UL and the University of Galway gear up for repeat clash in 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup final

It is a repeat of the 2022 final where UL claimed a first title in four years following a late comeback in Carlow.

Familiar faces will square off this Saturday in the Fitzgibbon Cup final as the University of Limerick take on the University of Galway for the second successive season.

The Limerick college ran out winners twelve months ago where 1-5 without reply down the stretch was enough to secure a three-point win and seventh-ever title.

Mikey Kiely, as he was in the semi-final that year, was the goalscoring hero in the final where a contentious Cian Lynch sending off helped swing the tie in Limerick’s favour.

This time around they will meet in SETU Waterford, who were UL’s opposition in Thursday’s semi-final. Throw-in is at 1pm with the game to be shown live on TG4.

UL will be keen on more silverware after their Sigerson Cup side were beaten in a second successive final on Wednesday evening.

Last Ten Fitzgibbon Cup Winners

• 2022: University of Limerick
• 2021: N/A
• 2020: UCC
• 2091: UCC
• 2018: University of Limerick
• 2017: Mary I
• 2016: Mary I
• 2015: University of Limerick
• 2014: WIT
• 2013: UCC
• 2012: UCC

UL are the reigning champions but have never retained their title, something they will be looking to achieve this Saturday at the seventh time of asking. Their first title came in 1989 as NIHE with the first triumph under the UL moniker coming in 1994. Their other wins came in 2002, ’11, ’15, ’18 and 2022 as they have become a powerhouse in the competition.

The University of Galway (previously NUIG) have won the competition a total of ten times that has them third in the roll of honour behind UCC (40) and UCD (31). Their most recent success was 2010 however with every title since going to Munster. UL have won four titles in that time with Mary I claiming both of their crowns in the meantime also.

Both teams approach the final with 100% records from their four games thus far. UL were put to the pin of their collar by SETU Waterford in the semi-final but that has been the only game where Brian Ryan’s didn’t canter to the finish line. Gearoid O’Connor and Colin Coughlan combined for 0-16 of their nineteen points in the win over WIT.

However, their three previous wins came far easier with ATU Galway, TUS MidWest and UCD all accounted for with an average winning margin of 13-points.

The University of Galway beat both SETU Waterford and MTU Cork to book their place in the knockout stages. SETU Carlow put it up to the Tribesmen in the quarters but Evan Niland helped them to a 0-20 to 2-11 victory. That booked a place in the last four with UCC on Thursday night where they struggled for large periods.

A Brian Hayes goal with ten to play had UCC four clear but scores from Niland and Tiernan Killeen, including the final three points, were enough to send the game to extra-time where they outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-3 to return to the final.

Niland is the University of Galway’s star player but he is ably assisted by the likes of fellow county men Brian Concannon, Oisin Salmon and Killeen while the side is under the tutelage of Jeffrey Lynskey. Incredibly, Darren O’Brien of Clare was only man in the XV against UCC that wasn’t from Galway.

Conversely, UL can call upon players from a number of different counties. The Limerick college is well represented by locals in the form of All-Ireland winners Coughlan, Adam English, Cathal O’Neill, Rory Duff and Mark Quinlan.

They are joined by captain Bryan O’Mara and O’Connor who have both featured for Tipperary in the league as have Mark Rodgers (Clare), Mikey Kiely (Waterford), Killian Sampson (Offaly), Sean Twomey (Cork) as well as All-Ireland club winners with Ballyhale Shamrocks Dean Mason and Darragh Corcoran.

That standard of players at Brian Ryan’s disposal has seen them as favourites to retain their crown since day one and while Waterford did cause them some troubles, it is still hard to see past the Castletroy outfit.

The 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup final takes place on Saturday February 18 at 1pm in SETU Arena Waterford.