Mary Immaculate 1-18
Dublin IT 0-15
Mary Immaculate College qualified for the semi-final stages of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup with a six-point victory over Dublin IT this afternoon.
It will be a historic occasion for the Limerick-based outfit on Friday week, March 1st, as they will participate in the finals weekend of the premier third-level competition for the first time.
Mary Immaculate have been more accustomed in recent years to competing in the Ryan Cup, winning that second-level competition in 2009 and 2012.
But they have been rewarded for their decision this year to compete in the Fitzgibbon Cup and can now look forward to a semi-final tie against Waterford IT or Limerick IT, who play tomorrow in Carriganore in Waterford.
In a game played today at the Parnell’s GAA club in Coolock, the side managed by former Limerick All-Ireland winner Eamonn Cregan were deserving victors. Mary Immaculate lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the interval after both teams had produced an excellent first-half in a game played in perfect weather conditions.
The crucial score arrived in the 41st minute when substitute Lar Considine struck the only goal of the game after his long-range shot deceived goalkeeper Finn McGarry and the ball ended up in the net.
Clare senior John Conlon struck 0-7 for Mary Immaculate College while Limerick senior Declan Hannon shone at centre-back as he chalked up 0-5.
Yet it was Dublin IT, who displayed impressive form in the round-robin stages to top Group D, that started brightest and they were 0-6 to 0-2 to the good after 10 minutes with Tomas Connolly, a brother of Dublin footballer Diarmuid, impressing with his attacking play up front.
Mary Immaculate fought back with Conlon and Hannon getting scoring assistance from the likes of Cork’s Luke O’Farrell and Waterford’s Brian O’Halloran. DIT edged 0-9 to 0-8 ahead approaching half-time before Mary Immaculate reeled off three points without reply to fashion an 0-11 to 0-9 advantage.
They kicked on after the break, spurred on by Considine’s goal, and some quality points from Conlon and Conor Cooney, who was available to play for Mary Immaculate after his recent exploits for St Thomas in the All-Ireland club SHC.
DIT trimmed the gap to 1-16 to 0-15 with six minutes remaining after points by David Treacy and Joe McManus but Mary Immaculate finished stronger as converted frees by Hannon and Conlon sealed their success.
Mary Immaculate’s Declan Hannon celebrates after the final whistle. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Scorers for Mary Immaculate: John Conlon 0-7 (0-6f), Declan Hannon 0-5 (0-3 ’65, 0-1f), Lar Considine 1-0, Sean Curran 0-2, Conor Cooney, Colm Galvin, Luke O’Farrell, Brian O’Halloran 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin IT: Michael Moloney 0-6 (0-5f), Niall Quinn, Tomas Connolly, Stephen O’Connor, David Treacy (0-1f) 0-2 each, Joe McManus 0-1.
MARY IMMACULATE: Shane Nolan (Toomevara, Tipperary); Cilian Fennessy (Clonlara, Clare), Robert O’Donnell (Pallasgreen, Limerick), Andrew Ryan (Toomevara, Tipperary); Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain, Cork), Declan Hannon (Adare, Limerick),Eanna Hogan (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary); Niall O’Meara (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary), Colm Galvin (Clonlara, Clare); Sean Curran (Mullinahone, Tipperary), William Hickey (South Liberties, Galway), Conor Cooney (St Thomas, Galway); Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore, Waterford), John Conlon (Clonlara, Clare), Luke O’Farrell (Midleton, Cork).
Subs: Lar Considine (Patrickswell, Limerick) for Fennessy (half-time), Killian Fitzgerald (Passage, Waterford) for Considine (54), Eoin Hogan (Mullinahone, Tipperary) for Hickey (58), Darragh O’Carroll (Fermoy, Cork) for O’Meara (60).
DUBLIN IT: Finn McGarry (Ballyboden St-Enda’s, Dublin); Jamie Diviney (Beagh, Galway), Ger McManus (St Judes, Dublin), Ciaran O’Shaughnessy (Shelmaliers, Wexford); Dean Curran (Ballyboden St-Enda’s, Dublin), Liam Rushe (St Pat’s, Dublin), Kieran Bergin (Killenaule, Tipperary); Stephen O’Connor (Ballyboden St-Enda’s, Dublin), Stephen Morris (Blackhall Gaels, Meath); Shane Ryan (Crumlin, Dublin), Michael Moloney (Black & Whites, Kilkenny), Niall Quinn (Sarsfields, Galway); David Treacy (Cuala, Dublin), Thomas Connolly (St Vincent’s, Dublin), Jack Hobbs (Ballygarrett, Wexford).
Subs: Lar Prendergast (Oulart-the-Ballagh, Wexford) for Morris (25), Willie Cullen (Naomh Eanna, Wexford) for Hobbs (40), Joe McManus (St Judes, Dublin) for Ryan (40), Padraig Phelan (Emeralds, Kilkenny) for Prendergast (58).
Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim)
Good piece and great to see him doing so well, Munster are certainly in the upper tier of teams in Europe and a real handful at home but the crunch needed against the power teams in a semi or final they are a bit away. This new setup will take time and will have its down days but with the right acquisitions and leadership they could be there in a couple of years.
@mrbryanrussell: What Munster have been missing from the past 8 years is what it is needed to win a Champions cup/ Heinekin Cup – a world class 7 and world class 10. Unfortunately Munster have have just a series of bad luck in this department – constant injuries to TOD, Bleyendaal and now Cloete and Carbery have knocked their season and when you’re relying on 2nd and 3rd choice players in these positions it is highly unlikely you will make it all the way to the final in May.
There’s always a reaction when Munster don’t do well, especially from certain quarters within and outside rugby who like to twist the knife when they get the opportunity.
However Munster are still not far off making a breakthrough but there are a few things needed for that to happen in my opinion.
The new coaching staff and shift in playing style needs to bed in.
We desperately need some players of the right quality to come through the academy. When I say “the right quality” I don’t mean simply international quality but players made out of the same stuff as Clohessy, Galway, Foley, Quinlan, Stringer, ROG etc.
Players who are 100% Munster and would see pulling on the red jersey (of Munster!!) as the greatest honour imaginable.
It might be a big ask now that we’re so removed from the amateur era but a couple of players like that would be gold dust.
We need to shift away from the notion that the HC is the only thing that matters. Too many times in recent years we’ve shot ourselves in the foot by putting ourselves in a poor position in the Pro14 by going after a European Cup we were never likely to win.
Build towards making ourselves as good as anyone in the league, win it and evolve from there.
We need to ensure that any players that are brought in from outside, either IQ or not, are of the required quality and willing to give 100% to Munster.
And probably above all else we need a bit of luck, especially with injuries.