WATERFORD’S PARAIC MAHONY struck 1-18 as reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions WIT claimed a huge 49-point victory over Maynooth University tonight to reach the quarter-final stage.
And they’ll be joined by DJ Carey’s IT Carlow side after they overcame Mary Immaculate College by 4-17 to 1-17 in Carlow tonight.
The victories see Waterford IT and IT Carlow clinch the last eight spots from Group C on a night when Mary Immaculate College, who had won their opening two games, lost out on scoring difference in a dramatic last series of group games.
Group C finished with three teams on four points but scoring difference was the determining factor with Waterford IT (+47) benefiting from tonight’s landslide as they finished top while IT Carlow (+41) finished second. Mary Immaculate College (+25) lost out as they ended up third with a hectic recent schedule of three games in six days likely to have come against them.
In Carriganore tonight, WIT dominated from the off with Mahony striking 0-9 in the first-half while Kilkenny’s Jack Langton hit the net. In the second-half the one-way traffic continued with Tipperary’s Liam McGrath bagging a goal while Waterford’s Austin Gleeson ended up with 3-3. It was an astonishing result and now puts the reigning champions back in this year’s race.
In Carlow, DJ Carey saw his IT Carlow team’s ability to strike goals prove crucial. Chris Bolger fired two first-half goals while Jack Fagan also netted as they went in to a 3-8 to 0-9 interval lead. Laois senior Stephen Maher struck their fourth goal as IT Carlow ran out victors.
Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final draw
Cork IT v NUI Galway
UL v UCD
Waterford IT v Dublin IT
Limerick IT v It Carlow
