Limerick IT and Waterford renew classic cup rivalry

LAST March they produced, by common consent, a sublime classic, and in Limerick this afternoon Limerick IT and Waterford IT renew Fitzgibbon Cup battle once more.

It’s one of four quarter-finals pencilled down for decision, and if it is stretching matters to forecast a repeat of the 1-29 to 1-24 epic that they served up in last year’s final, the meeting still carries huge promise. Limerick IT finished top of Group A to secure a home quarter-final and will be led by the irrepressible Joe Canning in attack, fresh from his heroics for Portumna in last Sunday’s All-Ireland Club semi-final. But manager Davy Fitzgerald has an array of inter-county talent apart from Canning to call on, with Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan helping carry the scoring burden up front, while further back, James McInerney (Clare) and Limerick duo Gavin O’Mahony and Wayne McNamara are to the fore.

Reigning champions Waterford IT have been shorn some of last year’s big stars and they wound up second in Group B behind UL. Their opening game reversal against UL was followed by more encouraging signs when they comfortably dispatched Dublin IT. They will be hoping key forward TJ Reid will have recovered from Ballyhale Shamrocks’ loss in Sunday’s All-Ireland club semi-final, while Fintan O’Leary (Cork) and Tipperary duo Timmy Hammersley and Ray McLougheney will be required for scores up front. Limerick IT will hold the favourites tag given their form to date and the presence of star turn Canning, and they should have enough to advance.

After their footballers reached the glamour last-four stage, Cork IT’s hurlers will be aiming to repeat that feat when they face UCD at Cork IT today. Last week’s rousing success over UCC enabled Cork IT to top the group and they should be in a buoyant mood entering this game. They will be hoping that several of last week’s high performers shine once more, where Chris Murphy and Eoin Dillon were solid in defence, Jack O’Herlihy and Adrian Mannix controlled midfield, and Cathal Naughton and Brian Corry grabbed vital scores.

UCD will have double intentions of their own, with their footballers already safely ensconced in the semi-finals. Wexford star Ciarán Lyng is pursuing a dual mandate as he aims for a unique Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup double, with Stephen Nolan (Wexford) and Kilkenny pair Lester Ryan and Maurice Nolan their other leading players. Home advantage will benefit Cork IT’s cause and if they can repeat their blistering second-half form of last week, they can surmount this hurdle.

The other Cork side in contention, UCC, face an arduous journey to Dangan today when they face NUI Galway. The home side needed an injury-time Sean Glynn point against St Pat’s-Drumcondra last week to ensure they would top Group C. They’ll parade a strong team for this game, with John Lee at centre-back, Stephen Molumphy at midfield, and Caimin Morey, Glynn and Peter O’Brien all included in attack.

UCC suffered a setback with last week’s defeat to Cork IT, and Dangan has previously been the graveyard of their Fitzgibbon ambitions at the quarter-final stage in 2005 and 2007. They are capable of reversing that trend and remain defensively strong with Shane O’Neill, Kevin Hartnett and Michael Cahill all lining out. The key will be in attack where there was an over-reliance last week on Shane Burke (Tipperary) and John Mulhall (Kilkenny) to supply scores.

The remaining quarter-final today sees UL face St Pat’s-Drumcondra in Newtownshandrum. UL finished top of Group B and will be backboned by Offaly’s Brian Carroll, Tipperary senior Thomas Stapleton, Kilkenny duo Kieran Joyce and Matthew Ruth, and Galway’s John Greene. St Pat’s almost pipped NUI Galway to finish top of Group C last week and will be basing their challenge around Kilkenny trio James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Richie Hogan and Mark Bergin.

It will be a close tie, yet UL get the vote to advance to the semi-finals.