THE ULSTER Bank Fitzgibbon Cup finals get under way in Galway this afternoon with the hosts NUIG trying to derail overwhelming favourites Limerick IT, for whom Galway’s Joe Canning will be trying to start the month on a positive note with his club Portumna’s crack at a first three-in-a-row now less than two weeks away.
As usual, the Galway marksman has been enjoying this time of the year and despite a clever game plan, UCD were unable to stop him getting sufficient scores, 1-9, to help tilt the match in LIT’s direction. Rory O’Carroll lined out at corner forward but played in a withdrawn, sweeping role to limit Canning’s influence.
The scoring threat is more varied, however, and former Galway minor Niall Quinn and Tipperary’s Séamus Callanan pose plenty of alternative threat.
The closeness of the quarter-final against a UCD side missing a number of first-choices suggests the favourites shouldn’t be quite as tight in the betting, particularly against a host team with venue advantage and a number of talented young hurlers.
Captain Finian Coone’s dead-ball striking has been a constant feature of the Galway team’s progress and he shot 0-8 in the quarter-final win over St Patrick’s, Drumcondra, as well as crucial late strikes against both UCD for a draw and the winner against Dublin IT in the group stages.
Elsewhere, NUIG have Galway centre back John Lee, who switched between centrefield with Tipperary’s Séamus Hennessy in the quarter-final as well as Clare under-21 All-Ireland winning star John Conlon. Long-time keeper of the flame in the college, Tony O’Regan, has retired as NUIG sports supremo, but is a selector with this weekend’s team and would love to close the 30-year gap separating the Galway college from their most recent Fitzgibbon.
They may well come closer than expected, but LIT would still have to be fancied.
The other semi-final sees UL square up to Waterford IT. The other Limerick side are also serious contenders under the management of their Newtownshandrum back-room team of Ger Cunningham and Patsy Morrissey.
Their attack features Offaly senior duo Shane Dooley and Brian Carroll as well as Tipp pair Ryan O’Dwyer and last year’s county captain Willie Ryan.
Limerick All Star nominee Séamus Hickey has been in terrific form at the back and their dispatch of champions UCC was by a formidable 10 points.
Waterford edged past Dublin IT in the quarter-finals and have quality throughout, but are unlikely to cope with UL’s all-round strengths.
The last time the Limerick institutions met in the final, LIT – powered by Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly – were clear winners, but on this occasion the tables might have turned leaving UL a very good chance of repeating January’s extra-time Munster Cup victory.
Fitzgibbon Cup Semi-finals (Dangan, NUI Galway):NUI Galway v Limerick IT, 12.00; Waterford IT v University of Limerick, 2.00.
Final (tomorrow):Dangan, 3.00.
