UCC HAVE MADE a major coup for next year’s Fitzgibbon Cup team, after announcing that former All-Ireland winning rebel Niall McCarthy is set to join the university.

McCarthy, who won two All-Ireland hurling titles with Cork in 2004 and 2005 is about to start a four year degree in Sports Studies and Physical Education at the college.

The Carrigtwohill clubman was Man of the Match for the Rebels in the 2004 All-Ireland hurling final against Kilkenny, going on to add an All-Star later that year.

The 33-year-old has also won three Munster hurling titles, the last of which came in 2006, and has more than 50 championship appearances for Cork.

UCC say they are “excited” by the arrival of a player with such experience, adding that he’ll be a “valuable” addition to the university’s hurling side.

The Cork university have won the Fitzgibbon Cup 38 times, six more than than any other college, with UCD closest to them on 32.

They last won the cup in 2013, but have failed to make it to the decider in the last two seasons.

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