Fitzgibbon Cup: Cork pair Leahy and O'Sullivan carry UL over the line down the stretch 

REBEL YELL: Jack Leahy of UL celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Fitzgibbon Cup: University of Limerick 3-27 ATU Galway 3-16

An extraordinary late burst from UL saw them progress to the knockout stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup. Accounting for the final 1-7, they pulled clear of a gallant ATU Galway effort, after the visitors had forced the favourites back to just a point entering the final six minutes.

The 11-point winning margin was certainly flattering on UL, who set up a mouthwatering round three clash across the city, against Mary Immaculate College. That will be a repeat of the 2024 decider, with the winner going directly to the semi-final, the loser will have the back-up of a quarter-final.

Brian Ryan’s side were certainly the better side for much of this contest but it was only spurts of good play that impressed on home soil. It was two rising Cork men, Brian O’Sullivan and Jack Leahy who top scored. The pair were prolific down the closing stretch after Nathan Earner had goaled for ATU.

John Kiely watched on as Limerick panellists Paddy O’Donovan and Aidan O’Connor bagged first half goals, while Adam English shrugged off last week’s injury concern to fire over a quartet of points.

Indeed, when O’Donovan buried a goal after just seven minutes, UL were comfortable, but ATU, who switched to Kevin Cooney as free-taker after they’d missed three placed balls early on, hung in there.

Their first major came from a Dylan Dunne rocket, which Cian Broderick couldn’t halt, despite getting a hurley to it. The Clare understudy was one of four changes to the UL XV, as they shuffled their considerable pack.

By half-time, thanks to Aidan O’Connor’s superb turn of pace which enabled him to find the net, UL led 2-12 to 2-7, with a first goal from Earner giving Brian Hanley’s men some hope.

They dominated the opening twenty minutes of the second half. Kevin Cooney, then John Cooney were on target. So too were Earner, sub Darren Murphy and wing-forward Oisin Lohan.

UL conceded five from six points entering the final ten minutes but then Gearoid O’Connor (free) and Dungourney’s Leahy stopped the bleeding.

However, Kevin Cooney found Earner and the Meelick Eyrecourt attacker found the net to cut the gap to just one- 2-20 to 3-16.

Then, in the blink of an eye, UL rattled off a string of scores. 1-3 in less than 120 seconds included a Leahy goal. Aidan O’Connor turned the ball over, O’Donovan carried before picking out Leahy who buried to bag the Limerick win.

O’Sullivan added further icing as they quickly opened up a double-digit lead.

UL are still a work in progress, but they show, in flashes just how dangerous they can be. Their clash with Mary Immaculate College is set for 2pm next Wednesday, and will no doubt make for interesting viewing.

SCORERS FOR UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: J Leahy 1-6; B O’Sullivan, G O’Connor (0-3f) 0-5 each; A English 0-4; A O’Connor 1-1; P O’Donovan 1-0; C O’Meara 0-3; S O’Hanlon, K Doyle, D Hanniffy 0-1 each.

SCORERS FOR ATU GALWAY: N Earner 2-2; K Cooney 0-7 (0-6f); D Dunne 1-1; O Lohan 0-2; D Shaughnessy, J Cooney (free), D Murphy, D Donohue 0-1 each.

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: C Broderick (Clarecastle, Clare); E O’Leary (Ahane, Limerick), M Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), J Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare); K Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny), C Coughlan (Capt) (Ballybrown, Limerick); M Corcoran (Silvermines, Tipperary); B O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork), A English (Doon, Limerick); G O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), C O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare), S O’Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway); J Leahy (Dungourney, Cork), A O’Connor (Ballybrown, Limerick), P O’Donovan (Effin, Limerick).

SUBS: A Morgan, (Kilruane, McDonaghs, Tipperary) for Corcoran (38); D Hanniffy (Oranmore Maree) for O’Hanlon (47);

ATU GALWAY (Galway unless stated): M Grealish (Carnmore); O Cline (Feakle, Clare), R Burke (Oranmore Maree), R Meehan (Ballindereen); D Dunne (Clarinbridge), J Cooney (Sarsfields), C Cosgrove (Ardrahan); K Cooney (Sarsfields), E Burke (Coolderry, Offaly); O Lohan (Skehana-Mountbellew), J Linnane (Gort), D Donohue (Sarsfields); D McGlynn (St. Thomas’), N Earner (Meelick Eyrecourt), D Shaughnessy (Loughrea).

SUBS: D Murphy (Sarsfields) for Linnane (38); M Sheil (Annaghdown) for McGlynn (42).

REFEREE: Ciaran O’Reagan (Cork).