NUIG keep UL at arms length to secure Sigerson Cup crown

The Declan Brouder managed side couldn’t claim a first ever title in Carlow last night.

NUIG are the 2022 Fitzgibbon Cup champions after seeing off UL by 0-12 to 1-6 in the decider in IT Carlow on Wednesday evening.

The victors never trailed on the night as the Limerick college never hit the form that had them as pre match favourites.

The win moved NUIG on to 23 titles as UL’s search for a maiden crown goes on.

UL struggled early on in the conditions against NUIG’s well organised defence as they curbed the competitions top scorer David Clifford, who didn’t score from play.

Paul Towey didn’t get UL off the mark until the 19th minute with the Galway side hitting the target three times by then.

But frees from Donal O’Sullivan and Clifford had the sides tied at 0-3 apiece at the interval.

Conditions were much improved in the second half and NUIG hit the ground running with substitute Cathal Heneghan making an immediate impact on his arrival, doubling NUIG’s score within seven minutes of the restart.

Scores from Matthew Tierney and a pair of frees from Tomo Culhane had NUIG six clear with a quarter of an hour to play.

But a miss kick at the NUIG posts kickstarted the UL revival as the Limerick side were awarded a penalty, which Clifford made no mistake from.

This was followed by scores from Eoghan McLoughlin and O’Sullivan with the deficit back to one. Culhane and Paul Walsh exchanged scores with one between the sides heading into the final five minutes.

But UL wouldn’t find another score as the Galway side hit over three more on the bounce to claim a deserved win.

UL will have to chance to rectify that loss to an extent this evening when the hurlers take on IT Carlow in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals with NUIG awaiting in the final this Saturday.