Aaron Gillane was the hero as Mary Immaculate College booked their place in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final when they held off the NUIG challenge at Cusack Park in Ennis..

Mary I will meet NUIG Galway for a place in the Fitzgibbon Cup decider after this comfortable quarter-final victory over CIT.

The scoreline suggests a rip-roaring contest but that is a false reading.

DCU midfielder Darren Mullen said that knocking out the champions and advancing to the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup is a huge boost to hurling in the university.

The game seemed destined for extra-time until the closing stages.

Fitzgibbon Cup: IT Carlow 1-22 - Mary Immaculate, Limerick 0-22: Fourteen-man IT Carlow, coached by Kilkenny legend DJ Carey, laid down an impressive marker when taking the scalp of defending Fitzgibbon Cup champions Mary Immaculate of Limerick in a thrilling, full-blooded opening-round tie at the Heywood Community College in Laois yesterday.

St Francis College, Rochestown (Cork)2-8Rice College, Westport (Mayo)1-5

SIX unanswered points in the final 10 minutes steered St Kieran’s to another Leinster trophy after they came from behind to deny a gallant St Brendan’s, Birr at Balinakill yesterday.

ST BRENDAN’S CS, Birr were the convincing inaugural winners of the All-Ireland Community and& Comprehensive Schools U-17½ hurling championship title after they overwhelmed Blackwater CS of Waterford at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny yesterday.