Gaelic Games

Mary I edge local derby to set up another in Fitzgibbon final

Limerick IT undone in scrappy semi-final - next up is UL in Saturday’s final

LIT’s David Reidy and Eoin Quirke of Mary I contest the ball. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Fri Feb 26 2016 - 17:27

Mary Immaculate College 0-11 Limerick IT 0-9

Mary Immaculate overcame difficult conditions to qualify for their second Fitzgibbon Cup final after edging local rivals Limerick IT in a very poor encounter.

The weather deteriorated for the second semi-final and the constant rain clearly affected both sets of players where the emphasis was very much on defence.

A total of 15 wides between the pair reflected the astonishingly poor shooting on display in a best forgotten first-half during which the standard of free-taking in particular was deplorable.

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And while the accuracy levels improved marginally on the resumption the final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the many neutrals.

Limerick IT jumped in front with a first-minute point from their captain Alan Dempsey, but it took them another 21 minutes to add to their tally by which stage Mary I had three on the board.

They surged 0-6 to 0-2 ahead approaching the interval with three unanswered points, including one from play by Damien Reidy sandwiched in between Darragh O'Donovan and Declan Hannon frees. Peter Duggan's free in stoppage-time left it 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time.

The scoring rate didn’t improve on the resumption with neither goalkeeper tested though Mary I’s corner-back, Andrew Ryan, was cool under pressure when handling the greasy ball from a Duggan free on the goal-line in the 35th minute.

It was 0-8 to 0-5 entering the closing quarter and Mary I stretched their advantage with a fine point from play by Tipperary’s Ronan Maher to leave his side poised to advance.

Limerick IT’s battling qualities surfaced in a hectic finish as Hannon and Diarmaid Byrnes pointed three times to cut the deficit to the minimum, 0-10 to 0-9 approaching the hour.

But a Hannon free in the first minute of three added on for injuries and substitutions saw Mary I over the line.

MARY IMMACULATE: M O Conghaile; E Quirke, R English, captain, A Ryan; R Maher (0-1), T Stapleton, J Meagher; C Galvin (0-1), D O'Donovan (0-2, one free, one '65); S Linnane, C Lynch, D Corry; D Reidy (0-2, one free), D Hannon (0-4, three frees, one '65), N O'Meara (0-1). Subs: S Kennedy for O'Donovan 45 mins, T Gallagher for Reidy 46 mins, S Cahill for Linnane 50 mins, M O'Neill for O'Meara 58 mins

LIMERICK IT: E Quilligan; N O'Connor, K Bennett, P Killeen (0-1); W Ryan, J Shanahan, D Byrnes (0-4, two '65s, one free); C Barrett, O O'Brien (0-1); A Dempsey (0-1), captain, N Maher, D Dempsey; M O'Malley, D Reidy, P Duggan (0-2 frees). Subs: J Campion for Maher 44 mins, S Gleeson for D Dempsey and W Connors for O'Malley 50 mins.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)