Jamie Wall leads Mary I past DCU and into Fitzgibbon Cup final after extra time thriller

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Ben Currivan of MICL is fouled by Sam Bourke of DCU Dóchas Eireann. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile.

Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final: Mary Immaculate College Limerick 0-31 DCU 2-16 (after extra time)

After watching his brother and sister play at Croke Park over winter, Mary Immaculate College manager Jamie Wall is heading there now himself.

The 2024 champions needed an extra 20 minutes or so to get the job done at DCU's St Clare's grounds but eventually made up for last year's quarter-final loss on the same field by outscoring the hosts 0-11 to 0-2.

Shane Walsh, from the famous Tullaroan and Kilkenny clan, led the line with 0-13 in total, 0-12 of which came from frees in the absence of Shane O'Brien.

Rising Limerick star O'Brien, who'd struck 1-30 in their three games, was absent with a 'bug', according to manager Wall, and while Walsh struggled initially on the frees, he came good with a powerful performance.

There were huge displays too from the likes of Cian Scully, who boomed over six points from wing-back, centre-back Jimmy Quilty and defenders Eoin Lawless and Bobby Drohan.

Adam Daly's four points from play were important as well as the three-time tournament winners secured their place in the Friday, February 13 final at Croke Park.

For Mary Immaculate boss Wall, involved with the college for over a decade, it will be yet another Croke Park outing having watched his sister, Kate, and brother, Philip, play there for St Finbarr's and Kilbrittain respectively in recent weeks.

Wall's side will head into the decider in optimistic mood after finishing so strongly with substitute Ben Currivan making a notable impact when he came on and scoring two extra time points.

MICL manager Jamie Wall after his side's victory. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

DCU had hoped to push on and avenge last year's final loss to UL and were well led by Denis Walsh who fired eight points on the evening while Westmeath's Peter Clarke registered both their goals.

Dan O'Meara struck the DCU point two minutes into stoppage time which forced extra time but they were outfought and outthought after that by a slicker Mary Immaculate side full of running despite the heavy conditions.

DCU led 1-7 to 0-8 at half-time of normal time with Clarke netting in the 25th minute though their opposition rued nine wides in that period, four from the stick of Walsh.

Scully came strongly into the game in the second half and with Walsh now nailing scores for fun, and Currivan winning two frees that he converted, the Limerick outfit led by a point after the hour.

Clarke's second goal kept DCU in it though and O'Meara nudged the game into extra time at 2-14 to 0-20.

There was only one team in it after that and DCU finished up with 14 players as Páidí Lennon was dismissed late on.

Scorers for MICL: S Walsh (0-13, 12fs); C Scully (0-6); A Daly (0-4); E Craddock, Ben Currivan (1f), O O'Farrell (0-2 each); R O'Connor, J Quilty (0-1 each).

Scorers for DCU: D Walsh (0-8, 8fs); P Clarke (2-0); G Kelly, C Beirne (0-3 each); Sam Byrne, Dan O'Meara (0-1 each).

MICL: D Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); B Drohan (St Mollerans, Waterford), E Lawless (Athenry, Galway - Joint captain), V Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); C Lawless (Athenry, Galway); D Campbell (Cappataggle, Galway), J Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick), C Scully (Dromin Athlacca, Limerick); D Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway), R O'Connor (Feakle, Clare); A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Tipperary), M Callinan (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare), E Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary); S Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), O O'Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick).

Subs: C Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary) for Callinan (h/t); B Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for C Lawless (42); C Deevy (Brickey Rangers, Waterford) for O'Connor (57); C Lawless for Craddock (e/t); S Whelan (Cappamore, Limerick) for Daly (76); M Gavin (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Quilty (76).

DCU: S Manogue (James Stephens, Kilkenny); S Bourke (Ballinamere, Offaly), D O'Meara (Maynooth, Kildare), I Bolger (Graignamanagh, Kilkenny); B Reid (Glenmore, Kilkenny), P Langton (Young Irelands, Kilkenny), S Gallagher (Naomh Barróg, Dublin); P Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath), P Lennon (Carrickshock, Kilkenny); C Boran (Naas, Kildare), G Kelly (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), C Beirne (Glenmore, Kilkenny); D Walsh (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), S Byrne (Blacks and Whites, Kilkenny), D Murphy (Mt. Leinster Rangers, Carlow)

Subs: A Keegan (Clontarf, Dublin) for Langton (50), E O'Brien (Naas, Kildare) for Clarke (57), L Murphy (Faythe Harriers, Wexford) for Byrne (57). Clarke for Murphy (e/t); L O'Reilly (Naas, Kildare) for Bolger (64); N Hogan (Castleknock, Dublin) for Clarke (73).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).