GAA
The reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions were dominant throughout in adding to their trophy collection.
The University of Limerick claimed Division 1 League honours last night with a comfortable win over Mary I in UL. It means the Limerick college now hold the Legaue and Championship titles after last February’s Fitzgibbon Cup win.
A Rhys Shelly goal was the icing on the cake for the Castletroy University who won out 1-22 to 0-13 on the Maguire pitches in UL. Limerick’s Rory Duff and Bryan Heavey both featured for the winners with Jason Gillane in the net for Mary I. All-Ireland winners Cathal O’Neill, Colin Coughlan and Adam English weren’t named on the matchday squad for the winners.
In UL, Shelly saved a first-half penalty and the hosts never looked back thereafter as they led 0-12 to 0-7 at the interval.
Tipperary’s Cian Darcy was in flying form from the start clipping over a couple and was ably assisted by full forward teammates Sean Twomey and Philip Wall, formerly of Mary I.
Diarmuid Ryan and Devon Ryan had scores for the teacher training college but they could not deal with UL’s precision as they went eight clear approaching the half.
Midway through the half Shelly denied Ryan from the penalty spot with a diving save low into the corner. But a couple of unanswered from Mary I did reduce the margin to five at the interval.
However, within five minutes of the restart, Shelly had put the game to bed with a rocket of a penalty which gave Gillane no chance in the Mary I net.
UL, who were without a number of last year’s winning side eased to victory from here with Garryspillane’s Heavey getting on the scoresheet with his first involvement.
As he did in last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final, Bryan O’Mara captained the Limerick side to victory.
The 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup kicks off in mid January with UL, Mary I and TUS MidWest all involved.