UCC staging Fitzgibbon Cup centenaryre-union

University College, Cork Fitzgibbon Cup finalists where are you?

In this, the centenary year of the Varsities hurling competition being hosted by UCC next week, a special get-together for UCC players who played in Fitzgibbon Cup finals down through the years will be held in Devere Hall in the Students’ Centre on Thursday March 1, eve of the semi-finals.

President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy will open proceedings, while president of the hurling club, Dr Paddy Crowley, will make a presentation to mark the outstanding achievements of UCC Hurling Club over the past 100 years.

UCC have won the Fitzgibbon on 40 occasions, making them the most successful third level institution in the competition. Fr Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin friar and Professor of Philosophy at UCC (1910-37) inaugurated the trophy in 1912.

The event is being organised jointly by the Office of Sport and Recreation and the Alumni Office and further information can be had from Betty Young at 021-4904752 or b.young @ucc.ie

One of the organisers, Professor Denis O’Mullane is hoping for a big turnout. He said: “One hundred years is a long time, so we felt UCC, as hosts, should do something special to honour the occasion. Obviously, many of those great old hurler have gone to their eternal reward, but you can be sure there are many out there, young and old, who would just love to get back and recall old stories.

“We have been able to track down some 70% of those still talking hurling, but it would be great if everyone was informed.

Many Fitzgibbon greats have gone on to represent Cork, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick and Galway to Liam MacCarthy Cup glory so the stage is set for the semi-finals and final at the Mardyke.

In the first semi-final on Friday, March 2, CIT play LIT at 1.30pm, with the second semi-final following immediately at 3pm between hosts UCC and UL.

The final takes place on Saturday March 3, again at the Mardyke, at 3pm, preceded by the Ryan Cup final at 1.30pm.