Hurling

Fitzgibbon Cup: LIT advance to semi-finals

25 May 2018 - 4:12PM

FITZGIBBON CUP QUARTER-FINAL: LIT 1-15 IT CARLOW 0-14

Davy Fitzgerald's Limerick IT are safely through to the semi-finals of the Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup after a four-point win over Carlow IT at LIT on Tuesday afternoon.

The weekend hosts made sure of a last four showdown with local rivals University of Limerick by disposing of IT Carlow in a heated affair this afternoon.

In dismal conditions at LIT, Fitzgerald's charges had David Reidy to thank for a match-winning haul of 1-8. The diminutive Clare corner forward was in superb form, scoring the decisive first half goal in a tie that saw both sides reduced to 14 men.

And the man at the centre of the eligibility storm that dogged the competition over the past week, James Gannon, lined out at corner back for IT Carlow.

The game was given the go-ahead at a late stage following a failed appeal by Mary Immaculate College to the independent Disputes Resolution Authority.

And there was real needle throughout as Limerick IT lost Alan Dempsey to a straight red card in the 29th minute, for a wild swipe on IT Carlow's Jack Fagan.

But the numbers were evened up two minutes later when Charles Dwyer suffered red card woe for the second time in four days. The Laois player, sent off against Waterford last Saturday night, was given his marching orders for a high challenge on Seanie O'Brien.

LIT, Fitzgibbon Cup winners in 2005 and 2007, went on to lead by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break, with IT Carlow restricted to placed balls for all of their first half scores.

LIT's goal was supplied by Reidy in the 20th minute as the diminutive corner forward cut in from the right touchline before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Conor Clancy.

The second half saw LIT, playing against the breeze, cruise into an eight-point lead - 1-13 to 0-8 - before DJ Carey's IT Carlow rallied with three unanswered points.

Reidy then contented himself with a point from a 46th minute penalty, before Ian Byrne saw his 55th minute penalty saved as IT Carlow desperately struggled in vain for a way back into the game.

Scorers for Limerick IT: D Reidy 1-8 (0-5f, 0-1 65, 0-1 pen), P Flaherty 0-3, B O'Connell, A Dempsey, S O'Brien and J Campion 0-1 each.

Scorers for IT Carlow: K Kelly 0-8f, C Doughan 0-3 (2f, 1 65), J Fagan, C Bolger and G Keegan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK IT: A Murphy (Limerick); M Kiely (Limerick), N O'Connor (Clare), K Bennett (Waterford); W Ryan (Tipperary), B O'Connell (Limerick), S O'Halloran (Clare); J Campion (Laois), A Dempsey (Limerick); M Fitzgerald (Kildare), S O'Brien (Limerick), P Flaherty (Galway); D Reidy (Clare), P Killeen (Galway), D Demspey (Limerick). Subs: P Fitzgerald (Clare) for M Fitzgerald (37), M Gennery (Tipperary) for D Dempsey (52), S Mcgrath (Clare) for Campion (54).

IT CARLOW: C Clancy (Offaly); C Doyle (Kilkenny), M Ryan (Carlow), J Gannon (Kilkenny); W Young (Laois), C Doughan (Offaly), D Palmer (Laois); A Fogarty (Kilkenny), I Byrne (Wexford); M Kavanagh (Carlow), M Harney (Waterford), C Dwyer (Laois); J Fagan (Meath), K Kelly (Kilkenny), C Bolger (Kilkenny). Subs: B Staunton (Kilkenny) for Palmer (h.t.), J Doyle (Carlow) for Harney (42), K Hannifin (Kerry) for C Doyle (42), C Dunford (Colligan, Waterford) for Kavanagh (48), G Keegan (Kildare) for Kelly (54).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway)

Report: Jackie Cahill

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