LIT sweating on Canning availability

THE line-up for next week’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals will be completed this afternoon when the group stages draw to a close.

The opening round games in Groups A and C were both postponed two weeks ago due to adverse weather conditions, and today’s re-fixtures will determine the last eight pairings.

In Group A Limerick IT are at home to Tipperary Institute and a win for Davy Fitzgerald’s charges will set them up with a home quarter-final against Waterford IT. That should be achieved as newcomers Tipperary Institute were emphatically defeated on Tuesday by UCD, who LIT had previously beaten by four points.

There is a doubt over the availability of their attacking star Joe Canning due to his involvement for Portumna in Sunday’s All-Ireland club semi-final.

But in James McInerney (Clare), Limerick pair Gavin O’Mahony and Paudie O’Brien, and Seamus Callanan (Tipperary), they have enough to prevail against a Tipperary Institute outfit who will be based around Kilkenny duo Shane Prendergast and Michael Lawlor. A win will ensure LIT top their group, while UCD would finish second and face an away quarter-final against Cork IT next week.

In Group C, the battle for the top spot will take place in the DCU Sportsgrounds between St Pat’s Drumcondra and NUI Galway. Both sides have secured last eight spots with the winners set to be at home to UCC and the losers to travel away to UL. NUI Galway looked hugely impressive when they hammered Garda College in their opening game.

Their defence lead by John Lee (Galway) and Stephen Murphy (Tipperary) is strong, Waterford senior Stephen Molumphy lines out at midfield and the attack includes Caimin Morey (Clare) and Peter O’Brien (Cork). St Pats could be without James Fitzpatrick due to Ballyhale Shamrocks All-Ireland club semi-final tie, so the onus will fall on Kilkenny duo Richie Hogan and David Nolan. Yet NUI Galway get the vote to seal a home quarter-final date.