2023 Fitzgibbon Cup squads revealed with plenty of Limerick representation across the panels

The 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup kicks off in the new year with the University of Limerick the defending champions.

The squads for the 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup have been revealed with three Limerick sides in contention to claim the prestigious prize. In total there are 18 Limerick players split between the 11 colleges.

There are 12 Limerick clubs represented with Ahane and Na Piarsaigh both providing three players. Doon and Kildimo Pallaskenry have a pair while Crecora Manister, Ballybrown, Garryspillane, Mungret St Pauls, Patrickswell, Kilmallock and Monaleen all have one.

Reigning champions UL contain five local players which includes three of the all-conquering freshers team from 2022 that claimed League and All-Ireland titles. That trio of Adam English, Cathal O’Neill and Colin Coughlan went on to claim Liam MacCarthy medals later in the season.

Mark Quinlan and Rory Duff, who was a part of last year’s winning side are also included in the 35-man squad. UL were crowned champions with a 1-21 to 2-15 win over NUIG last February with nine of the XV still involved with the Limerick college. Mikey Kiely was the hero of the day and is still joined by captain Bryan O’Mara, Mark Rodgers and more incounty players in the side.

TUS Midwest are the best represented with six Limerick players in their 35-man squad. Kildimo Pallaskenry and Na Piarsaigh both have a pair on the Limerick side in the form of Cathal Downes, Shaun Barry (both KP), Marcus Hogan and Sean Long (both Nap). Ahane’s Kevin Morrissey and Murroe Boher’s Michael Ryan are also selected They were beaten in the quarter-finals last year.

Mary Immaculate College provide just one player to the Fitzgibbon with Jason Gillane named. The Limerick teaching college were back to back winners in 2016 and 2017, their only ever successes in the competition.

2020 champions UCC have four Limerick men in their squad. Jerome Boylan was a winner three years ago and he is joined by Ahane duo Padraig Hartnett and Ronan Fox as well as Doon’s Eddie Stokes.

Elsewhere, recent Munster Club Intermediate winner Lochlann McHale will line out for Maynooth University while four-times All-Ireland winner Barry Hennessy is a part of the SETU Waterford squad.

Full Fitzgibbon Cup Squads

TUS Midwest: Cathal Downes (Kildimo Pallaskenry), Kevin Morrissey (Ahane), Marcus Hogan (Na Piarsaigh), Micheal Ryan (Murroe Boher), Sean Long (Na Piarsaigh), Shaun Barry (Kildimo Pallaskenry)

University of Limerick: Adam English (Doon), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane), Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls)

UCC: Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Padraig Hartnett (Ahane), Eddie Stokes (Doon), Ronan Fox (Ahane)

Mary Immaculate College: Jason Gillane (Patrickswell)

SETU Waterford: Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)

Maynooth University: Lochlann McHale (Monaleen)