Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Final: UL hold onto title and make history

Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup final

UL 4-31 MICL 3-21

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

For the first time since UCC achieved the feat in 2019, a dream double of Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup title wins in the same season has been secured by UL.

Limerick's Cathal O'Neill powered a star-studded UL to back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup successes at Croke Park and, in the process, into the history books as just the fourth third level institution to complete the double.

O'Neill was terrific with seven points from play as UL secured their 10th overall title in the competition and bragging rights over their city neighbours.

It's UL's fourth win in five seasons and perhaps makes up for the pain of their 2024 defeat to the same opposition.

Young Hurler of the Year Darragh McCarthy was excellent for UL as well with eight points while Cork native Jack Leahy rose to the occasion with 1-5, all from play.

There were goals too from Limerick ace Adam English and Jack O'Neill as Brian Ryan's side led virtually from start to finish.

Jamie Wall's Mary I were superbly led by Shane O'Brien who struck 1-12, and the 2024 champions registered a creditable 3-21.

But they still lost by 13 points - underlining just how special this UL team really is.

The men in navy never looked like slipping up on a pristine pitch that suited their slick stick work and unique ability.

Both sides were boosted by the return of key players with O'Brien back for Mary I after missing the semi-final win over tournament hosts DCU with a bug.

The Kilmallock man was immediately involved and clipped five first-half points into the Davin End, three from frees.

Tipperary's Joe Caesar drilled three from play also but while Mary I notched a relatively healthy 13 first-half points, they couldn't live with UL's attacking ability at the other end.

The game was only 14 minutes old and already Ryan's side had three goals racked up as they set the tempo and ran hard at Mary I's defence.

Jack O'Neill was fed by Aidan O'Connor for the first goal, English burst through the centre for the second and Leahy capped a strong start with UL's third goal.

With top county talents like Adam Screeney and Oisín O'Donoghue relatively quiet, and UL still cutting the MICL defence asunder, the writing was on the wall from an early stage.

Cathal O'Neill missed UL's quarter and semi-final wins and proved his worth with a strong first-half display, helping UL to lead by 3-13 to 0-13 at the interval.

Mary I knew they were going to need goals to rescue a result and they duly grabbed three of them in the second period.

O'Brien netted from a penalty, Caesar got their second and substitute Ben Currivan, so strong from the bench against DCU, delivered again with a stunning strike.

They were also boosted by the return from a calf injury of Clare defender and former Young Hurler of the Year Adam Hogan in the third quarter.

And yet, in truth, UL never looked like being caught as they added another goal themselves, from substitute Fintan Fitzgerald who finished with 1-1.

Sub Diarmuid Stritch got on the scoresheet for UL also and Leahy rounded off a memorable evening with their last point.

UL scorers: Jack Leahy 1-5, Darragh McCarthy 0-8 (0-7f), Cathal O'Neill 0-7, Fintan Fitzgerald 1-1, Adam English 1-1, Jack O'Neill 1-0, Aidan O'Connor 0-3, Colin Coughlan 0-3, Adam Screeney 0-1, Oisín O'Donoghue 0-1, Diarmuid Stritch 0-1.

MICL scorers: Shane O'Brien 1-12 (0-7f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), Joe Caesar 1-3, Ben Currivan 1-0, Darragh Walsh 0-1 (0-1f), Jimmy Quilty 0-1, Shane Walsh 0-1, Oisín O'Farrell 0-1, Ronan O'Connor 0-1, Donncha Campbell 0-1.

UL: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan, Galway); Ciarmhac Smyth (Midleton, Cork), Darragh Langan (Monaleen, Limerick), Aaron Morgan (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary); Killian Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny), Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown, Limerick); Adam English (Doon, Limerick), Jack O'Neill (Clooney Quin, Clare); Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown, Limerick), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora Manister, Limerick), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, Tipperary), Oisín O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Jack Leahy (Dungourney, Cork).

Subs: Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen, Limerick) for Smyth 23, Conor Martin (Cappawhite, Tipperary) for Morgan 40, Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara, Clare) for O'Donoghue 45, Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls, Limerick) for Jack O'Neill 56, Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill, Laois) for Langan 60.

MICL: Darragh Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway); Bobby Drohan (St Mollerans, Waterford), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway); Donnacha Campbell (Cappataggle, Galway), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick); Dara Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway), Ronan O'Connor (Feakle, Clare); Shane Walsh (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Tipperary); Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan, Limerick).

Subs: Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary) for Quilty h/t, Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare) for Eoin Lawless 37, Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, Tipperary) for Walsh 44, Conor Lawless (Athenry, Galway) for Harrington 46, Patrick Finn (Bruff, Limerick) for Craddock 60.

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).