O'Brien: 'This year it feels like we have 30-odd fellas that could make an impact at any time'

IMPACTFUL PANEL: Colin O'Brien of MICL in action against Gary Cullinane of SETU Waterford during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final match between Mary Immaculate College Limerick and SETU Waterford at Mallow GAA Complex in Cork. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

It’s Friday lunchtime. Colin O’Brien is on his way from North Cork to Banna beach. There are 24 hours to the Fitzgibbon Cup final. And with the semis having been played as recently as Wednesday evening, every bit of recovery that can be squeezed in is being squeezed in.

O’Brien is the Mary Immaculate College captain. He’s also the sole Cork starter on the Mary I team. With their manager, Jamie Wall, also a proud Rebel passport holder, we can’t resist the jibe that it’s no coincidence he ended up with the captaincy.

“Oh I don't know about that,” O’Brien laughs.

“I am down on the team sheet as the captain, but Jamie kinda gave it to myself, Diarmuid (Ryan), and Jason (Gillane), the three Professional Master of Education boys, at the beginning of the season. We have been there from the start, so he handed it over to the three of us, but I do be put down on the sheet then as captain.” 

O’Brien led from the front in a superb semi-final showing against SETU Waterford mid-week. The six-point win propelled the Limerick college to a first final appearance in five years.

After failing to emerge from their group in both 2022 and again last year, they’ve taken “a big leap” this season.

“We've put down a few hard years, we didn't really have the panel. This year now we have the panel, we have a very even group. We have fellas that are able to come off the bench and make a big impact,” continues the Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels clubman and 2020 All-Ireland U20 winner.

“Diarmuid Cahill came off the bench there the last day and got a goal, he is a Clare senior. Having fellas like that coming in is huge.

“We've had 15, 20 good fellas the last few years, but this year it feels like we have 30-odd fellas that could make an impact at any time in a game. That is the big difference.” 

But will improved depth be enough to halt the three-in-a-row bid of neighbours UL? Nobody has managed a Fitz three-in-a-row since UCC 26 years ago.

Having absolutely coasted the group phase, the back-to-back champions were made to look far more human by UCC for the first 40 minutes of the quarter-final and by UG for the entirety of Wednesday’s semi-final.

“We have had some great battles with them down through the years. In 2020, we played them in the quarter-final at Mary I, and it was one of the most exciting games I have ever been a part of.

“It would mean an awful lot to all of us to win it, especially with Jamie and all that he has put in. It would be unreal to do it for him.”