Fitzgibbon Cup: Fitzgeralds fire SETU Waterford into semis

SETU Waterford’s Patrick Fitzgerald. Pic: Ken Sutton, Inpho

SETU Waterford 1-19 SETU Carlow 1-13 

Patrick and Padraig Fitzgerald powered SETU Waterford to the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals at SETU Carlow's expense.

The Waterford attackers were held scoreless against MTU Cork but they shot 1-10 from play between them on this occasion. 

Ballygunner hot shot Patrick struck 1-4 from play for the home side. His goal 12 minutes from time proved decisive. 

Kilrossanty attacker Padraig had five points to his name by half time. He added another four minutes into the second period. Three different Carlow defenders tried to contain him.

"They were unreal," SETU Waterford boss Fintan O'Connor stated afterwards. "They were disappointed the last night but the conditions weren't really conducive to forwards. Tonight, they were a bit happier with themselves."

At the other end of the field, Fourmilewater defender Tom Barron man-marked Kilkenny star Eoin Cody at full forward and centre forward and held the 2023 All-Star to one score from play. Billy Power also excelled in the sweeper role.

"We knew Carlow had a star-studded forward line. Their forwards were unreal last week against UCD and we watched the video back. It came down to whichever backs did better on the opposition forwards and we just edged it."

A Cody goal helped SETU Carlow into a slender lead at the break but they could only add four points in the second period. Chris Nolan was the standout performer with seven points (six from play) for Seamus Plunkett's charges. 

Both sides finished with 14 men, in a fractious finish, as Padraig Fitzgerald picked up his second yellow card from John Keenan while Nolan got a straight red for a wild pull.

The sides were level seven times in an end-to-end first half. 

Chris Nolan's fourth point in injury time edged SETU Carlow ahead at the break (1-9 to 0-11). On fourteen minutes, Nolan left two Waterford defenders for dead but saw his shot saved by Barry Hennessy. Cody flicked home the rebound (1-5 to 0-5).

SETU Waterford dragged themselves back on level terms. The unmarkable Padraig Fitzgerald sent over five points from play while Patrick Fitzgerald hit two. Sean Walsh saw a stinging shot deflected over the bar by James Lawlor. The home team were guilty of six wides however.

The first four points of the second period belonged to the Waterford students with Sean Walsh, Padraig Fitzgerald and Reuben Halloran all on target.

Eoin Cody registered three wides in a row before Chris Nolan took over the deadball duties. The Carlow forward landed a long-range free to leave them just a point down entering the last quarter (0-15 to 1-11).

The hard-working Walsh then shot his third point of the night after a precise pass from Halloran. With twelve minutes left, Patrick Fitzgerald rifled the sliotar to the roof of the net after a defence-splitting move from a Barry Hennessy puckout. 

Two more Patrick Fitzgerald white flags put the hosts out of sight.

All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper with Limerick Hennessy produced two eye-catching saves as Carlow desperately searched for a green flag. 

A loose swing from Chris Nolan saw a row erupt in front of the dressing room goal. With only a minute left, John Keenan flashed a straight red to the Carlow forward while Padraig Fitzgerald also departed on a second yellow.

SETU Waterford lost to eventual champions UL in last year's semi-final. They will tackle Mary I next week.

Scorers for SETU Waterford: Patrick Fitzgerald 1-4, Padraig Fitzgerald 0-6, R Halloran 0-5 (5fs), S Walsh 0-3, J Fitzgerald 0-1.

Scorers for SETU Carlow: C Nolan 0-7 (1f), E Cody 1-3 (3fs), J Buggy 0-2 (1f), J Nolan 0-1.

SETU Waterford (Waterford unless stated): B Hennessy (Kilmallock, Limerick); C King (Carrig Riverstown, Offaly), T Barron (Fourmilewater), P Wickham (St Abbans Adamstown, Wexford); G Cullinane (Passage), R Hanley (Kilmallock, Limerick), J Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg); B Power (Clonea), W Beresford (Abbeyside); S Walsh (Carrigtwohill, Cork), G Fives (Cappoquin), R Halloran (De La Salle); Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner), C Ryan (Roanmore), Padraig Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty).

SETU Carlow: J Lawlor (Ferns St Aidan's, Wexford); P Casey (Olyegate-Glenbrien, Wexford), D Palmer (Camross, Laois), C Corcoran (Faythe Harriers, Wexford); G Lynch (Ballinakill, Laois), R Mullaney (Castletown, Laois), K Moynihan (Na Piarsaigh, Cork); J Fogarty (Moneygall, Tipperary), J Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers, Carlow); J Buggy (Erins Own, Kilkenny), A Dunphy (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton, Laois), D O'Donovan (St Mary's Cork); C Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers, Carlow), E Cody (Shamrocks Ballyhale, Kilkenny), T Keyes (Camross, Laois).

Sub: E English (Ballinkillen, Carlow) for Palmer (18).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow)