Fitzgibbon Cup: Limerick IT 2-15, GMIT 0-5 Tipperary ace Eoin Kelly hobbled off with a hamstring injury after nine minutes but that did not prevent holders LIT from going on a scoring spree as they outclassed GMIT in the opening round of the Fitzgibbon Cup, at Limerick yesterday.

The visitors were left with a mountain to climb at the interval when, having played with the strong wind behind them, they trailed 0-4 to 0-3, with their scores having come from Mark Flaherty placed balls.

The Dave Fitzgerald coached LIT, with nine of last season's successful team, wasted no time in getting down to business with a 35th minute goal from Tipperary's Shane McGrath, direct from a sideline call, and shortly afterwards substitute Brendan Gaffney created the opening for top marksman Donal O'Reilly to claim goal number two, to leave it 2-8 to 0-4. Points from O'Reilly, Niall Healy and Andrew Quinn added to GMIT woes,

This was a very impressive performance from the holders, with centre back Fergus Flynn and midfielders McGrath and Jonathan Clancy ensuring a plentiful supply of the ball in the second half for their front runners.

LIMERICK IT: S Hawes; C Mahoney, J Coen, E Collins; D Morrissey (0-1, free), F Flynn (0-2, 1 free), M O'Brien; S McGrath (1-0), J Clancy; A Quinn (0-3), I Tannain, S Tierney; C Earlie, E Kelly (0-1, free), N Healy (0-5). Subs: D O'Reilly (1-3) for Kelly, B Gaffney for Earlie, J McInerney for McGrath, M Walsh for Collins.

GMIT: D Lawlor; P Callaghan, S Kennedy, C Flannery; N Rogers, S Kavanagh, S Morley; D Collins, K Cunningham; K Hooban, C Burke, C Feeney; D Hayden, M Flaherty (0-4), C Hynes. Subs: B Murphy for Feeney, L Hands (0-1) for Hynes.

Referee: J Cosgrave (Clonmel)