DCU dethrone lethargic Mary I to reach Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals

Mary Immaculate College were overly reliant on Shane O'Brien for scores. 

Donal Shirley hit four points from play for DCU in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final victory over Mary I. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final: DCU 1-20 Mary Immaculate College 1-18 

DCU progressed to the semi-finals of the Electric Ireland HE Fitzgibbon Cup following their two-point point victory over Mary Immaculate College at St Claire’s on Wednesday evening.

In doing so, they dethroned a lethargic Mary Immaculate College outfit that played second fiddle for the large part and ultimately proved far too reliant on Shane O’Brien for scores.

The Kilmallock clubman accounted for eleven points over the hour but the visitors never threatened on a consistent basis, with the absence of both Adam Hogan and Shane Meehan from their starting line-up proving hugely decisive by the final whistle.

The omens were not particularly bright for the visitors in the early stages as Donal Shirley raced unopposed down the middle to point within ten seconds and a fine Joe Flanagan score pushed DCU two points to the good.

A brace of O’Brien frees allowed Mary Immaculate to draw level by the fifth minute with further scores from Declan McLoughlin and O’Brien fair reward for a brief period of dominance by the visitors.

However, they failed to build on those encouraging signs as Shirely was afforded far too much room on two occasions as he landed classy scores while Flanagan and Sam Bourke also added points as the hosts regained the lead.

While Diarmuid Cahill and Joe Caesar tried to rally the away challenge with points at the end of the first quarter, Mary Immaculate were dealt a massive body blow in the 20th minute as a length delivery from Bourke deceived Darragh Conway before rolling almost apologetically over the line.

That goal pushed DCU six points clear but their opponents responded well to that setback as within seven minutes, McLoughlin saw his effort well saved by Cian Byrne but Fionn McDonagh was on hand to flick home at the second attempt from the rebound.

Crucially, the hosts managed to pop over two points by way of riposte through Cathal Beirne and Cian Boran with O’Brien’s late free reducing the Mary Immaculate deficit to 1-13 to 1-9 by the interval.

The visitors were further encouraged by points in the first five minutes of the second half through Ronan Power and Jimmy Quilty while at the opposite end, DCU’s marksmanship became increasing ragged as they struck four wides on the bounce.

A 65 from O’Brien in the 43rd minute left the bare minimum between the sides but crucially, Flanagan landed a vital free a minute later to help settle the wasteful hosts.

From nowhere, they began to reassert their supremacy on events with Shirley and Billy Reid firing over from distance and suddenly, the gap was out to six points again.

While O’Brien added two scores from play, the goal required to ignite a Mary Immaculate comeback never looked likely to materialise with the frustrations of the visitors all too evident by the final whistle.

Scorers for DCU/Dóchas Éireann: S Bourke 1-1 (0-1f); J Flanagan (2f), D Shirley 0-4 each; C Dunne 0-3 (3f); C Spain (1 sideline), C Beirne 0-2 each; B Reid, D Carley, C Boran, P Clarke 0-1 apiece.

Scorers for Mary Immaculate College: S O’Brien 0-11 (7f, 1 ’65); F McDonagh 1-0; J Quilty 0-2; R Power, R O’Connor, D McLoughlin, D Cahill, J Caesar 0-1 apiece.

DCU: C Byrne (St Mary’s Rosslare, Wexford); I Bolger (Graignamanagh, Kilkenny), P Langton (Young Irelands, Kilkenny), P Lennon (Carrickshock, Kilkenny); S Bourke (Ballinamere, Offaly), P Moylan (Dicksboro, Kilkenny), B Reid (Glenmore, Kilkenny); D Shirley (Brosna Gaels, Offaly), C Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey, Offaly); C Beirne (Glenmore, Kilkenny), J Carroll (Dicksboro, Kilkenny), D Carley (Glynn Barntown, Wexford); J Flanagan (Naomh Barróg, Dublin), C Boran (Naas, Kildare), C Dunne (Clough-Ballacolla, Laois). 

Subs: P Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath) for Carroll (33), D Walsh (Dunamaggin, Kilkenny) for Dunne (33), C Kehoe (St Mulin’s, Carlow) for Carley (53).

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: D Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry); W Dore (Dromlin-Athlacca, Limerick), E Lawless (Athenry, Galway), V Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); J Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), J Quilty (Blackrock, Cork), R Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); R O’Connor (Feakle, Clare), C Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary); F McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway), 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: E Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary) for Cahill (half-time), D Brennan (Skeheenarinky, Tipperary) for Hennessy (45), P Finn (Bruff, Limerick for Dore (48), D Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway) for Ryan (54).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).