Limerick IT facing uphill battle to overcome UL after hectic schedule, says Kelly

Limerick IT’s 2005 Fitzgibbon Cup winning captain Eoin Kelly believes semi-final opponents University of Limerick have a huge advantage ahead of this afternoon’s eagerly-awaited derby tie.

Following LIT’s quarter-final victory over IT Carlow on Tuesday, manager Davy Fitzgerald appealed to Higher Education GAA chiefs for some breathing space to allow his players to recover.

Fitzgerald suggested playing the final of the prestigious third-level competition next week and while authorities were sounded out about the prospect, no formal application for a delay was submitted.

Finals weekend will go ahead as scheduled and if LIT do manage to come through against UL, they would face the prospect of three games in five days.

And Tipp’s 2010 All-Ireland winning captain Kelly acknowledged: “It will be very tough for them (LIT).

“As a player, you look forward to Fitzgibbon weekend and it’s a prestigious competition to win, but it’s tough on guys having to negotiate a schedule like that.

“Some of them will be playing four games in six days if they reach a final — county team on Sunday, Fitz on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. It’s a pity and it’s going to be a tough ask.”

Kelly will be in Limerick this evening for a reunion of LIT’s 2005 breakthrough team.

And he said: “UL will be very hard to stop. They played last week and they’ll be mentally fresher. The LIT boys might be thinking in the back of their minds how they’ll be if they do get over the line. That all adds to the odds stacked in UL’s favour.”