Stoppage time points from the irresistible Adam Screeney and Young Hurler of the Year Darragh McCarthy propelled champions UL into an all Limerick Fitzgibbon Cup final against 2023 winners Mary Immaculate College after defeating a wasteful University of Galway.
The magic from Screeney, who ended with five from play, helped UL prevail in this arm wrestle. They were far from their best and just about held on amid a late 27-man goalmouth scramble in the final play.
Short Adam English and John Conneally through injury, there was still an expectation that they would ease to another final, but Frank Lohan’s Galway didn’t read the script.
A handful of missed frees in an opening half where the western students would only register 1-3 proved important, as they also hit a double digit wide tally a Maguires Field.
Brian Ryan’s men will head to Croke Park on Friday 13 in a bid to bring home the Fitzgibbon Cup for a tenth time in their fifty-four year existence.
Having swatted aside Maynooth University (37 pts), DCU Dóchas Éireann (13 pts), the Limerick outfit had eight to spare over UCC last week – there was nothing like that ease here, especially when Darragh Neary netted inside twenty seconds after Galway galloped for goal from the throw-in.
Aidan O’Connoor, Screeney and the free-taking of McCarthy pushed UL in charge and they held the lead from minute five until near the final whistle – before those inter-county talents delivered the goods in front of a huge crowd on the UL campus.
By half-time, missed frees from Sam O’Farrell looked to derail UG, who trailed 0-11 to 0-3, with Screeney shining brightest with four from play. Jack O’Neill and Jack Leahy were threatening for UL, but as a team they registered 11 wides in the opening half.
The first three points after the resumption were for those in maroon with Neary, keeper Loam Hoare and O’Farrell (free) keeping them in the fight. Hoare’s long-range efforts were a growing influence as UL couldn’t shake off the underdogs.
Jack Leahy, McCarthy and Jack O’Neill helped to easy any UL stress but McCarthy was denied by a top drawer stop from Offaly keeper Hoare.
Five white flags in a row late on, including a wonderful Daniel Comar effort brought the sides level at 0-16 to 1-13 – but there was time Screeney to sprinkle more star dust.
He jinked to the sideline and fired over from 50 meters, before the insurance score from McCarthy.
D McCarthy (0-6, 6fs); A Screeney (0-5); J O’Neill (0-3); A O’Connor (0-2); O O’Donoghue, J Leahy (0-1 each).
S O’Farrell (0-5, 2f); D Neary (1-1); L Hoare (0-3, 3fs); G Lee, D Comar, C Kileen, G Thomas (0-1 each).
D Fahy (Ardrahan); C Martin (Cappawhite), M Fitzgerald (Passage), A Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); O Fitzgerald (St. Catherine’s), K Doyle (Emeralds), C Coughlan (Ballybrown); Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), D Stritch (Clonlara); J O’Neill (Clooney-Quinn), A O’Connor (Ballybrown), A Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey); D McCarthy (Toomevara), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), J Leahy (Dungourney).
J Ormond (JK Brackens) for Screeney (temp – 46 -49); F Fitzgerald (Mungret St. Paul’s) for Stritch (50).
L Hoare (Carrig/Riverstown); J Ryan (Clarinbridge), M Hardiman (Athenry), P Taffee (Belmont); F Ó Brioin (Sixmilebridge), C Cunningham (Moycullen), D Comar (Kilnadeema-Leitrim); C Killeen (Loughrea), I McGlynn (Kilconieron); S O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), G Lee (Clarinbridge), L Leen (Clarinbridge); D Bourke (Ballinamere), G Thomas (Castlegar), D Neary (Casltegar).
T Leen (Craughwell) for Bourke (33); D Davouren (Moycullen) for L Leen (blood – 43-46); M Molloy (Abbeyknockmoy) for L Leen (57).
Ciaran O’Regan (Cork).
