FITZGIBBON CUP ROUND-UP

The Fitzgibbon Cup 3rd Level Colleges Hurling competition got underway last week with 7 games down for decision in the group stages. Predictably there were numerous Tipperary players involved. The defending champions, University of Limerick (UL) defeated Dublin IT (DIT) by 0-20 to 0-14 with five Tipperary players in the starting line-up. John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) scored seven points from frees while Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg) added four points from play. Jason Forde (Silvermines) and substitute Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg) added one point each while Paul Maher (Moyne Templetuohy) and Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) started in goal and wing-back respectively. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Donal O’Dwyer (Mullinahone), Shane Hassett (Drom & Inch) and Thomas Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs) are other members of the UL panel.

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Waterford IT defeated St. Patricks Drumcondra by 1-19 to 0-9 with Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) as joint top scorer for WIT with 5 points. Tom Fox (Eire Óg Annacarty) and Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule) were part of the WIT half-back line. Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Mary I) defeated NUI Galway (NUIG) by 1-16 to 0-13. The Mary I starting line-up included four Tipperary players with wing-backs Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) and John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney), wing-forward Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) and Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) involved. Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) and Jack Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs) were introduced as subs while Andrew Ryan (Toomevara), Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel), Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Tadhg Gallagher (Kiladangan), Sean Curran (Mullinahone), Adrian McGuire (Kilsheelan Kilcash) and Pa Ryan (Newport) are other members of the Mary I panel. Sam Conlon (Roscrea) and Conor Ryan (Nenagh Eire Óg) are part of the NUIG panel.

The surprise result last week was the home defeat by UCC at the hands of the Nicky English managed UCD team by 2-12 to 0-13. Michael Breen (Ballina) lined out at centre-forward for UCC, scoring two points from play. Meanwhile, IT Carlow proved too strong for Dublin City University (DCU), winning by 1-21 to 1-8. Mark Russell (Lattin Cullen Gaels) lined out at midfield for IT Carlow while Dale O’Hanlon and Gavin O’Halloran (both Carrick Swan), Daryl Ryan (Roscrea) and Thomas Nolan (Drom & Inch) are members of the IT Carlow panel. Gary Howard (Nenagh Eire Óg) lined out at full-forward for DCU while Niall McIntyre (Lorrha Dorrha) and Steven O’Brien (Ballina) are part of the DCU panel.

The final two games saw comprehensive wins for Limerick IT (LIT) and Cork IT (CIT). LIT defeated Maynooth University by 4-16 to 0-10. The LIT team included wing-back Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) while Willie Connors (Kiladangan) was introduced as a substitute. Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill) and Jason Ryan (Toomevara) are members of the LIT panel. Michael Campion (Roscrea) lined out at full-back for Maynooth. Finally, CIT defeated GMIT by 3-22 to 0-7. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) scored 1-3 for CIT from corner-forward while Conor Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore) lined out at corner-back. Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Eire Óg) was introduced as a substitute, scoring a point with Josh Keane (Golden Kilfeacle) also part of the CIT panel. Finally, Brendan Tuohey (Moneygall) lined out at midfield for GMIT, scoring a point.