerick players impress as Mary Immaculate College book Fitzgibbon Cup final return after win over DCU

2024 champions Mary Immaculate College, Limerick booked their place in this year's Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup final after securing a dramatic 0-31 to 2-16 extra-time victory over DCU Dóchas Éireann at DCUs grounds in Glasnevin on Wednesday night.

Mary Immaculate College can now look forward to a Fitzgibbon Cup final showdown with local rivals and holders University of Limerick at Croke Park on Friday, February 13, 7.35pm, live on TG4.

The final will be a repeat of the 2014 decider when Mary I defeated a three-in-a-row chasing UL side 2-14 to 1-15 at Abbeydorney.

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It was Mary Is third time to claim the prestigious Higher Education hurling title.

Jamie Wall's Mary Immaculate side produced a storming display during the 20 minutes of extra time in Wednesday night's semi-final outscoring their Dublin opponents 0-11 to 0-2 during that spell.

Kilkenny's Shane Walsh struck 0-13 for the winners, including 0-12 from frees in the absence of Limerick sharpshooter Shane O'Brien.

Dromin-Athlacca's Cian Scully also made a significant impact to the Mary I success, firing over an impressive six points from play, while Blackrock's Jimmy Quilty was hugely influential anchoring the Limerick side's defence and firing over a long range point from play for good measure.

Na Piarsaigh's Vince Harrington also turned in an impressive display in the winners defence, while Oisin O'Farrell, of Oisín O'Farrell, Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, contributed two precious points from play.

Sean Whelan, of Cappamore, and Michael Gavin, Ballybrown, also made handsome contributions to the Limerick side's win when sprung from the substitutes' bench in extra-time.

DCU had led the semi-final 1-t 0-8 at half-time after a keenly-contested opening 30 minutes. The sides were then level 2-14 to 0-20 at the end of normal time. 

SCORERS: Mary Immaculate College Limerick: Shane Walsh 0-13 (0-12 frees), Cian Scully 0-6, Adam Daly 0-4, Eoin Craddock 0-2, Ben Currivan 0-2 (0-1 free), Oisín O'Farrell 0-2, Ronan O'Connor 0-1, Jimmy Quilty 0-1. DCU: Denis Walsh 0-8 (0-8 frees), Peter Clarke 2-0, Greg Kelly 0-3, Cathal Beirne 0-3, Sam Byrne 0-1, Dan O'Meara 0-1.

MICL: Darragh Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); Bobby Drohan (St Mollerans, Waterford), Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway, Joint Captain), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); Conor Lawless (Athenry, Galway); Donnacha Campbell (Cappataggle, Galway), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick), Cian Scully (Dromin Athlacca, Limerick); Dara Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway), Ronan O'Connor (Feakle, Clare); Adam Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Tipperary), Mark Callinan (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare), Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary); Shane Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Oisín O'Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick). SUBS: Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary) for Callinan (half-time), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for Conor Lawless (43 mins), Cormac Deevy (Brickey Rangers, Waterford) for O'Connor (58 mins); Conor Lawless for Craddock (extra-time), Sean Whelan (Cappamore, Limerick) for Daly (75 mins), Michael Gavin (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Quilty (75 mins).

DCU: Stephen Manogue (James Stephens, Kilkenny); Sam Bourke (Ballinamere, Offaly), Dan O'Meara (Maynooth, Kildare), Ivan Bolger (Graignamanagh, Kilkenny); Billy Reid (Glenmore, Kilkenny), Paddy Langton (Young Irelands, Kilkenny), Seán Gallagher (Naomh Barróg, Dublin); Peter Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath), Páidí Lennon (Carrickshock, Kilkenny); Cian Boran (Naas, Kildare), Greg Kelly (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), Cathal Beirne (Glenmore, Kilkenny); Denis Walsh (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), Sam Byrne (Blacks and Whites, Kilkenny), Donagh Murphy (Mt. Leinster Rangers, Carlow). SUBS: Andrew Keegan (Clontarf, Dublin) for Langton (51 mins), Evan O'Brien (Naas, Kildare) for Clarke (58 mins), Luke Murphy (Faythe Harriers, Wexford) for Byrne (58 mins), Clarke for Murphy (extra-time), Liam O'Reilly (Naas, Kildare) for Bolger (63 mins), Neil Hogan (Castleknock, Dublin) for Clarke (72).

REFEREE: James Owens (Wexford).