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
If Ahern is valued because of his hybrid abilities, Coombes really should be too. He can offer real ballast at 2nd row if needed and has the height and weight. If there was a ‘last man standing’ scrap between himself, McCarthy and Ryan I think he’d be my bet. Devine hopefully get’s a look in and I’m hoping we see Osborne at 12 or 15. Very interested to see who Easterby gives 10 to v England, nothing between them at the moment imo.
@Lochlainn Garvey: a last man standing scrap??? Too bad it’s not playground rugby. Coombes isn’t a second row and won’t be considered as one for Ireland
@adizlack93: Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
@Lochlainn Garvey:
Coombes might get away with playing 2nd row with Munster but at international level he is not tall enough.
@Lochlainn Garvey: very aware but Munster and Ireland are not the same. Izzy will be next cab off the rank at SR, then prob Ahern. Whatever way you try to shoehorn Coombes into the squad, he is not better than the incumbent no. 8 Doris or backup Conan and def not a better SR than Beirne, Ryan, McCarthy or Izzy, Baird & Ahern
@Lochlainn Garvey: Coombes just doesn’t seem to have it for international rugby… he is a beast for Munster, but the step up just hasn’t suited him to date. He certainly won’t replace any of the current crop of 2nd row forwards and there are 2 or 3 ahead of him for 8 and 5 or 6 ahead of him for blindside. I am not an international coach so I cannot explain why. Leo Cullen suffered the same problem and never broke into Irish teams… Stu McCloskey did too until he came back stronger. Luke McGrath still does a great job for Leinster but will never be good enough for Ireland. Just the way it is sometimes.
@Paul Ennis: yep, the coaches definitely think there’s a missing link, for the life of me I can’t see what it is (as he’s improved his workrate in fitness this year) but I’m not going to suggest I know more than them! I hope he can get a breakthrough and, like McCloskey, show us what he’s really made of.
@Padraig Fallon: Same height as McCarthy (according to Google at least).
@adizlack93: No doubt there’s a lot of competition (lucky us), and the lads ‘ahead’ of him are all class. I think he’s too good and his skill set too unique for an Irish player not to give him a proper crack. Anyway, hoping Easterby trusts some young lads in any event.
@Lochlainn Garvey: Sorry but Coombes is nowhere near international standard for the second row, especially with the others we have in the country. He’s not up to it when it comes to our other backrows either, we have way too much talent there and his one dimensional game is not enough. It’s not a last man standing scrap. If it was, I’d get Seamus from WWF and throw him in at 8.
@Lochlainn Garvey: he’s definitely improved and it’s one of those good problems to have. I think the issue is he’s slow compared to others and doesn’t have the soft hands Doris and Conan would. Absolutely crucial for Munster though but international rugby is a step up and AF has already had a look a few times
@Paul Ennis: yes. In those two games where he was part of a scratch Irish teams. If we’re deciding guys’ test potential based on those opportunities rather than their ability to deliver excellent performances for their provinces week over week, then pretty soon we’ll have nobody fit for the Irish jersey. He has a nearly 50% strike rate for Munster. In fact, looking at the two paltry chances he was given with Ireland, he has a 50% strike rate with them too.
@Brenda Collins: excellent performances week after week? He wasn’t excellent against Leinster at all and that was the last game before saracens so your statement is wrong
Surely Tom Farrell deserves a mention. He has been the best centre in Irish Rugby this season. I know age might come against him but sometimes form has to be rewarded.
@Marc O’ Meara: it’s a shame but I expect age will go against Farrell much as it did for Frisch.
@Brenda Collins: laughable at how ever Munster player should be in the Ireland squad after a few URC performances. He’s been on Connacht for years doing the same thing ..
Gleeson, Coombes, Ahern or Izzy haven’t done enough in recent games to get a call up. Maybe McNabney and even Murphy get a call???
@Noel Lynn: Izzy and Ahern will be called up if I had to bet
@Noel Lynn: fancy Murphy as a bolter
Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
Jheez the Coombs argument is over. has been fore a while, don’t see Easterby undercutting AF’s preferences and he simply doesn’t see a place for Coombs in the squad. Aherne might get a call as he was due one before and is returning from injury amicably. Ben Murphy would be excellent in the srum half space and is worth developing given his form, that or Doak, Dont think we should be looking at Blade but he might get the nod on experience.