Mary Immaculate dig deep to see off spirited SETU Waterford in Fitzgibbon Cup

Shane O'Brien's 1-8 helped Mary I to a hard earned win.

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 2: Mary Immaculate College 1-16 SETU Waterford 0-17

1-8 from Limerick attacker Shane O'Brien and four points from wing back Cian Scully saw defending champions Mary I dig out a hard fought win over SETU Waterford and reach the Fitzgibbon Cup knockout stages. Jamie Wall's men arrived without Clare All-Ireland winners Adam Hogan and Shane Meehan due to injury and just about got over the line in their absence.

Despite the best efforts of Cork forward Sean Walsh (0-12) and Offaly midfielder Cathal King (0-3), SETU bow out with a round left to play. Fintan O'Connor's charges fielded without talisman Reuben Halloran who injured his heel in a challenge match between Waterford and Wexford last Sunday. The De La Salle score getter struck 1-10 against UL the week before. His team mates battled heroically to stay alive in the competition.

There was only a point in it five minutes into injury time when King went to ground. SETU management appealed for a free but James Owens waved play on and Cian Scully landed a monster score from his own 65. His third point of the second period and his fourth in total. The away side were guilty of sixteen wides and four balls short but still managed to make it back to back wins.

The wide tally stood at ten by the break as they went in 1-8 to 0-8 ahead. The key moment came on 25 minutes when Shane O'Brien stole the ball from Pauric Wickham, went through one-on-one and batted one handed past Kilmallock club mate Barry Hennessy.

Sweeper Conor Keane frustrated the Mary I attack up to that point. The Limerick front man finished the half on 1-4 including a free that clearly looked wide. Clare attacker Diarmuid Cahill chipped in with two from play.

Sean Walsh shot six points for the hard working hosts (two from play). Cathal King struck from 60 metres and won four frees. John Groves had their clearest goal chance in the sixth minute, with Jake Foley and Walsh involved in the build-up, but Mary I netminder Darragh Conway closed him down.

SETU continued to outwork their opponents in the third quarter and five Walsh points put them in front. Willie Beresford and Paddy Phelan got on a ton of ball around the middle third.

Cian Scully steadied the ship for the visitors with a couple of long range efforts. Mary I upped their intensity and O'Brien converted a couple of frees. Oisin O'Farrell then soloed forward and flipped one over off the hurley. O'Brien snapped a high ball and scored another point.

The outstanding Cathal King continued to take the fight with his third white flag of the hour. Conor Keane made it a one point game before Scully sealed a steely Mary I victory.

Scorers for SETU Waterford: S Walsh (0-12, 9fs), C King (0-3), C Keane, J Foley (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mary Immaculate College: S O'Brien (1-8, 7fs), C Scully (0-4), D Cahill (0-2), O O'Farrell, R O'Connor (0-1 each).

SETU Waterford (Waterford unless stated): B Hennessy (Kilmallock, Limerick); P Wicham (St. Abban’s Adamstown, Wexford), B Tallis (Lisdowney, Kilkenny), K Cullinane (Passage); Joseph Fitzpatrick (Dunamaggin, Kilkenny), C Keane (De La Salle), Josh Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg); C King (Carrig Riverstown, Offaly); W Beresford (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty); S Walsh (Carrigtwohill, Cork), J Foley (Ballygunner), P Phelan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary); B O'Callaghan (Piltown, Kilkenny), J Groves (Dunhill), E Guilfoyle (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary).

Subs: E Hayes (Roanmore) for Tallis (46), L Hearne (Roanmore) for O'Callaghan (50), C Fitzpatrick (Park Ratheniska Timahoe, Laois) for Foley (54).

Mary Immaculate College: D Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry); W Dore (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), E Lawless (Athenry, Galway), V Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); C Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), J Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick); R Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); R O’Connor (Feakle, Clare), C Hennessy (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); E Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), J Ryan (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), O O'Farrell (Askeaton, Limerick); D McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), D Cahill (Corofin, Clare),S O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick).

Subs: P Finn (Bruff, Limerick) for Dore (42), D Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway) for Ryan (55), J Daly (Croom, Limerick) for Cahill (55).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).