Waterford Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology face off in Carriganore at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon, with a place in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final at stake.
Click here for live score updates.
Waterford IT last won top honours in the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2008, when they overcame today’s opponents, Limerick IT.
Form
Waterford IT come into this game on the back of a great run of form, having topped Group B to qualify for today’s encounter. They beat Carlow Institute of Technology by five points and then had an excellent 3-15 to 2-8 win over a strong Cork Institute of Technology side. The failure to qualify for last year’s Quarter-Final stage seems to have spurred on this WIT side and they will fancy their chances on Wednesday.
Limerick IT are one of the most consistent teams over the last few years and will be looking to qualify for a fourth successive Fitzgibbon Cup Semi-Final. However, their form this year has been suspect at times and they were comprehensively beaten 2-13 to 0-11 by University College Dublin in their opening group game. They appeared to put that defeat behind them and went on to beat Dublin City University in their final group game, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Waterford IT.
Team News
Limerick IT’s Seamus Callanan returned from injury for their last game and he will be a very important figure today. Neither team has any major injury worries.
Players to Watch
The Waterford IT team is full of inter-county stars, with Galway’s Bernard Burke and Waterford’s Noel Connors and Stephen O’ Keeffe. Kilkenny sub-goalkeeper Eoin Murphy is just as influential in the forward line as he is between the posts, and will lead Waterford’s forward threat. He has been performing brilliantly this year and scored 1-8 in Waterford IT’s win over Cork IT.
Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan is a major figure for Limerick IT and his performance will surely have a bearing on the outcome of Wednesday’s game. He scored 1-9 in the DCU game on his return from injury and he will no doubt be much fitter today. A worrying prospect for the WIT back-line. Clare’s All-Ireland U21 winning goalkeeper Ronan Taafe is a very reliable last line of defence, and LIT will able to build from his accurate puck-outs. Seán Collins and Cathal McInerney will also have a part to play.
Betting Advice
Limerick IT have been lacklustre at times this year, but Seamus Callanan is an exceptional player and he will see them through this tie and lead them to the semi-final weekend. So take the 11/8 with Boylesports.com on a LIT victory
