'It should be a really good game' - Declan Hannon looks ahead to all-Limerick Fitzgibbon Cup final clash

FORMER Limerick inter-county hurler Declan Hannon says he is looking forward to Friday night's all-Limerick Fitzgibbon Cup tie between the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College.

READ MORE: University of Limerick claim historic first ever Sigerson Cup final success

The five-time All-Ireland winner won the competition with Mary I back in 2016 and the Adare clubman reflects fondly on those memories a decade on.

Hannon played an integral role in Mary I landing their first Fitzgibbon title ten years ago, scoring 1-12 in what was an epic against their county rivals UL. 

Hannon and co. prevailed after two periods of extra-time were needed to separate the two Limerick colleges, 1-30 to 3-22 the final score.

"Luckily, I've great Fitzgibbon Cup memories with Mary I. We got to the final in 2013 and unfortunately lost but we managed to get back there again in 2016 and came out the right side of that, it was also the first time the college had won it as well so it was very special.

"It was good fun and it's a special competition when you're playing with lads from a variety of other counties. I'm a bit jealous of the boys getting to play the final in Croke Park, we got to play in CIT.

"You go to college for your education but you've great fun there as well. The sport in college contributes massively to that. We had great fun going to games, coming home from games, getting to know lads off the pitch, things like that.

"It's less serious than inter-county obviously but it's still taken seriously in terms of training and things and we had great craic along the way," he said. 

Looking ahead to this year's decider, Hannon states that 'there's a great rivalry between the two colleges' as UL look to complete the Sigerson Cup/Fitzgibbon Cup double following the footballer's triumph over UCC on Wednesday night. 

"It's great, there's a great rivalry between the two colleges. It's great from Limerick to have the two colleges be competitive. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and it should be a really good game. I know UL might be heavy favourites going into it but it should be a decent match to watch," he said.

The seven-time Munster champion admits that his Fitzgibbon Cup triumph in 2016 'would be right up there' in terms of achievements in the former centre-back's distinguished career. 

"It would be right up there. In terms of achievements, the inter-county senior is top but after that you have the Fitzgibbon Cup and the Harty Cup would be a very close second and third.

"I was talking to Niall O'Meara recently who I hadn't seen in years but you still have that bond from the Fitzgibbon days. It's a competition you might only get the chance to win once. You might get to a final once in your lifetime because you have to move on but to have won it is very special and it ranks quite high for me."