Mary Immaculate College 2-31
GMIT 0-16
Darragh Small reports from Limerick
CIAN LYNCH SCORED 1-2 as reigning champions Mary Immaculate College began their Fitzgibbon Cup Group A campaign with a comprehensive victory over GMIT at Mary Immaculate College.
The hosts claimed last year’s title after a 1-30 to 3-22 victory against University of Limerick in the final. But since then Eamonn Cregan parted company and Jamie Wall took control.
Mary I were raging hot favourites coming into the game and they led 1-16 to 0-8 at half-time with Darragh O’Donovan scoring four first-half points and Lynch scoring their goal – Thomas Grimes added the second late on.
Other star names like Ronan Maher, Colm Galvin and Richie English remained from last year’s victorious panel, with Declan Hannon the only notable absentee.
Mary I stormed into the game and Micheal O’Neill scored their first point in the second minute. The sides were level for the first time five minutes later when Jarlath Mannion scored for GMIT but Mary I were dominant.
Lynch scored his goal two minutes before half-time, when the Limerick forward profited off the hard work of Thomas Monaghan and Sean Burke.
Mary I were 11 points clear at half-time and Aaron Gillane scored again on the resumption, but to their credit GMIT stuck with them and ace free-taker Alan Ward added to his personal tally – he finished with eight points.
But Mary I were too good, and they were able to rest Lynch from the 36th minute, as they brought on their bench and substitute Grimes, who replaced Burke, finished the game off with their second goal in the 50th minute.
Scorers for Mary Immaculate College: Darragh O’Donovan 0-8 (0-1f, 0-1 sl), Cian Lynch, Thomas Grimes 1-2 each, Aaron Gillane 0-5 (0-1f), Thomas Monaghan, Michael O’Neill 0-4, Ronan Maher 0-3, Colm Galvin 0-2, Eoin Quirke 0-1.
Scorers for GMIT: Alan Ward 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Jarlath Mannion, Jack Forde 0-2 each, Iomar Creaven, Joseph Mooney, Liam Kelly, Richard Doyle 0-1 each.
Mary Immaculate College
1. Ciaran Barrett (Clonmel Og, Tipperary)
2. David Sweeney (Kiladangan, Tipperary)
3. Richard English (Doon, Limerick)
4. Eoin Quirke (Whitegate, Clare)
5. Conor Twomey (Newtownshandrum, Cork)
6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary)
7. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan, Tipperary)
8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara, Clare)
9. Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary)
10. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick)
11. Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley, Clare)
12. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon, Limerick)
13. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell, Galway)
15. Sean Burke (Grenagh, Cork)
14. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell, Limerick)
Substitutes
23. Tadhg Gallagher (Kiladangan, Tipperary) for Lynch (36)
30. Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick) for Burke (44)
27. Luke Meade (Newcestown, Cork) for Cahill (44)
26. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum, Cork) for Galvin (54)
21. Colm Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton, Laois) for Flynn (56)
GMIT
1. Conor Slevin (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly)
2. Stephen Pierce (Loughrea, Galway)
3. Declan Cronin (Cappataggle, Galway)
4. Cathal Ryan (Castlegar, Galway)
5. Cathal Reilly (Liam Mellows, Galway)
6. Richard Doyle (Turloughmore, Galway)
7. Liam Kelly (Kilnadeema-Leitrim, Galway)
8. Brendan Toohey (Moneygall, Tipperary)
9. Joseph Mooney (Loughrea, Galway)
10. Jack Forde (Liam Mellows, Galway)
11. Iomar Creaven (Killimordaly, Galway)
12. Alan Ward (Sarsfields, Galway)
13. Jarlath Mannion (Cappataggle, Galway)
14. David Mangan (Kilconieron, Galway)
15. Eoin McEvoy (Killimor, Galway)
Substitutes
23. Enda Fallon (Liam Mellows, Galway) for McEvoy (30)
22. Ronan Cahill (Sixmilebridge, Clare) for Kelly (55)
17. Ronan Burke (Gort, Galway) for Ryan (55)
18. Shane Conroy (Raharney, Westmeath) for Mangan (55)
21. James Langan (Brosna Gaels, Offaly) for Creaven (55)
Referee: Michael Murtagh (Westmeath)
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