FITZGIBBON CUP medals are making their way back to Co Clare following the success of the University of Limerick.
A dramatic finale saw Waterford’s Mikey Kiely step up with a vital last minute goal, again, to ensure victory for Brian Ryan’s UL on a score of 1-21 2-15 and deny NUIG a Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup double. It is the seventh time UL have won the competition which they last claimed in 2018.
Without question, the game turned following the dismissal of Cian Lynch on a straight red card. NUIG had led by five points up until the controversial decision to send off the two-time Hurler of the Year, UL found another gear when the Patrickswell man made his way to the sideline hitting 1-05 without reply. The call by referee Fergal Horgan and linesman Sean Cleere to issue a straight red card for a mild infringement with Bryan O’Mara has been highly criticised.
Mike Gough of Smith O’Briens featured for the full hour at corner back, Clarecastle’s Cian Galvin started and played the first thirty seven minutes at wing back, he was replaced by Ross Hayes with the Crusheen man firing a point with his first touch. Rian Considine of Cratloe, formerly a member of the county senior hurling panel was an unused substitute for UL.
Scariff duo Mark Rodgers and Daniel Treacy were also part of the panel. Rodgers had been the chief goal scorer for UL up until an injury ended his involvement in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final against IT Carlow on Thursday night, the outcome of a scan to determine to extent of his knee injury is not yet known, the promising attacker spent Saturday’s final in crutches. Treacy had been corner back for the majority of UL’s run except the semi-final and final. Their fathers, Ger and Dan were part of the first UL side to taste Fitzgibbon Cup glory in 1989.
Ronan Keane, an All-Ireland intermediate winner with the Kevin Kennedy managed Clare in 2011 and a member of the Éire Óg club is the Gaelic Games officer with UL while O’Callaghans Mills’ John Lenihan serves as the President of UL GAA club.
