Mary Immaculate 1-17 Waterford IT 1-15:There was drama aplenty as Mary Immaculate College from Limerick qualified for their first Ftzgibbon Cup final with a thrilling semi-final win at Carnmore yesterday.
The competition’s surprise packets did it the hard way too as Limerick senior player Declan Hannon, lining out at centre-back, received a straight red card after nine minutes.
Westmeath referee James McGrath dismissed Hannon for a heavy body check on the advancing Eoin Murphy, but the decision left Mary I manager Eamon Cregan fuming.
But Mary I responded to the loss with a performance full of heart with captain John Conlon, who scored the winning point for NUIG three years ago, leading the way.
He scored a 19th-minute goal and a string of points from play and frees as Mary I built up a 1-7 to 0-8 interval lead. Waterford IT used their extra man in defence but with Conlon, Brian O’Halloran, Luke O’Farrell and Seán Curran finding the range for Mary I, they extended the lead to 1-11 to 0-8 after 41 minutes.
But a couple of frees from Pauric Mahony, plus efforts from Murphy and Michael Sheedy, reduced the margin to two points after 49 minutes.
A goal from Sheedy reduced the margin and they drew level two minutes from time when Jake Dillon got his third point. But with extra-time looming, St Thomas and Galway star Conor Cooney landed a monster free from 90 yards and O’Farrell added a late point to seal a fine win.
