Ardscoil star with an enviable bloodline

SHANE FITZGIBBON never got the chance to play Harty Cup hurling but it didn’t prevent him becoming a senior hurling star with Limerick.

Nowadays the Adare man who played with the county from 1984 to 1993, hopes his son John will follow in his footsteps once his school days are over.

But already young John is ahead of his father in one department having starred for Ardscoil Rís in their path tomorrow’s Munster Colleges SAHC decider against Thurles CBS.

Fitzgibbon senior declared: “It would be marvellous if he could win a Harty medal. It’s a wonderful hurling championship and gives a young player the perfect grounding for further years. We are very much a sporting family. My wife was a senior international badminton player winning 28 caps while my sporting career revolved around hurling with the club and county. My involvement in hurling now centres around underage coaching. Along with Eamon Cregan we set up a structure four years ago which, hopefully in time, will benefit the county.”

Shane received his secondary schooling in St Clements where rugby remains the number one sport. John did likewise but a desire to play Harty hurling saw him switched to Ardscoil in September, and he has been an ever present member of this year’s outfit where his scoring exploits have been crucial to them reaching tomorrow’s final.

“It’s going to be a great day for us Sunday. We are very proud of John and what he has achieved. A lot of our club players are members of the school team and I’m confident they will give a good account of themselves.

“This team has been put together slowly but surely. Ardscoil have been in the knockout stages for the last four years and to finally get to the decider is a dream come true.

“A lot of hard work by a number of very committed teachers and others has been put in. Hopefully it will be rewarded with a win Sunday. But there are no guarantees in this game.

“People have been talking about how difficult it is to win your first final, but I can safely say this, the Ardscoil players have no inhibitions. As far as they are concerned it’s just another game, albeit a massive one.

“Our players would have met a lot of the Thurles lads at Féile na nGael, and at the lower grade of Munster championships and done very well against them. You can take it they won’t have any fear of Thurles on Sunday.”

And just how big an occasion will this game be? Fitzgibbon senior replied: “I would give anything to roll back the clock and play in a Harty Cup final.

“Hopefully the lads can win that coveted medal on Sunday. The county is crying out for something positive and a Harty Cup victory would be the perfect tonic.”