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University of Limerick hurlers seize Fitzgibbon Cup after late-game rally

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Fitzgibbon Cup – University of Limerick hurling team celebrate winning their seventh Fitzgibbon Cup.

University of Limerick hurlers seize Fitzgibbon Cup after late-game rally

By I Love Limerick correspondent David Towey

Fitzgibbon Cup

Pictured above are members of the Offaly Senior Hurling & UL panel, Dara Maher, Killian Sampson and Eamonn Cleary.


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The University of Limerick won the Fitzgibbon Cup on Saturday, February 19 for the seventh time as they trumped NUI Galway on a scoreline of 1 – 21 to 2 – 15. The star of the show for UL was left full-forward Mikey Kiely, who, for the second time this week, stepped up at the depth and provided the crucial scores when UL needed it most.

This was the second meeting between the University of Limerick and NUI Galway’s sporting teams, as the two institutes recently battled it out in the Sigerson Cup football final – with NUIG coming out as victors. UL will be only delighted to have prevented the Galway university from claiming the third-level GAA double.

Both teams advanced from their respective semi-finals with extra-time scores, so the deciding final was expected to go down to the wire. The University of Limerick is no stranger to last-minute victory – Mikey Kiely delivered a last-minute winner to see the team beat IT Carlow in the semi-final last week.

The deciding game, which took place at IT Carlow, certainly did not come without controversy. Many will wonder if the result would have been different if NUIG student and Limerick Inter-County Hurler of the Year, Cian Lynch, had not received a red card during the final throws of the match.

With three minutes left in play, NUIG were up by four points. After Lynch’s dismissal, UL rolled off 1-04 without reply, snatching the Fitzgibbon Cup from the hands of NUI Galway.

These scores from Brian O’Grady, Ciaran Connolly and Gearoid O’Connor put the scores even with 30 seconds left to play. The crowd erupted as Mikey Kiely buried the decisive goal.

NUI Galway has said they will appeal the red card that Cian Lynch received, although the decision will not have an effect on the result of the final. While it was certainly not Cian Lynch’s greatest day on the pitch, Limerick sports fans will look forward to watching the back to back All-Ireland winning hurler don his green and white’s for the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. 

To read more about all the results of the Fitzgibbon Cup go HERE

For more stories about UL, sports go HERE

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