Scoring spread key for Mary I to reach Fitzgibbon last eight

Mary Immaculate College Limerick players warm up.

Fitzgibbon Cup: Maynooth University 1-19 Mary Immaculate College 2-23

A greater spread of attacking threats was arguably the difference as Mary Immaculate College eventually pulled clear and secured their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals. Following victory over UCC last week, the Limerick college are now guaranteed a home quarter-final and avoid holders University of Limerick.

This re-fixed round one clash, was played on the neutral LOETB Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise, in bitterly cold conditions, following a postponement earlier this month.

Jamie Wall will be delighted with the character his charges showed, particularly after being headed for the first time when conceding a scrappy goal early on the second half. Their response, which included goals from James Devaney and captain Colin O’Brien.

Maynooth University relied heavily on the superb free-taking of Tipperary man Luke Hogan, though they weren’t out of this contest until the game ticked towards the 60th minute.

Mary Immaculate held a slender but deserved two point margin, at half-time, 0-12 to 0-10. Declan McLaughlin and free taker Devon Ryan getting them moving with Fogarty joined by Cillian Hackey and Pierce Blanchfield in reply. The pick of the scores closed the half, Jason Gillane pointing a free from his own half, after Devon Ryan cut over a sideline.

The Kildare college went ahead when they scrambled home a goal through Fogarty immediately on the resumption, but Devaney somehow raised a green flag on 34 minutes with a looping effort.

Devaney hobbled off soon after but other stars came out. Diarmuid Ryan grew into the contest and as well as a long-range free, he galloped forward to play Corkman O’Brien in who buried high to the net to push them four ahead in the closing stages.

James Owens continued to punish slack Mary I tackling, but they were able to find six of the final eight points to prevail and make it back-to-back wins. Overall, Maynooth failed to really bring their forwards into the contest, with the Limerick half-back line on top form in intercepting Maynooth incisions before launching attacks of their own.

Maynooth’s lack of openings emphasised by just one wide over the 60 minutes, though both sides must be credited for an accurate display of hurling. Wall, who has former Clare star Podge Collins in his backroom team, has a strong squad at his disposal, but they are playing as a team, which is something that can prove challenging at this grade.

Maynooth now face a trip to UCC on Thursday, with a draw or a victory needed to secure their place in the last eight, and a meeting with UL. It is effectively a straight shootout, though the seven point loss for Maynooth has them marginally better placed over UCC, who lost by eight in Limerick last Wednesday.

Scorers for Maynooth: C Fogarty 1-12 (0-11 frees); É Cunneen, C Boran (0-1 free) 0-2 each; C Hackett, P Blanchfield, A Hickey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mary I: Devon Ryan 0-7 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 s/l); C O’Brien 1-3 (0-1 free); S Meehan 0-3; J Devaney 1-0; S O’Brien, D McLaughlin, Diarmuid Ryan, C Quinn 0-2 each; J Gillane (free), F McDonagh 0-1 each.

MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY: K Bracken (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); D Fogarty (O’Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), N Bolger (Bengalstown, Carlow); M Donnelly (St. Lachtains, Kilkenny), É Cunneen (Raherney, Westmeath), P McDonald (Thomastown, Kilkenny), C Boran (Naas, Kildare); C Hackett (Dicksboro, Kilkenny), P Blanchfield (Graignamanagh, Kilkenny); A Hickey (Dunamaggin, Kilkenny), D Dooley (Rosenalis, Laois), C Drennan (Galmoy, Kilkenny); C Fogarty (Lorrha, Tipperary), L Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), C Boyle (Castleknock, Dublin).

Subs: D Fogarty (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary) for Drennan (45); L Cassin (Faythe Harriers, Wexford) for Blanchfield (55), C Phelan (John Lockes, Kilkenny) for Boyle (60).

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: J Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick); K Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary), J Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), A Hogan (Feakle, Clare); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford), R Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); C Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), C Hennessey (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); C O’Brien (C) (Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels, Cork), J Devaney (Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary), S Meehan (The Banner, Clare); S O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), D McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary).

Subs: F McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway) for Devaney (inj – 35); D Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Shannon) for K Ryan (41); O O’Farrell (Askeaton, Limerick) for Devon Ryan (58 mins).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).