Underdogs Mary I claim Fitzgibbon Cup, deny UL the three in a row

Electric Ireland Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup Final, Abbeydorney, Kerry 17/2/2024

Fitzgibbon Cup Final: Mary I 2-14 UL 1-15 

Mary Immaculate College defied their underdog tag to deny University of Limerick a three in row in this enthralling Fitzgibbon Cup Final played before a huge crowd at Abbeydorney this afternoon. 

So Mary I ended a 22-game unbeaten run by the UL side who levelled twice in the second half. But a hungrier Mary I side were ferocious in winning ruck ball and it was Devon Ryan who restored their lead in the 55th minute. 

Back came UL with a point from a Gearoid O’Connor free and the result was in the melting pot. But Devon Ryan was back to claim the lead again two minutes from time. The tension was palpable as the players battled for possession before a harsh call on a UL player for over-carrying allowed Colin O’Brien score the insurance point.

Mary I looked like cruising to victory in the opening half with an unlikely sharpshooter in their goalkeeper Jason Gillane who fired over three frees from close to 100 yards. Mary I had raced 1-5 to 0-2 ahead inside the opening ten minutes.

Electric Ireland Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup Final, Abbeydorney, Kerry 17/2/2024

That lead was seven points before UL found their momentum and with a huge wind behind them they reduced the arrears to four points as O’Connor finished well for a goal and was on target from frees.

Mary I replied with a goal when a huge clearance from Gillane landed in the net as the sliotar struck defender Mark Fitzgerald on the way in - 2-7 to 0-6.

Points from Colm O’Meara and Ian Byrne levelled the game for the first time in the 41st minute, two frees from O’Connor had UL two clear by the end of the third quarter.

Ryan pulled Mary I right back with a double from frees, to level the contest for just the second time on the 50-minute mark. Shane Meehan delivered the score of the game to give Mary I the lead after 52 minutes. Under serious pressure near the sideline he bisected the posts, 2-12 to 1-14.

Mark Fitzgerald of UL in action against Devon Ryan of MIC Limerick

O’Connor and Ryan exchanged scores as the minutes ticked by to full time, Colin O’Brien striking that crucial free in stoppage time as Mary I held firm to see out a nervy end to added time.

Scorers for MIC Limerick: Devon Ryan (1-4, 3f), Jason Gillane (1-3f), Colin O’Brien (0-2, 1f), Diarmuid Ryan (0-2), Cathal Quinn, Ronan Power, Shane Meehan (0-1), 

Scorers for UL: Gearoid O’Connor (1-8, 5fs, 1/s/l, 1’65), Sean O’Hanlon (0-2), Adam English, Brian O’Grady, Colm Coughlan, Colm O’Meara, Ian Byrne (0-1 each), 

MIC LIMERICK: J Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick); A Hogan (Feakle, Clare), K Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane, Tipperary), PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford); J Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), D Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), R Power (Ballygunner, Waterford), C Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), C Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary); C O’Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels, Cork), D Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Vi Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); F McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway), S O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), S Meehan (Banner, Clare) 

Subs: D Cahill (Corofin, Clare) for Hennessy (46), E Craddock (Holy-cross-Ballycahil, Tipperary) for Harrington (50), J Devaney (Borris-Illeigh, Tipperary) for McDonagh (59) 

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

Subs: I Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny) for A O’Connor (h/t), C O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare) for Sampson (36), J Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare) for Coughlan (57), P O’Donovan (Effin, Limerick) for Byrne (59), R Heyes (Crusheen, Clare) for O’Grady (60+1) 

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow)