UL’S ABILITY TO score goals at key moments was the decisive factor in them seeing off the challenge of neighbours Mary I in front a large crowd in this Limerick derby.
Mary I were chasing the game from the early stages but while they hauled UL back a couple of times, the home side were unable to get in front in the second-half.
Two goals from Eire Og Nenagh’s Tommy Heffernan in the opening five minutes gave UL the perfect start against the breeze.
And with Tipperary’s John McGrath in good form, Brian Lohan’s men looked to be coasting to victory when they opened up a 2-6 to 0-3 lead after 19 minutes.
But Eamon Cregan’s Mary I side finally got moving and a great goal from Limerick’s Declan Hannon got them back in the match.
They picked off some fine points with Darragh O’Donovan landing two long frees to cut the gap to 2-8 to 1-9 at the interval.
The introduction of Clare’s Cathal McInerney added impetus to the UL attack in the second-half and the All-Ireland winner shot three good points, while a goal from a long-range Jason Forde free and one from Pat Ryan helped them lead by 4-14 to 1-12 with 11 minutes to go.
But Mary never gave up and a goal from Sean Linnane sparked a revival with Hannon getting through for his second goal seven minutes from time to cut the gap to just five.
Another All-Ireland winner Colm Galvin got his second point to being the margin down to four but the revival was finished when Limerick senior Kevin O’Brien found the net for UL’s fifth goal.
Scorers:UL: T Heffernan 2-2, J McGrath 0-5 (2f, 1 ’65), J Forde 1-1 (1-1f), C McInerney 0-3, P Ryan 1-0, K O’Brien 1-0, D Fitzgerald 0-1, T Morrissey 0-1, C Martin 0-1, K Hehir 0-1.
Mary Immaculate: D Hannon 2-1, D O’Donovan 0-6 (4f), S Linnane 1-0, C Galvin 0-2, C Twomey 0-1, D Reidy 0-1, M O’Neill 0-1, T Stapleton 0-1, S Cahill 0-1.
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
1. Paul Maher (Tipperary)
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
3. Jack Browne (Clare)
4. Stephen Roche (Galway)
5. Aidan McGuane (Clare)
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6. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
7. Brian Stapleton (Tipperary)
8. Kevin Hehir (Clare)
18. Tommy Heffernan (Tipperary)
10. Jason Forde (Tipperary)
11. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
12. Conor Martin (Kilkenny)
13. John McGrath (Tipperary)
14. Kevin O’Brien (Limerick)
23. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
Subs: 24. Barry Heffernan (Tipperary) for Finn (28)
Five-star UL prevail in Fitzgibbon Cup Limerick derby
University of Limerick 5-15
Mary Immaculate College 3-14
UL’S ABILITY TO score goals at key moments was the decisive factor in them seeing off the challenge of neighbours Mary I in front a large crowd in this Limerick derby.
Mary I were chasing the game from the early stages but while they hauled UL back a couple of times, the home side were unable to get in front in the second-half.
Two goals from Eire Og Nenagh’s Tommy Heffernan in the opening five minutes gave UL the perfect start against the breeze.
And with Tipperary’s John McGrath in good form, Brian Lohan’s men looked to be coasting to victory when they opened up a 2-6 to 0-3 lead after 19 minutes.
But Eamon Cregan’s Mary I side finally got moving and a great goal from Limerick’s Declan Hannon got them back in the match.
They picked off some fine points with Darragh O’Donovan landing two long frees to cut the gap to 2-8 to 1-9 at the interval.
The introduction of Clare’s Cathal McInerney added impetus to the UL attack in the second-half and the All-Ireland winner shot three good points, while a goal from a long-range Jason Forde free and one from Pat Ryan helped them lead by 4-14 to 1-12 with 11 minutes to go.
But Mary never gave up and a goal from Sean Linnane sparked a revival with Hannon getting through for his second goal seven minutes from time to cut the gap to just five.
Another All-Ireland winner Colm Galvin got his second point to being the margin down to four but the revival was finished when Limerick senior Kevin O’Brien found the net for UL’s fifth goal.
Scorers: UL: T Heffernan 2-2, J McGrath 0-5 (2f, 1 ’65), J Forde 1-1 (1-1f), C McInerney 0-3, P Ryan 1-0, K O’Brien 1-0, D Fitzgerald 0-1, T Morrissey 0-1, C Martin 0-1, K Hehir 0-1.
Mary Immaculate: D Hannon 2-1, D O’Donovan 0-6 (4f), S Linnane 1-0, C Galvin 0-2, C Twomey 0-1, D Reidy 0-1, M O’Neill 0-1, T Stapleton 0-1, S Cahill 0-1.
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
1. Paul Maher (Tipperary)
2. Sean Finn (Limerick)
3. Jack Browne (Clare)
4. Stephen Roche (Galway)
5. Aidan McGuane (Clare)
6. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
7. Brian Stapleton (Tipperary)
8. Kevin Hehir (Clare)
18. Tommy Heffernan (Tipperary)
10. Jason Forde (Tipperary)
11. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
12. Conor Martin (Kilkenny)
13. John McGrath (Tipperary)
14. Kevin O’Brien (Limerick)
23. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
Subs: 24. Barry Heffernan (Tipperary) for Finn (28)
15. Cathal McInerney for Hegarty (30)
20. Pat Ryan (Limerick) for Fitzgerald (47)
17. Liam O’Sullivan for Morrissey (57)
MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE
1. Madhic O Conghaile (Galway)
2. Eoin Quirke (Clare)
3. Richie English (Limerick)
8. Alan Flynn (Tipperary)
5. Conor Twomey (Cork)
6. John Meagher (Tipperary)
7. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
20. Tom Stapleton (Tipperary)
9. Colm Galvin (Clare)
10. David Reidy (Limerick)
11. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
12. Mickey O’Neill (Clare)
15. Darragh Corry (Clare)
14. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
13. Stephen Cahill (Tipperary)
Subs: 23. Sean Linnane (Galway) for Reidy (29)
4. Colm Barry (Cork) for O’Neill (45)
22. Shane Taylor for Stapleton (50)
24. Michael O’Loughlin (Clare) for Cahill (51)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
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Fitzgibbon Cup Five-Star Limerick derby Mary Immaculate College Report University of Limerick