University of Limerick 1-13
Limerick IT 2-16
DAVY FITZGERALD’S LIMERICK IT stunned city rivals University of Limerick in this afternoon’s Irish Daily Mail Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final.
LIT were 6-1 outsiders to win on UL soil but the two-time winners pulled off a fully-merited six-point win to set up a semi-final showdown against Waterford IT at Queen’s.
2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly hit 1-10 for LIT, with Tipperary’s Jason Forde on target with 1-6 of UL’s total.
Unfortunately, LIT’s day ended on a sour note when midfielder Seanie O’Brien picked up a red card which looks set to rule him out of finals weekend.
A massive crowd estimated in the region of 3,000 watched as LIT hunted in packs and performed with hunger and intensity levels that star-studded UL simply couldn’t match.
Kelly was the scoring star of the show but there was also a notable contribution of 1-3 from Tipperary’s Philip Ivors for LIT.
And LIT had to dig deep after UL, who trailed by 0-6 to 0-10 at half-time, were on terms within two minutes of the restart.
Forde cracked home a fine goal just 16 seconds after the resumption before Tommy Heffernan levelled matters.
UL would rue a tally of 12 wides at the finish, including nine in the second half, but they were simply outfought by a highly-motivated LIT.
LIT grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in the 51st minute when Kelly looped a shot over Shane Hassett for his side’s first goal.
And Ivors latched onto a brilliant long-range delivery from Kelly to bang home a second goal for LIT with two minutes remaining.
UL could have added further goals in the second half but Galway’s Johnny Glynn inexplicably booted wide on two occasions with the net at his mercy.
Scorers for UL: Jason Forde 1-6 (0-5f, 0-1 sl), Padraic Walsh & Tommy Heffernan 0-2 each, Podge Collins, Cathal Malone & Tommy O’Brien (f), 0-1 each.
Scorers for LIT: Tony Kelly 1-10 (0-5f, 0-1 65), Philip Ivors 1-3, Mark Gennery 0-2, Paul Flaherty 0-1.
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Shane Hassett (Tipperary); Paul Flanagan (Clare), Jack Sheehan (Cork), Jack Browne (Clare); Thomas Ryan (Limerick), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Conor Ryan (Clare); Bill Maher (Tipperary), Padraic Walsh (Kilkenny); Cathal Malone (Clare), Podge Collins (Clare), Brian Stapleton (Tipperary); Jason Forde (Tipperary), Johnny Glynn (Galway), Tommy Heffernan (Tipperary).Subs: Seadna Morey (Clare) for Maher (28), Tommy O’Brien (Limerick) for Stapleton (44), Mark Carmody (Limerick) for Sheehan (51).
LIMERICK IT: Aaron Murphy (Limerick); Sean O’Gorman (Clare), Martin Minehan (Tipperary), Cian Nolan (Clare); Paul Flaherty (Galway), Enda Boyce (Clare), Alan Dempsey (Limerick); Barry O’Connell (Limerick), Tony Kelly (Clare); Seanie O’Brien (Limerick), Philip Ivors (Tipperary), Pat Begley (Limerick); Mark Gennery (Tipperary), Cathal McInerney (Clare), Jamie Shanahan (Clare).Subs: Shane McGrath (Clare) for Gennery (44), Oisin Hickey (Clare) for Ivors (60+1).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
