Limerick stars shine as clinical UL see off local rivals Mary Immaculate College in Fitzgibbon Cup final

UNIVERSITY of Limerick made it back to back wins in the Electric Ireland Higher Education final after securing an impressive 4-31 to 3-21 victory over local rivals Mary Immaculate College at Croke Park on Friday night.

The Brian Ryan-managed UL side led the repeat of the 2024 Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup final 3-13 to 0-13 at half-time. 

It is a 10th Fitzgibbon Cup success for the Castletroy-based side, who produced their best performance of the campaign in the decider.

Limerick player Cathal O'Neill scooped the TG4 Man of the Match accolade after turning in an eye-catching display in the final.

O'Neill scored seven points from play in the final, while Tipperary's Hurler Hurler of the Year Darragh McCarthy also contributed eight points, seven from frees, and Cork's Jack Leahy accounted for 1-5 from play.

ULs other goals came courtesy of Limerick star Adam English, Jack O'Neill and substitute Fintan Fitzgerald.

The success capped a memorable 48 hours for UL who completed a big double after capturing their histroic first ever Sigerson Cup final success also at GAA HQ on Wednesday evening following their win over UCC.

UL have become the fourth different college to complete the Sigerson Cup-Fitzgibbon Cup double in the same year.

The victorious UL Fitzgibbon Cup hurling side was captained to victory by Limerick's Colin Coughlan, of Ballybrown.

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For Mary Immaculate College, exciting Limerick star Shane O'Brien contributed a handsome 1-12, including a goal from a penalty and five points from play.

Some 10 members of John Kiely's Limerick senior hurling squad featured in Friday night's Fitzgibbon Cup final, with seven on the victorious UL panel.

SCORERS: University of Limerick: Jack Leahy 1-5, Darragh McCarthy 0-8 (0-7 frees), Cathal O'Neill 0-7, Fintan Fitzgerald, Adam English 1-1 each, Jack O'Neill 1-0, Aidan O'Connor, Colin Coughlan 0-3 each, Adam Screeney, Oisín O'Donoghue Diarmuid Stritch 0-1 each. Mary Immaculate College Limerick: Shane O'Brien 1-12 (0-7 frees, 1-0 pen, 0-1 '65), Joe Caesar 1-3, Ben Currivan 1-0, Darragh Walsh (free), Jimmy Quilty, Shane Walsh, Oisín O'Farrell, Ronan O'Connor, Donncha Campbell 0-1 each.

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan, Galway); Ciarmhac Smyth (Midleton, Cork), Darragh Langan (Monaleen, Limerick), Aaron Morgan (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary); Killian Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny), Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown, Limerick); Adam English (Doon, Limerick), Jack O'Neill (Clooney Quin, Clare); Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown, Limerick), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora Manister, Limerick), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, Tipperary), Oisín O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Jack Leahy (Dungourney, Cork). Subs: Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen, Limerick) for Smyth (22 mins), Conor Martin (Cappawhite, Tipperary) for Morgan (41 mins), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara, Clare) for O'Donoghue (45 mins), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls, Limerick) for Jack O'Neill (55 mins), Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill, Laois) for Langan (59 mins).

MICL: Darragh Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); Bobby Drohan (St Mollerans, Waterford), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), Eoin 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); Shane Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Tipperary); Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick). Subs: Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary) for Quilty (half-time), Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare) for Eoin Lawless (38 mins), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for Walsh (45 mins), Conor Lawless (Athenry, Galway) for Harrington (47 mins), Patrick Finn (Bruff, Limerick) for Craddock (59 mins).

REFEREE: Liam Gordon (Galway).