Wins for LIT and Mary I in Fitzgibbon Cup opener while champions UL lose

Defednig champions UL opened the defence of their Fitzgibbon Cup with a defeat at the hands of UCC in Limerick yesterday.

In a tight game, UL only took the lead once briefly with the Cork college running out convincing 0-26 to 0-20 in the end.

UL now face NUIG on Wednesday knowing a win is a must if they are to maintain hopes of progression to the knockout stages.

Speaking after the game, manager Gary Kirby lamented the absence of a number of players through injury such as Kyle Hayes and Brian McGrath.

“Look we have a strong squad and I think we need a bit of freshness for the next day. Hopefully a few of the injured guys will be back Maybe a week might be too soon but hopefully we will get one or two back.”

Kirby has no dispute over the result and says that UCC were full value for their victory where they outscored their opponents 0-14 to 0-7 after UL went ahead early in the second half.

“They were lively. They were sharper than us. I suppose it’s the first time a lot of these guys played together since we started so it’s hard.

“But, that’s no excuse, we just have to knuckle down again.”

There were more positive results for the other Limerick colleges with Mary I and LIT both recording victories on the opening day.

Mary I had five points to spare over DIT winning out 1-19 to 1-14 in Dublin.

Limerick’s Aaron Gillane was in scintillating form notching all but four of his sides point total.

Mary I face Maynooth next Tuesday in their final game knowing a win will guarantee progress to the knockout stages.

LIT overcame IT Carlow courtesy of a last minute Diarmuid Byrnes point winning 1-14 to 1-13.

Pallasgreen’s Brian Fanning got the goal for the Limerick college who have two games remaining against the Garda College and Trinity University.