Sampson delivers late on to send champions UL back to decider

WINNING FEELING: UL Wolves’ Killian Sampson celebrates scoring the winning point. Pic: Ryan Byrne

UL 1-18 UG 0-20 

At the final whistle, UG’s Tiernan Killeen bent down, before disconsolately collapsing on his back, where he remained for over a minute. 

Killeen, who had been impressive throughout, had the chance seconds earlier to take the match to extra-time but his shot just went outside the post.

The champions march on in their bid for three-in-a-row. UG, for the third year in succession, had their season ended by UL. 

With their previous two losses having come in Fitzgibbon finals, and with Killeen having played in all three games, it was easy to understand his devastation.

In the end though, the better team won – just about. The Limerick side never played with the confidence, slickness or sharpness that had defined their journey up to this point, but their greater weight of numbers, both in territory and possession – especially in the second half – eventually told.

UL were also grateful to have Mark Rodgers in red-hot form in the second half, with the Clare-man the clear difference between the two teams, scoring 1-3 from play in that period. Rodgers didn’t score in the first half but he was fouled for a converted free and also had an assist.

The wide count – UL’s 13 to UG’s six – was informative as to UL’s greater possession, but it was also a testament to UG’s greater economy and efficiency. Despite UL’s greater overall physique and bulk, UG more than matched up to them in the physical stakes, both aerially and especially on the ground, where they largely dominated the rucks. 

Their performance in the physical battle in such sticky and heavy conditions was also an endorsement of the huge work the UG management have put into this squad since last October.

Liam Collins came off the bench to hit two points from four shots for UG but UL’s greater depth was critical, with three of their subs – Seán O’Hanlon, Colm O’Meara and Killian Sampson - hitting three of their last four points.

They will go into Saturday’s final against Mary I as favourites, but the key question now will be how much this match has taken out of them, especially some of their county players. Gearóid O’Connor, who was man-of-the-match against UCC last Wednesday, and against Galway on Sunday, was struggling for the spark which lit up his last two performances. If this game had gone to extra-time, O’Connor would have struggled to find the energy for it.

Extra-time and the knockout stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup are almost inevitable and this was another typical, ferocious battle. The sides were level after the first quarter at 0-5 and, while UL dominated possession for most of the second quarter, five successive wides contaminated that control. Moreover, UG made them pay for it with five points from seven shots in that quarter to see them lead at half-time by 0-10 to 0-8.

UL were too lateral in their play for too much of the first half but they got the break they needed shortly after the throw-in when Rodgers got in behind Darren Morrissey on a long ball and rattled the net. UG spent much of the third quarter scrambling to stay in the game, only having five shots in that quarter, but they were still always in the contest. 

They also had a real focal point in the outstanding Greg Thomas, who TJ Brennan struggled to deal with all evening; Thomas scored 0-2 but he was fouled for six frees, five of which were converted.

The endgame was frantic, especially when UL had Adam English sent off on a second yellow card with seven minutes of normal time remaining. UG had the margin down to one shortly afterwards and, while UL kept shoving the margin back out to two, UG kept clipping it back, landing four points in the final six minutes to get the match level.

It smacked of extra-time until Sampson, who lost his starting place after getting sick on Monday, came up with a brilliant point to edge the champions back in front. Then Killeen – whose point in last year’s semi-final at the same venue against UCC took the match to extra-time – looked set to do so again.

He didn’t. Agony. Ecstasy. Elated but tired bodies already thinking about a final three days later. The Fitzgibbon Cup in a microcosm.

Scorers for UL: M Rodgers (1-3), G O’Connor (0-6, 4fs), C Coughlan and S O’Hanlon (0-2 each), C Galvin, D Hanniffy, A English, C O’Meara and K Sampson (0-1) each.

Scorers for UG: N Collins (0-9, 8fs), G Thomas, C Molloy, L Collins (0-2 each), A Connaire, L Leen, C Walsh, T Killeen, G Lee (0-1). 

UL (Limerick unless stated): C Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock); F O’Connor (Effin), TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge, Galway), D Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Clare); C Galvin (Clarecastle, Clare), M Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), C Coughlan (Ballybrown); B O’Grady (Kilteely/Dromkeen), B O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork); A English (Doon), G O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary), D Hanniffy (Oranmore-Maree, Galway); P O’Donovan (Effin), M Rodgers (Scariff, Clare), A O’Connor (Ballybrown).

Subs: S O’Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway) for Hanniffy (35), C O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare) for O’Donovan (38), K Sampson (Shinrone, Offaly) for O’Grady (51), I Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny) for A O’Connor (53), R Hayes (Crusheen, Clare) for O’Sullivan (56) 

University of Galway: (All Galway unless stated): M Hardiman (Athenry); D Morrissey (Sarsfields) E Lawless (Athenry), K Hanrahan (Loughrea), T Killeen (Loughrea), D Loftus (Turloughmore), S Morgan (Loughrea): I McGlynn (Kilconieron), L Leen (Clarinbridge); A Connaire (Sarsfields), G Lee (Clarinbridge), C Walsh (Turloughmore), C Molloy (Kilnadeema/Leitrim), G Thomas (Castlegar), N Collins (Cappatagle).

Subs: C Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey, Offaly for Walsh (37), C Cunningham (Maigh Cuilin) for Leen (41), J O’Meara (Killimor) for Connaire (42), L Collins (Cappatagle) for Molloy (44).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)