Fitzgibbon Cup: UL in cruise control as Jack Leahy scores four against Mary I

Mary Immaculate College 0-15 

University of Limerick 0-23 

When Patrick Crotty pointed in the fourth minute to put University of Limerick in the lead, there would be no way back for Mary Immaculate College.

They made it look easy on Wednesday afternoon, with a convincing win to avenge last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final defeat against their Limerick neighbours at the MICL Grounds.

Their victory ensures they'll go straight to the semi-final, while MIC will be out again for the quarter-final stage.

For the first third of the game the gap was minimal with UL the better side. But when O’Hanlon pounced on a Mary I mistake to put it over the bar, he extended UL’s lead to five with 26 minutes gone.

What followed was the first of three shots at goal from UL, as Diarmuid Hanniffy forced a save from Darragh Conway.

While the green flag remained elusive a brace of points from Gearóid O’Connor and one more courtesy of Colm O’Meara left last year’s beaten finalists 0-13 to 0-5 ahead.

Jamie Wall’s MIC side were fortunate that Conway again denied UL a goal, this time saving from Kanturk’s Brian O’Sullivan just before the half time break.

Dungourney’s Jack Leahy was a constant threat for UL and finished with four from play including two beautiful scores out wide.

O’Sullivan also landed a near identical score to Leahy’s second, while Ciarmhac Smyth was withdrawn at half time with a suspected concussion after taking a hefty hit from Cian Scully.

The Mary I wing back actually won a free from the challenge and scored their sixth point, but they still trailed 0-14 to 0-6 at the short whistle.

The second half was a better showing from MIC, but UL were swift and aggressive in possession, with their two man inside line of Leahy and O’Hanlon ever present.

Scariff’s Crotty also impressed with four points from play, roaming around the middle third.

Mary I also tried to play with two inside, but Diarmuid Cahill and Declan McLaughlin were starved of service. They shared one point from play.

Despite Cahill moving out into the half forward line after 15 minutes, he was well marshalled by Smyth in the second quarter.

Both teams were down key players, with UL missing Offaly starlet Adam Screeney and Limerick’s Adam English, while Mary I were without Shane O’Brien and Young Hurler of the Year, Adam Hogan and his Clare teammate Shane Meehan.

Even still, they were second best to a UL side that finished with nine different scorers and 20 white flags from play.

The second half saw the teams score nine each, but the closest MIC could reduce the gap was to seven in the 49th minute. They finished with a disappointing 14 wides, only seven scores from play and had four different free takers on the day.

Scorers for Mary Immaculate College: C Scully 0-5 (0-4 f), O O'Farrell 0-4 (0-2 f), R O'Connor 0-2, D McLaughlin, D Cahill (f), R Power, D Conway (f) 0-1 each.

University of Limerick: G O'Connor 0-6 (0-3 f), J Leahy, P Crotty 0-4 each, S O'Hanlon 0-3, D Hanniffy 0-2, M Fitzgerald, S Rynne, B O'Sullivan, C O'Meara 0-1 each.

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE (Limerick clubs unless stated): D Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry); V Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), E Lawless (Athenry, Galway), W Dore (Dromin-Athlacca); C Scully (Dromin-Athlacca), P Finn (Bruff), R Power (jc) (Ballygunner, Waterford); C Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary), R O’Connor (Feakle, Clare); J Ryan (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny), O O’Farrell (Askeaton), E Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary); D McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), D Cahill (Corofin, Galway), J Quilty (jc) (Blackrock).

Subs: D Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway) for Finn (HT), J Daly (Croom) for Craddock (48), M Rosengrave (Beagh, Galway) for Hennessy (54).

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK (Cork clubs unless stated): D Fahy (Ardrahan, Galway); C Smyth (Midleton), M Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), J Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare); M Corcoran (Silvermines, Tipperary), E O’Leary (Ahane, Limerick), K Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny); P Crotty (Scariff, Clare), B O’Sullivan (Kanturk); S Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare), C O’Meara (c) (Clonlara, Clare), G O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary); J Leahy (Dungourney), S O’Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway), D Hanniffy (Oranmore Maree, Galway).

Subs: A Morgan (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary) for Smyth (HT inj), C Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock, Limerick) for Corcoran (39) S Williams (Bruree, Limerick) for Fitzgerald (51-57 temp), C Coughlan (Ballybrown, Limerick) for Fitzgerald, K Hartigan (Scariff, Clare) for O’Connor (both 57).

Referee: Éamonn Stapleton (Doon, Limerick)