Five Limerick players to watch in the 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup

UL enter the competition as the tournament holders and favourites after claiming the League title prior to the new year.

The Fitzgibbon Cup kicks off this Wednesday with three Limerick colleges in contention for the prestigious competition. Holders UL are paired with TUS MidWest while Mary I once more find themselves in a difficult group.

Last year, UL left it late to see off NUIG in the decider and claim a first title in four years. Brian O’Grady, a member of John Kiely’s senior squad started that afternoon with fellow intercounty mate Rory Duff amongst the substitutes. A certain Cian Lynch was in the NUIG camp as he just missed out on a third medal.

There were 18 Limerick players named in the squads released by the colleges in December with a number of All-Ireland winners amongst them.

And ahead of this Wednesday’s kick off, we look at five Limerick players that will be looking to impress in this year’s edition of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Colin Coughlan (UL & Ballybrown)

Incredibly, this will be Colin Coughlan’s first year of Fitzgibbon Cup hurling with the talented youngster imperious in helping UL to the Freshers Title in 2022. That side blew away all before them and many are likely to make the step up to Fitzgibbon this Spring, including a number of his Limerick teammates.

Coughlan is in his third year with the Limerick panel and has shown his worth whenever called upon, even making a substitute appearance in the 2021 All-Ireland final. The Ballybrown native is likely to operate in the middle third of the field where he has predominately featured at wing back for underage county set ups and with UL last year.

He didn’t feature in the League final for UL and may be kept in reserve on the opening night. But if he is named to start in a star studded line up, expect him to flourish as he has done with the seniors.

Jason Gillane (Mary I & Patrickswell)

A seasoned regualar in the Fitzgibbon Cup, Gillane is likely to take up the mantle for Mary I in goals for the coming season. Gillane won an All-Ireland title in 2020 as a back up to Nickie Quaid and Barry Hennessy but wasn’t a part of last year’s squad. With Hennessy now retired, the Fitzgibbon Cup will be an ideal opportunity for him to show his worth after a full season in goals for his club.

His brother Aaron and club mate Cian Lynch were key cogs in the Mary I side that retained their title in 2017 and they remain the only two Fitzgibbon Cup triumphs for the teacher training college. The Patrickswell man was between the sticks as Mary I reached the league final in December but they were well beaten by UL.

Interestingly, Gillane is the only Limerick man named in the Mary I squad and will no doubt be a key player if they are to get out of the groups, something that evaded them for the first time in a number of years in 2022.

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Eddie Stokes (UCC and Doon)

Such is the quality in the UCC set up each year, the Doon man may see his game time limited in the Fitzgibbon Cup. But if he is thrust into the action, there is no fearing the Doon star who has somewhat gone under the radar as an underrated gem. He has been a mainstay of the Doon seniors since his adult debut and has a pair of Munster medals with Limerick in his collection.

Back in 2019, he was at wing forward when the Cathal O’Neill (more on him later) led side ended a six-year wait for honours. Last year he occupied the position as the U20s annexed the provincial championship before going on to agonisingly lose the All-Ireland final by a solitary point.

Yet, Stokes was brilliant throughout both campaigns and matches a tremendous workrate with an eye for a score as he demonstrated for club and county last year. He is joined in the UCC panel by fellow Limerick men Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Ronan Fox and Padraig Harnett (both Ahane).

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Lochlann McHale (Maynooth University)

A newly crowned All-Ireland champion, Monaleen’s run to All-Ireland honours may mean the youngster misses out for his college. Nonetheless, McHale will be a more than a competent option for the Kildare side who will be looking to upset the odds. They are paired with perennial contenders, UCC and UCD with the Mardyk hosting their opener on Wednesday evening.

That may come too soon for McHale who lined out in midfield for the Castletroy club on Saturday in their All-Ireland final win over Tooreen. Alongside fellow U20 star Joe Fitzgerald, McHale was impressive throughout as he closed the curtain on a stellar club campaign where he was a key cog in the Monaleen machine who made an instant return to the senior ranks.

However, if he is given the chance to impress, there is little doubting his credential as one to watch for the future.

Cathal O’Neill (UL & Crecora Manister)

Rarely has so much hype surrounded a player in the underage ranks but that is what Cathal O’Neill has had to deal with since he broke onto the scene as a 15-year-old with Ardscoil Rís as they claimed the 2018 Harty Cup. O’Neill then won successive All-Stars with the Limerick minors. And at just 20-years-of-age, he has already claimed a pair of All-Ireland and Munster championship titles, featuring in both deciders last year.

This week he will make his first Fitzgibbon Cup appearance and comes into the game with plenty of college pedigree as he was instrumental in helping the college to the Freshers title last year. Following that, he had the unenviable task of coming into replace two-time hurler of the year Cian Lynch and coped admirably in his absence.

However, the talented youngster looks like taking the next step this year with a regular starting berth in the Limerick championship side just evading him thus far. And the Fitzgibbon Cup could provide the perfect platform for the Crecora Manister man.

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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)