O'Brien's late goal clinches win for UL

FITZGIBBON CUP FINAL University of Limerick 1-17 Limerick IT 2-11:GOAL HERO Thomas O'Brien has revealed how Donal O'Grady can take some of the credit for University of Limerick's first Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup success since 2002.

O’Brien, who lined out for the Limerick senior hurlers under Justin McCarthy last year, has held on to his place under current manager O’Grady.

And O’Grady’s coaching is already paying off as O’Brien took on board the promptings of Cork’s former All-Ireland-winning player and manager to claim an injury-time winning goal and stun city rivals Limerick IT on Saturday at Waterford IT Sports Complex.

As he was pursued by a posse of LIT defenders early in the second minute of injury time, O’Brien had no room to swing the hurl but instead, the Patrickswell clubman batted the sliotar past Matthew Ryan.

“There was no point in going for a point,” said the 21-year-old. “I didn’t think of the scoreline. I was lucky I got the one ball. Donal O’Grady has been drilling it into our heads to bat in the goals, so that nobody can hook you.

“(Cork’s) Pa Cronin knew that it was Donal’s tactic – he said it to me after. Seán Tobin’s goal for LIT was the same; he’s a friend of mine on the Limerick panel.”

And yet, LIT led by nine points on two separate occasions in the first half and went in at half-time 2-7 to 0-7 clear, aided by goals from Limerick pair Tobin and Donie Reale.

But UL were a team transformed and inspired by man-of-the-match David Burke at midfield, Ger Cunningham’s charges came roaring back.

LIT finished the game with 14 men as Willie Hyland was sent off seconds after O’Brien’s crucial goal.

UL:T Lowry (Tipperary); P Stapleton (Tipperary), M Walsh (Kilkenny), S Hickey (Limerick); PJ Delaney (Kilkenny), B Bugler (Clare), K Joyce (Kilkenny); D Burke (Galway, 0-3), P Cronin (Cork, 0-4); B Carroll (Offaly, 0-1), B Beckett (Kilkenny, 0-1), P Murphy (Tipperary); K Morris (Tipperary), P Kelly (Tipperary, 0-4, one free), A Quinn (Clare, 0-4, three frees). Subs: M Boran (Kilkenny) for Murphy (27 mins), T Connors (Waterford) for Boran (half-time), T O'Brien (Limerick, 1-0) for Beckett (48 mins), J Gallagher for Carroll (58 mins).

LIMERICK IT:M Ryan (Tipperary); E Glynn (Clare), C Cone (Tipperary), C Cooney (Clare); J Hayes (Limerick, 0-1), J McInerney (Clare, 0-3, frees), J O'Keeffe (Tipperary); S Lambert (Galway), P O'Brien (Limerick, 0-1); D Reale (Limerick, 1-1), S Collins (Clare, 0-1), P Browne (Limerick, (0-1); B Gaffney (Clare, 0-3, frees), S Tobin (Limerick, 1-0), W Hyland (Laois). Sub: C Madden (Limerick) for Gaffney (55 mins).

Referee: M Wadding(Waterford).