Four Goal Mikey Kiely the difference as UL retain Fitzgibbon Cup title with ease

Adam English and Colin Coughlan started for the Limerick college who were led by the sensational Mikey Kiely.

The University of Limerick retained their Fitzgibbon Cup title with a comprehensive 4-19 to 1-13 win over the University of Galway in Waterford this afternoon.

Mikey Kiely was the major difference between the sides as the Waterford native bagged an astonishing 4-1 from play. Indeed, the UL full forward completed his hat trick in the first half that had his side seven to the good.

He was the hero of the 2022 final also, bagging UL’s crucial goal in the decider which also came at NUIG’s expense.

Kiely first hit the net inside two minutes, twisting around the UG defence before finishing to the net. His goal came a minute after Dean Mason denied Evan Niland from the penalty spot.

Kiely’s second was set up by Mark Rodgers after 11 minutes that had UL cruising at 2-5 to 0-1. The Galway outfit hit back with a couple of scores but again it was Kiely that curbed any momentum, his hat trick making it 3-8 to 0-10 at the interval.

Limerick duo Adam English and Colin Coughlan started in the rout, both finding the target to continue their excellent 2023 form.

Incredibly, the second half was just three minutes old when Kiely made it four, flicking first time into the net after receiving a hand pass from Sean Twomey.

Six on the trot from UL followed as Gearoid O’Connor took his tally to 0-7 for the day with Twomey and Kiely also pointing. That put UL 4-15 to 0-12 clear as they kept the Galway side at bay.

The University of Galway did find the net in the final minutes, Greg Thomas eventually getting past Mason but it was far too little too late with Coughlan rounding out the scoring for the champions who retain their title for the first time.

Bryan O’Mara became the first captain to lift the trophy in successive seasons since 1999 when Andy Moloney led Waterford IT to back-to-back titles. The win also moves UL to eight Fitzgibbon Cup triumphs, within one of NUIG who are in third.

Scorers for UL: Mikey Kiely (4-1), Gearoid O’Connor (0-9, 7f, ’65), Adam English (0-2), Mark Rodgers (0-2, f), Sean Twomey, Darragh Corcoran, Bryan O’Mara, Colin Coughlan, Brian O’Sullivan (0-1)

Scorers for UG: Evan Niland (0-5, 4f), Niall Collins (0-3), Greg Thomas (1-0), Brian Concannon (0-2), Tiernan Killeen, Oisin Flannery, Phelim McGann (0-1).