UL send out early warning in Fitzgibbon Cup as they see off TUS MidWest with ease

The hosts won out by 31 points in their Fitzgibbon Cup openers.

A first quarter goal blitz from UL set the tone for their spectacular 5-30 to 0-16 win over TUS MidWest in the first round of the Fitzgibbon Cup tonight.

Clare senior Mark Rodgers had their first goal after 11 minutes to put UL 1-4 to 0-2 to the good after they had split the opening four scores.

A couple of minutes after Rodgers’ effort, the game was finished as a contest with Gearoid O’Conner and Sean Twomey also raising green flags to move the hosts twelve clear.

Rodgers had completed his hat trick by the 22nd minute as UL took a commanding 5-14 to 0-5 lead into the interval.

The second half, failed to ignite with UL’s work firmly done at that stage. They continued to tack on points however as they ran out comfortable 31-point winners.

Such was UL’s dominance, they were able to substitute Rodgers and Limerick senior Brian O’Grady, who added a point to his impressive midfield display, early into the second period with both now turning their attention to Sunday’s Munster Hurling Cup Final.

Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls) and Conor O’Grady were both introduced off the bench for UL while Cathal Downes (Kildimo Pallaskenry), Tomas O’Connor (Ballybrown), Eoin Hurley & Michael Cremin (both Newcastle West), and Patrick Kirby (Patrickswell) lined out for the visitors.

TUS now face TU Dublin next week needing a win to keep their hopes alive. Should they lose then UL will be guaranteed progression before they face the Dublin outfit in a fortnights time.