DCU drive for Fitzgibbon glory another mark of Offaly hurling rise

If their trio of DCU players could claim Fitzgibbon Cup medals, it would be another significant boost for the county.

DCU’s Donal Shirley. Pic:  Ryan Byrne, Inpho

Another little victory for Project Offaly hurling on Tuesday evening last at the SETU Carlow GAA grounds.

Level with UCC in the 45th minute of their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final, Donal Shirley conjured a game-hinging goal for underdogs DCU that was created in his native Offaly.

A UCC puckout was gathered by DCU and Offaly man Colin Spain at midfield, fed to the onrushing Sam Bourke, another Offaly native, before being released to Shirley who strode clear and applied the finishing touches to a Mona Lisa masterpiece.

It was the turning point in a landmark win for DCU, just their second semi-final win ever, and they will chase a maiden title on Saturday when they face UL, finalists for the fourth year in a row.

Offaly hurling is on the up just lately and if their trio of DCU players could drop a few Fitzgibbon Cup medals into the mix, it would be another significant boost for the county.

Former Offaly forward Shane Dooley won an Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup medal with UL in 2011 though has more reason to shout for DCU in this Saturday's final at the Connacht GAA training centre.

"It's great to see the few Offaly lads involved," said Dooley, who played alongside county icons like Seamus Hickey (Limerick), Pat Cronin (Cork), David Burke (Galway), Brendan Bugler (Clare) and Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) when UL won the title in 2011.

"I started in UL in 2010. I played the Fitz in 2010, 2011 was the year that we won it. I found it a real eye-opener, the amount of preparation that went into it with UL. Video analysis and stuff, we just weren't doing the same level of preparation with Offaly as we were with UL and it definitely brought on my game. I probably had two of my best years in 2010 and 2011 with Offaly and I'd say it was definitely down to playing with UL and playing with lads of that calibre."

The current UL side that is bidding to make up for last year's final defeat to Mary I, and to collect a third title in four seasons, is also stuffed with county talent, from Kilkenny's Killian Doyle to Tipperary's Gearoid O'Connor to Limerick duo Adam English and Colin Coughlan.

Pictured is former Offaly and UL Hurler, Shane Dooley as he looks ahead to the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships Fitzgibbon Cup final this Saturday 15th February. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unique alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across GAA and Camogie. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

DCU's quest for a first ever title, and to become the first non-Munster team in 15 years to collect the title, isn't quite as star studded with players from Kildare, Laois, Dublin, Westmeath and Carlow all featuring in the semi-final win.

From Dooley's perspective, it's all about how the Offaly players perform.

"It would be great for Offaly if DCU won this," he said. "If Adam (Screeney) was fit, he'd be hurling with UL and I'd probably shout for them a bit more if they had an Offaly lad involved. I don't think there's anyone from Offaly in the UL team at the minute, so maybe as a former UL player myself I'm a little on the fence. But definitely I would be very happy for the Offaly lads at DCU if they won it."

Offaly plummeted to hurling's depths for a spell before veteran forward Dooley's retirement after the 2023 season. They're back on the up now, currently top of Division 1B of the National League and preparing for Leinster championship activity. The resurgence is down to players like Screeney and those at DCU who were successful as minors and U-20s with the Faithful.

"The intensity of the Fitzgibbon games will only improve those players further for Offaly, for the years to come," said Dooley. "You can see Colin Spain there is on the Offaly team, playing brilliantly in midfield and I can guarantee you that's as a result of playing with DCU in the Fitzgibbon and being well primed for the league. Because this is DCU's championship season at the minute and he's playing as well as he can at the minute."

Dooley's own memories of UL's Fitzgibbon final win in 2011 are bittersweet. The Tullamore man was suspended for it.

"Something that shouldn't have happened and something that I've regretted since," said Dooley of his semi-final dismissal. "The Fitzgibbon was something I always kind of dreamed of winning and being on the pitch for. When they got to the final then, look, it was sickening to miss it."