The Best of All Time? Remembering UL’s Star-Studded 2018 Fitzgibbon Cup Winning Team

A squad containing eight future All-Stars and 14 All-Ireland winners, was UL’s class of 2018 the best ever colleges side?

The current University of Limerick side became the first from the college to retain their Fitzgibbon Cup title last weekend with a comfortable 4-19 to 1-13 win over the University of Galway.

It was a second successive win over the Galway college for Brian Ryan and co who are backboned by the the likes of Tipperary duo Bryan O’Mara (C) and Gearoid O’Connor, Cork’s Sean Twomey and Brian O’Sullivan, All-Ireland club winners Dean Mason and Darragh Corcoran as well as Mark Rodgers and Mikey Kiely in the full forward line.

In addition to that, they can call upon Limerick’s Adam English, Cathal O’Neill and Colin Coughlan who have made the step up from the Freshers side that claimed all before them in 2022.

SETU Waterford came within three points of UL in the semi-finals but outside of that their points difference from the other four contests was a staggering +53.

Still, it could easily be argued that it is only the second-best iteration of a UL side over the last decade with the team of 2018 arguably the best Fitzgibbon Cup side of all time.

Of the nineteen players that played in the final against DCU, 11 players who would go on to win All-Ireland medals, all without injured duo Barry Nash and Kyle Hayes who have eight All-Ireland’s and five All-Stars between them.

DCU did put it up to UL in the decider but they proved too strong in the end in a 2-21 to 2-15 with some of the best in the game representing the Limerick side.

Five years on, we look back on the players that featured in that final with many going on to forge unforgettable careers.

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David McCarthy (Limerick)

McCarthy made his name three years previously where he was a star in goals for the Limerick side who claimed a first All-Ireland U21 title in 13 years. He was called into the senior set up but departed before returning last year where he won his first Celtic Cross medal. Is now Nickie Quaid’s backup after Barry Hennessy’s retirement.

Aidan McGuane (Clare)

One of the more unheralded members of the Limerick squad, McGuane was a constant for the Univeristy for a number of years in defence. His first taste of a Fitzgibbon final came in 2016 when they were bested by Mary I. He was one of just five of the Fitzgibbon winning side of 2018 that was still in situ when they exited at the group stages the following year.

Conor Cleary (Clare)

Cleary was already a staple of the Clare senior side at this point having won back to back Munster and U21 All-Ireland doubles with the Banner in 2013 & ’14. He is a still a regular at full-back for the Banner under Brian Lohan but has yet to win silverware since the League title in 2016.

Sean Finn (Limerick)

After a stellar first season with the seniors in 2017, Sean Finn cemented himself as the best corner back in the country following the Fitzgibbon going on to claim the first of four successive All-Stars. He has now won four Munster titles to go with four All-Irelands as well as a pair of League titles.

Barry Heffernan (Tipperary)

Heffernan was already an All-Ireland winner by 2018, winning a first Celtic Cross medal two years previously as an unused substitute. That same year he lined out for UL in the Fitzgibbon Cup final where they were beaten by Mary I. But powered by a brilliant colleges campaign in ’18, Heffernan was a mainstay in the starting line up when Tipp were again crowned All-Ireland champions in 2019.

Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)

One of two in this list guaranteed to end thier career with a hurler of the year award, Hegarty has taken his game to new heights since the Fiztgibbon Cup triumph. Three years previously he made his name in the same line for the Limerick U21s but later in 2018 he was a key at wing forward for the Limerick hurlers in claiming a first All-Ireland since 1973. Since then he has added three more All-Ireland’s, four Munster titles, and three successive All-Stars to go with the HOTY award.

David Fitzgerald (Clare)

Player of the Match in the Fitzgibbon final with a brace from wing-back, Fitzgerald had a relatively unsuccessful time with the Clare seniors prior to last year. However, shifting the rangy defender into midfield worked a treat for Brian Lohan and co with Fitzgerald deservedly picking up an All-Star in 2022.

Tony Kelly (Clare)

Five years previously, a 19-year-old Kelly was named Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year in Clare’s run to an All-Ireland title and was UL’s star man on paper. It was his second Fitzgibbon Cup title with UL after winning the man of the match award in the 2015 final win over WIT. He had a quietish final by his standards but has since returned to his form of 2013, winning three successive All-Stars and cementing his place as one of the best of all-time.

Ronan Lynch (Limerick)

A stalwart of the Limerick minor titles that won successive Munster titles in 2013 and ’14, Lynch would miss out on the senior success in 2018 after a couple of years with the senior panel. However, he is one of the most successful club players to ever come out of Limerick with six SHC titles to his name as well as three Munster clubs and an All-Ireland crown.

Ian Galvin (Clare)

A regular in the Clare set up over the past few years, the Fitzgibbon Cup was Galvin’s second title with a Limerick side after helping Ardscoil Rís to Harty honours in 2014. He started in last year’s Munster final but has yet to taste success with the Banner’s senior side.

Kevin O’Brien (Limerick)

Like Lynch, O’Brien was one of the Limerick players in the UL side to miss out on the All-Ireland success later that August. Nonetheless, the Patrickswell man was one of UL’s stars in retaining their crown for the first time in three years, bagging a pair of points from play as he did in the 2015 final. He claimed a second Limerick SHC title in 2019.

Tom Morrissey (Limerick)

Missed out on the 2015 final where his brother Dan was on the right side of the result as his first taste of a Fitzgibbon Cup final ended in defeat following the loss to Mary I in ’16. However, the Ahane native got his hands on the trophy in 2018. He has since started in each of Limerick’s All-Ireland and Munster final wins, grabbing a pair of All-Stars in the process.

John McGrath (Tipperary)

After winning an All-Star and All-Ireland with Tipperary in 2016, John McGrath was one of the most feared forwards in colleges hurling where he hit 2-7 in the 2016 final loss. He was limited to just two points in the 2018 final but was on the right side of the result to pick up a second winners medal. Claimed a second All-Ireland win in 2019

Jason Forde (Tipperary)

UL’s top scorer in the final with 1-10 (8frees, ’65), Forde’s career really kicked off in the wake of the Fitzgibbon Cup final. Had previously won an All-Ireland in 2016 from the bench and a Fitzgibbon Cup title in midfield, but his shift to the forwards for the college paid dividends for Tippeary where he went on to be top scorer in the League and claim a first All-Star nomination. In 2019 he was one of Tipp’s best players as they won the All-Ireland as he was once more nominated for an All-Star. Is one of the best in the game currently.

Barry Murphy (Limerick)

Murphy took his excellent Fitzgibbon form into the league for Limerick where he was a central figure in helping them to win promotion. Had to be content with a role from the bench in their run to the All-Ireland in 2018 but despite a couple of seasons away from the panel and a cruciate knee injury, he has won three Liam MacCarthy’s while helping Doon to a pair of club finals in that time.

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Subs Used

Mike Casey (Limerick)

The fact that Casey was a sub tells it’s own story but the Na Piarsaigh man was busy with club commitments as they reached the All-Ireland final where they lost to Cuala after a replay. Nonetheless, Casey was introduced from the bench in the final and was Limerick’s first choice full back in August for the All-Ireland success. Suffered a knee injury prior to the 2020 season that saw him miss two seasons but he returned with a aplomb last year to the #3 jersey to claim a fourth All-Ireland.

Pat Ryan (Limerick)

As he did for the senior side during the summer, Ryan was a regular finisher for UL and showcased his worth with a goal in the final against a stubborn DCU side. He had the same role in the 2016 side that lost out to Mary I AET in the final. Failed to nail down a starting berth for Limerick in their recent dominance but has been a regular from the bench scoring a memorable goal in extra-time of the All-Ireland semi-final in 2018.

David Gleeson (Tipperary)

Replaced Barry Murphy late on to win a first Fitzgibbon title. However, it was just the start of an excellent personal year for Gleeson who played his part for Liam Cahill’s Tipperary U21 side who won the All-Ireland title that August, scoring a point in the final against Cork.

Brian Troy (Kilkenny)

Troy was introduced late on in the 2018 after starting in the Fitzgibbon Cup success three years previously. Was awarded a Rising Star award in 2015 but missed out on the loss to Mary I the following year.

Jordan Henley (Waterford)

Replacing man of the match Fitzgerald in the final, Henley’s route to that position was far from straightforward as the Waterford native was between the sticks for his county as they won the 2016 All-Ireland U21 championship. The Tallow native went on to represent the Deise seniors outfield.

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UL: David McCarthy (Limerick); Aidan McGuane (Clare), Conor Cleary (Clare), Seán Finn (Limerick); Barry Heffernan (Tipperary), Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick, 0-01), David Fitzgerald (Clare, 0-02); Tony Kelly (Clare, 0-01), Ronan Lynch (Limerick, 0-02); Ian Galvin (Clare, 0-01), Kevin O’Brien (Limerick, 0-02), Tom Morrissey (Limerick); John McGrath (Tipperary, 0-02), Jason Forde (Tipperary, 1-10, 0-07f, 0-01 65), Barry Murphy (Limerick).

Subs: Michael Casey (Limerick) for McGuane (36), Pat Ryan (Limerick, 1-00) for O’Brien (47), David Gleeson (Tipperary) for Murphy (57), Brian Troy (Kilkenny) for Finn (59), Jordan Henley (Waterford) for Fitzgerald (60).