UL 1-20 NUI Galway 2-15
Mickey Kiely was the toast of University College Limerick after he repeated his semi-final heroics with a carbon copy, last gasp goal finish in Saturday’s Fitzgibbon Cup final at the IT Carlow grounds.
With the game in the last of three minutes of additional time the Abbeyside/Ballinacourty clubman rose high to clutch the sliotar from the sky and head for goal before dispatching a scorching shot to the Galway net.
It was joy unconfined for the UL team, mentors and supporters, while NUI Galway were left to ponder how a game they had in their pocket, had slipped away.
A major talking point from Saturday's final was a straight red card for 2021 Hurler of the Year, Limerick's Cian Lynch. The sending off by referee Fergal Horgan centred on an incident just at the stand sideline in the 58th minute.
At the time NUI Galway held what looked a safe 2-15 to 0-17 lead and the dismissal did not look to be of great significance to the game’s outcome.
But in the remaining five minutes of play - there were three added minutes of injury time - this final was turned on its head.
First UL’s free-taker Gearóid O’Connor raised his ninth white flag and his eight from placed balls before Brian O’Sullivan pointed from play for the Limerick side.
With the momentum now shifted to UL, the Limerick students gained midfield possession and Kiely provided the finish.
It was cruel luck on NUI Galway, and in particular for their left full forward Evan Niland. The Clainbridge clubman hit 0-14 of his side’s total, 0-12 from frees, in a magnificent exhibition of free-taking.
NUI Galway led 2-7 to 0-9 at half time but UL gained early second half control and had led for the first time midway through the second half through a point from substitute Ross Hayes.
Limerick then led 0-13 to 2-7 but the accuracy of Niland saw Galway retake charge of matters and the silverware looked destined for the west until that dramatic last minute when Kiely turned the game his side’s way.
UL captain Bryan O’Mara led by example, scoring 0-4 and holding Cian Lynch scoreless.
UL: D Mason; D Corcoran, TJ Brennan, M Gough; K Sampson, B O'Mara (0-4, 0-3 frees), C Flaherty; B O'Grady (0-1), C Connolly (0-2); N Brennan, G O'Connor (0-9, 0-8 frees), C Galvin; B Power, S Twomey, M Kiely (1-2). Subs: R Hayes (0-1) for Galvin (37 mins); M O'Sullivan (0-1) for Brennan (45 mins); S Staunton for Sampson (53 mins).
NUIG: L Reilly; E Lawless, J Fitzpatrick, C Caulfield; C Killeen, D Morrissey, M Gill; I McGlynn, M Kennedy (1-0); C Walsh, C Lynch, F MacDonagh; P Hickey, J Fleming (1-1), N Niland (0-14, 0-12 frees). Subs: D Kilcommons for McGlynn (20 mins); O Flannery for Kennedy (45 mins); A Prendergast for McDonagh, A Prendergast for Hickey (both 39 mins).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).
