LIT’s new look Fitzgibbon Cup Management team

LIT has today announced its management team for the 2018/2019 Fitzgibbon Cup campaign.

The two-times winners will have a management team led by Jimmy Browne, LIT’s Vice President for Corporate Services and Capital Development, a member of the current Clare senior hurling management team and formerly a member of Clare’s under-21 All-Ireland All Ireland Winning Under 21 management team.

The management team is John Fitzgerald (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch, Tipperary); Mikey Kiely (Ballybrown, Limerick); John Carey (Sixmilebridge, Clare) and LIT’s Dean of Business and Humanities, Donnacha McNamara (Monaleen, Limerick)

The LIT hurling club will be captained by All-Ireland winning Limerick wing-back Diarmuid Byrnes, while another significant connection with the All-Ireland winners is panellist Paul Browne, GAA development officer with LIT.

Said Jimmy Browne: “I was honoured to be asked by LIT President, Vincent Cunnane to take on the role. The management team comprises extensive coaching, management and playing experience at the highest level. We have a clear vision of the importance of sport – and particularly hurling – in college life and a shared view of how the game can be played”

“One of the key elements of the management team focus will be management of player training load and we will be focussed on delivering a balance between training, matches and the players’ county and club commitments, while ensuring that they have time to concentrate on their studies.

“We are taking over the reins from Davy Fitzgerald, who has played a critical role in the development of hurling in LIT. While Davy is in a new role in the institute, we will be building on his legacy to ensure that our players are afforded every opportunity to fulfil their potential – both on and off the field of play.

“The Standards of preparation required for Fitzgibbon are exceptionally high – it is a premier competition, which is highly prized by players and consequently extremely competitive. As a management team, we are looking forward collectively to bringing this experience and passion to the current group of players.

“The strength and attraction of Fitzgibbon is the bond that it creates amongst players and the collective spirit it engenders.”

John Fitzgerald – former Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper, Limerick U-21 coach and current coach of Nenagh Eire Og;

Shane McGrath – All-Ireland winning Tipperary midfielder, two-time All Star and two-time Fitzgibbon Cup winner with LIT (Ballinahinch);

Mikey Kiely – Strength and Conditioning coach with Limerick’s U-21 All-Ireland winning team (Ballybrown);

John Carey – Performance coach who has worked with a number of athletes and GAA teams (Sixmilebridge);

Donnacha McNamara – Dean of Business in LIT, and a former Irish and Munster rugby colleges coach (Monaleen).