Star studded UL face DCU in Fitzgibbon Cup Final

UL GAA will be hoping for their second senior title of 2018 when their hurlers face DCU in the Fitzgibbon Cup Final on Saturday. Earlier this week, UL were crowned Ashbourne champions following a three point victory over UCC.

Gary Kirby’s side will be looking for their first Fitzgibbon Cup title since 2015 while this is the first final for DCU, managed by Limerick native Eoin Roche. UL last reached the final of the college competition in 2016 but were beaten by neighbours Mary I in a classic final.

UL go into the game as heavy favourites following a nine point win over IT Carlow in the semi-final last week. So far this term they dispatched DIT and WIT in the group stages before comprehensively defeating UCC in the quarter finals.

Their panel boasts a number of Limerick stars with Barry Murphy, Tom Morrissey, Sean Finn and Gearoid Hegarty impressing so far in the championship. Limerickmen David McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Pat Ryan, Lorcan Lyons, Mikey Mackey and Dan Joy are also part of the panel. Kyle Hayes and Barry Nash will miss out on the final through injury. Furthermore, Ronan Lynch and Mike Casey are unlikely to play with their club Na Piarsaigh facing an All Ireland club final in three weeks.

Also key to the college side will be the Clare trio of Tony Kelly, David Fitzgerald and Conor Cleary. Tipperary sharpshooters John McGrath and Jason Forde have also been in top form for the college this term. Kelly, Forde, McGrath and Kevin O’Brien were all starters in the 2015 final as UL overcame WIT.

Meanwhile DCU, who have already triumphed over LIT and Mary I, will be looking to the likes of Paudie Foley (Wexford), Patrick Curran (Waterford) and Dublin’s Donal Burke to get them over the line. Also in their ranks are  John Donnelly and Conor Delaney who were part of the Kilkenny U21 side that were beaten by Limerick in the All Ireland U21 final. South Liberties man Conor McSweeney is expected to start at corner back for the Dublin outfit.

The Fitzgibbon Final is scheduled for Mallow GAA on Saturday (24th February) with throw-in at 3pm.

The game will be streamed live on TG4 YouTube.