Local derbies take centre-stage as Fitzgibbon Cup heats up 

Brian Keating (Ballincollig) in action in midfield for UCC against UCD. Pic: Larry Cummins

Wednesday evening’s top of the table clashes in Groups A and B of the Fitzgibbon Cup will determine what colleges take the two automatic semi-final spots.

This year’s new three-group format means that instead of four quarter-finals, the group winners of the two four-team groups progress straight to the semi-finals.

The runners-up of these two groups, along with the winner and runner-up from the three-team Group C, will meet in a pair of quarter-finals next week to finalise the remaining two semi-final spots.

Both of Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clashes are attractive local derbies. In Group A, there is a repeat of the 2024 decider between champions Mary Immaculate College Limerick and University of Limerick. 

Both sides are already assured of involvement in the knockout stages. 

This final group outing (MICL, 2pm) is to decide who heads straight to the last four and who must negotiate a quarter-final assignment next week.

Whereas Mary I scored narrow two-point wins over ATU Galway and SETU Waterford in their group outings to date, Brian Ryan’s UL recorded 11 and 13-point hammerings of the same opposition.

Jack Leahy has continued on his fine county-winning form with Imokilly, last year’s Cork U20 clipping 3-8 from play across UL’s two comfortable victories. Tipp senior Gearóid O’Connor has been his usual reliable self from the placed ball. He’s at 0-16 from two games, 0-10 of them frees.

Later on Wednesday evening, there’s the all-Cork derby of MTU Cork and UCC. It is the former that has home advantage, with throw-in at 8pm. Same as the Limerick colleges, both Cork sides are two from two and know that the worst outcome is a quarter-final next week.

Brian Keating and Ben Cunningham have been to the fore for a UCC side that welcomed back into their ranks the Sars and Cork pair of Daniel Hogan and Cathal McCarthy for the win over UG last week.

MTU Cork’s group form has been arguably more impressive given they overcame both UG and UCD away from home. 

The inside line of Alan Connolly, Alan Walsh, and Jack Cahalane drips with menace. Behind them, Diarmuid Healy has registered 0-7 from play in two hours of fare. Further back, of course, and around which their defence is shaped, is Cork centre-back Ciarán Joyce.

In Group C, TUS Midwest and Maynooth University clash on Thursday. That group is still very much up in the air. Maynooth, who have home advantage, must claim both points to extend their stay in the competition.