Fitzgibbon Cup: University of Galway power past MTU Cork to continue run

MARCHING ON: Stephen Keoghan of MTU Cork in action against Liam Leen of University of Galway, in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final at Dangan, Galway. Pic: Ray Ryan

University of Galway 4-24 MTU Cork 1-14 

Manager John Mortell said he could have no complaints after MTU Cork’s run in the Fitzgibbon Cup was brought to an abrupt halt in Galway by a side who have been runners-up for the past two seasons and look serious contenders again.

MTU Cork stayed with them for the opening quarter but then University of Galway took over and picked off scores from all angles.

“I’d say the hurling we played in the first quarter was probably the best hurling we played in the competition,” said Mortell. 

“But, in fairness to Galway, they got a goal and they drove. They are a serious side and we knew that coming up here. We felt we would give it a right go and the first quarter we got some fine scores. But they are a fine side, with a lot of county lads and they have been in the final for the past two years.

“We would have liked to have gone further but it is stepping stones for the college, and we couldn’t fault the effort of the lads. They gave it everything for the year.” 

University of Galway have not won the Fitzgibbon Cup since 2010 but they look to have the components to have a right crack at it this year.

Eleven players found the target for Jeff Lynskey’s side, who started with an all-Galway selection, nearly all of whom have tasted senior hurling for the county even if many of them have yet to do it at championship level.

And while the visitors, with Cork’s Ciaran Joyce their key player at centre-back before moving upfield in a bid to mount a comeback, started well with the sides level three times in the opening six minutes, the Galway side recovered from a 0-7 to 0-5 opening quarter deficit to take control.

They outscored the Cork college by 1-7 to 0-3 in the second quarter of a game played in ideal conditions on the banks of the Corrib, with Colm Molloy crowning an impressive showing by finishing a move where the strong running of Shane Morgan was key.

That left University of Galway 1-12 to 0-10 ahead at the break and they continued to dominate after the restart with scores coming from all angles as they turned the screw in a serious show of strength.

Gavin Lee, enjoying a big start to 2024 with college and county, fired home their second goal within a minute of the restart and there was no way back for MTU Cork after that as they trailed by 2-19 to 0-12 at the end of the third quarter.

Newcestown clubman Ed Kenneally got in for a goal for MTU Cork but they only managed two points after that as the home side pushed on to crown their win with late goals from Shane Morgan and Niall Collins.

“We created a lot of scoring chances, got a lot of scores and ball usage was good, but there were parts we will need to step up on,” said University of Galway manager Lynskey. 

“We had a lot of lads back this week from injury, lads are chomping at the bit and we are going to need all of them next week.” 

Scorers for University of Galway: C Molloy 1-5, N Collins 1-5 (0-4f), G Lee 1-2, T Killeen 0-4, A Connaire 0-3, S Morgan 1-0, I McGlynn 0-1, L Leen 0-1, G Thomas 0-1, D Loftus 0-1, O Flannery 0-1.

Scorers for MTU Cork: B Lynch 0-4f, C Joyce 0-4 (0-3f), E Kenneally 1-1, S Walsh 0-2, E Murphy 0-1, B Kehoe 0-1, J Mulcahy 0-1.

University of Galway: (All Galway unless stated): M Hardiman; D Morrisey, K Hanrahan, E Lawless,; T Killeen, D Loftus, S Morgan; I McGlynn, L Leen; A Connaire, G Lee, C Walsh; N Collins, G Thomas, C Molloy. 

Subs: P McCann for Morrissey (41), C Mitchell (Offaly) for Thomas (48), C Cunningham for Leen (50), O Flannery for Molloy (52), J O’Meara for Walsh (53). 

MTU Cork: C Wilson (Cork); P O’Sullivan (Cork), S Keoghan (Kilkenny), D Mason (Kilkenny); E Murphy (Kerry), C Joyce (Cork), D O’Sullivan (Cork); S Quirke (Cork), R Walsh (Kerry); B Kehoe (Tipperary), DJ Twomey (Cork), S Walsh (Waterford); J Mulcahy (Cork), E Kenneally (Cork), B Lynch (Cork). 

Subs: R McCarthy (Cork) for Keoghan (50), M Tobin (Cork) for Kenneally (50), C Roche (Cork) for Twomey (54), C O’Keeffe (Cork) for Mulcahy (58).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).