Waterford Institute of Technology and University College Dublin overcame tough challenges in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals against Limerick Institute of Technology and University of Limerick, respectively.
WIT 0-21 LIT 1-14
Waterford IT advanced to the semi-final stage of the Fitzgibbon Cup following Wednesday’s four-point win over Limerick IT in Carriganore. Kilkenny’s Eoin Murphy was the hero once again for WIT, scoring nine points. The Kilkenny sub-goalkeeper has made a strong case to be considered for outfield duties by Brian Cody, following his exploits in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup.
WIT will face Mary Immaculate College of Limerick in the semi-final, in what is sure to be an enthralling clash between two good hurling sides.
LIT struggled to contain the WIT full-forward line, with Jake Dillon and Gavin O’ Brien scoring three points apiece.
As is often the case, Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan was Limerick IT’s leading scorer but his tally of eight points was not enough to them through to the semi-final weekend. Jamie Fitgibbon was the goalscorer for the Limerick outfit, adding the finishing touch to a great team move in the 16th minute.
Davy Fitzgerald’s LIT trailed by three points at half-time, 0-12 to 1-06, but could not overturn the deficit and went on to lose on a scoreline of 0-21 to 1-14.
Scorers for WIT: Eoin Murphy 0-9 (7f), Jake Dillon, Gavin O’Brien 0-3 each, Ciaran Haugh, Harry Kehoe 0-2 each, Tomas Hamill, Michael Power 0-1 each.
WATERFORD IT: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner, Waterford); Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner, Waterford), Liam Lawlor (Fourmilewater, Waterford), Noel Connors (Passage East, Waterford); Ciaran Haugh (Lorrha-Dorrha, Tipperary), Wayne Hutchinson (Ballygunner, Waterford), Tomás Hamill (Killea, Tipperary); Luke Harney (Kilmacow, Kilkenny), Stephen Roche (Mount Sion, Waterford); Harry Kehoe (Wexford), Michael Sheedy (Portroe, Tipperary), Eoin Murphy (Glenmore, Kilkenny); Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion, Waterford), Jake Dillon (De La Salle, Waterford), Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore, Waterford).
Subs: Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford) for Harney (29), Martin Power (Kilkenny) for O’Neill (half-time), Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary) for Sheedy (61).
Scorers for LIT: Seamus Callanan 0-8 (0-7f), Jamie Fitzgibbon 1-0, Cathal McInerney 0-2, Andrew Fahy (0-1f), Eoin O’Sullivan, Sean Collins, Seanie O’Brien 0-1 each.
LIMERICK IT: Andrew Fahy (Whitegate, Clare); Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), Pat Begley (Mungret, Limerick), Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary); Paudie Ahern (Kilteely-Dromkeen, Limerick), Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Paul Flaherty (Abbeyknockmoy, Galway); Sean Collins (Cratloe, Clare), Colin Nelson (Feakle, Clare); Jamie Fitzgibbon (Crusheen, Clare), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe, Clare), Gary Guilfoyle (Feakle, Clare); Eoin O’Sullivan (Sarsfields, Cork), Sean O’Brien (Patrickswell, Limerick), Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch, Tipperary).
Subs: John O’Keeffe (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary) for Nelson (44), Niall O’Connor (Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare) for Ahern (57).
UCD 1-16 UL 0-17
A talented University College Dublin side fought off the challenge of University of Limerick to qualify for the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final for the first time since 2006. A Noel-McGrath inspired UCD will enter the semi-finals weekend with hopes of ending a twelve-year drought and, on Wednesday’s showing, it will take a lot to stop them.
Nicky English’s side showed great character to overturn a three-point UL lead at half-time and win by two points, and this will no doubt stand to them for the remainder of the competition.
Tipperary’s Noel McGrath was at his masterful best, scoring twelve points for the Belfield university, with eleven coming from placed balls. He showed great composure to score the last four points of the game and send his side into a semi-final date with holders University College Cork.
If McGrath was UCD’s best forward, then Dublin senior hurler Rory O’ Carroll was their best defender, as he lead by example and controlled the defence throughout.
UL’s Jonathan Glynn, Darach Honan and Wexford’s Jack Guiney were constant threats to the UCD defence, with the latter scoring the Limerick side’s goal after fourteen minutes to level the scores.
UL went in at the half leading by three points, but had no answer to Noel McGrath’s eight second-half points and UCD advanced to the semi-final.
Scorers for UCD: Noel McGrath 0-12 (0-11f), Jack Guiney 1-1, Patrick Murphy 0-2, Cathal Kenny 0-1.
UCD: Brian Murphy (Shelmaliers, Wexford); Jack Dougan (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), William Phelan (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), James Gannon (St Patrick’s, Kilkenny); Bill O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin), Shane Norton (Emeralds, Kilkenny); Cathal Kenny (Barrow Rangers, Kilkenny), Oisin Gough (Cuala, Dublin); Domhnall Fox (Carnmore, Galway), Paddy Murphy (Éire Og-Nenagh, Tipperary), Conor Allis (Croom, Limerick); Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary), Jack Guiney (Rathnure, Wexford), Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-the-Ballagh, Wexford).
Scorers for UL: Kieran Morris 0-9 (0-7f, 0-2 ’65), Adrian Ryan, Paul Kelly, Brian Stapleton 0-2 each, Michael Fennelly, Jonathan Glynn 0-1 each.
UL: Niall McGrath (Burgess, Tipperary); Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Limerick), Michael Walsh (Young Ireland’s, Kilkenny), Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh, Tipperary); Paraic Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Conor Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), Joe Gallagher (Kildangan, Tipperary); Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge, Clare); Tommy Heffernan (Éire Óg-Nenagh, Tipperary), Brian Stapleton (Templederry, Tipperary), Adrian Ryan (Templederry, Tipperary); Kieran Morris (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary), Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan, Galway), Darach Honan (Clonlara, Clare).
Subs: Paul Kelly (Mullinahone, Tipperary) for Stapleton (inj) (27), Eamon Murphy (Dunhill, Waterford) for Honan (48), John Fitzgibbon (Adare, Limerick) for Heffernan (55).
Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final draw:
Mary I v WIT
UCC v UCD
The semi-final weekend will be hosted by Galway Mayo Institute of Technology on the weekend of the 2nd/3rd March, 2013.
