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The Fitzgibbon Cup kicked into action today and as per usual the esteemed college’s tournament failed to disappoint as inter-county stars turned out up and down the country.
Whilst Trinity tore it up down in Tipperary, back in the capital UCD took on NUIG in a game that ended with honours even on a scoreline on 3-12 to 1-18. It was a great point for the Dublin outfit who by all accounts were the second best team for most of this encounter. But, no matter how poorly you are playing, with a full forward line consisting of Limerick’s Seamus Flanagan and Kilkenny’s Sean Carey you clearly can’t rule the Belfield boys out.
Whilst Carey junior lined out in Dublin, his father, the legendary DJ was preparing his IT Carlow charges for a home game against LIT. In what was an extremely tight affair, eventually, the Limerick men prevailed through a last-gasp free from All-Ireland winning half-back, Diarmuid Byrnes. The Patrickswell man’s score giving LIT a win on a scoreline of 1-13 1-14.
Many people’s pick for this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup is last year’s finalists DCU who travelled to Waterford today to take on WIT. A strong Dublin outfit came out on top by two points (0-14 0-16) on a day where Dublin half-back, Chris Crummey starred for the Northsiders scoring two long-range points from play that ultimately proved the difference.
Video: See @DCUGAAAcademy beat @WITGAA today & reaction from @DubGAAOfficial's Chris Crummey who fired 2 vital long-range points. @ElectricIreland Fitzgibbon Cup action with @JeromeQuinn #firstclassrivals @GAALucan pic.twitter.com/Xv7D4foDj5
— HE GAA (@HigherEdGAA) January 20, 2019
There was a classic at the UL Grounds as the hosts lost out to Munster rivals UCC in a game that saw 46 points and zero goals. UCC went in at half time 0-11 0-09 in front and buoyed by the introduction of Cork’s Robbie O’Flynn in the second half, they went on to secure a 0-20 0-26 victory.
Finally, Grangegorman was the venue as DIT and Mary I clashed in a close game that saw another Limerick All-Ireland winning hero lead the way to victory. Aaron Gillane was the man in form as Mary I eventually came out on top by five points (1-14 1-19). A good day for Patrickswell so.
Two changes on the @ul_gaa team. 17. Jack Shelly for 4. Rory Hayes and 25. Martin Keoghan for 13. Alan Murphy.
Darragh Fitzgibbon and Robbie O’Flynn among those out for UCC. #FirstClassRivals pic.twitter.com/HYucATLKmG
— Marisa Kennedy (@MarisaK96) January 20, 2019
It is on to Round 2 of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup on Wednesday and Thursday evening as the student sides go to the well once more in search of glory.
Fitzgibbon Cup round 1 results:
UCD 3-12 NUIG 1-18, Belfield – FT
IT Carlow 1-13 LIT 1-14, IT Carlow – FT
Garda 0-13 Trinity College 1-15, Borrisoleigh – FT
WIT 0-14 DCU 0-16, WIT Sports Campus – FT
UL 0-20 UCC 0-26, UL Grounds – FT
DIT 1-14 Mary Immaculate 1-19, Grangegorman – FT
