MARY IMMACULATE College booked their place in the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup after a 1-25-1-17 win over TUS Midwest at the MIC Grounds earlier this afternoon.
Jamie Wall's side got off to a great start in both halves and went a long way to see out the Limerick derbies in a good game throughout.
The lethal duo of Shane Meehan and Shane O'Brien did a lot of damage for Mary I, taking 1-6 between them, while Devon Ryan's prowess from placed balls also helped their cause.
Points from Cathal Quinn, O'Brien and Devon Ryan put Mary I up three times in two minutes before Niall O'Farrell got TUS on the scoreboard.
Colin O'Brien, Quinn and second Devon Ryan frees saw Wall's lead by 0-6 to 0-1, but a well worked goal from Sean Kenneally, after being set up by Kyle Shelly, brought TUS back into the game . game in seven minutes.
Mary I stayed on top with scores from Devon Ryan and PJ Fanning but TUS stayed in touch with Shelly equally adept at placed balls.
Another from Fanning put Mary I square heading into the break and then a superb Meehan goal gave his side a big lead at the break.
Diarmuid Ryan collected a pin-point Jason Gillane puck-out and sent the ball away in the direction of the full forward line. Meehan rose higher and hit the back post with a stunning finish to see Mary I have a 1-15 to 1-7 half-time advantage.
The second half started like the first, with Mary I on top. O'Brien produced some masterful scores to extend their lead to 10 with Devon Ryan also hitting the target from play.
The Kilmallock man then added his fourth of the day as Mary I took firm control in the first 10 minutes of the second half. TUS remained diligently on task with two points from Ger Browne and from Shelly bringing them within striking distance.
However, it was Mary I who could afford to take Fanning, O'Brien and Meehan well before the end to set up a semi-final date against SETU Waterford or SETU Carlow.
SCORER – MARY AMOKULAT: Devon Ryan 0-10 (0-9 frees), Shane Meehan 1-2, Shane O'Brien 0-4, Cathal Quinn 0-3, Colin O'Brien (0-1 free), Conor Hennessy and PJ Fanning 0- 2 each.
SCORERS – TUS MIDWEST: Kyle Shelly 0-9 (0-8 frees, '65), Sean Kenneally 1-2, Ger Browne 0-3 (0-1 free), Niall O'Farrell, Cian O'Dwyer and Jack Ryan 0-1 each.
MARY AMOTHI: Jason Gilane (Patrickswell); Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane, Tipperary), Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford), Ronan Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); Colin O'Brien (Liscarroll-Churchtown, Cork), Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway); Shane Meehan (The Banner, Clare), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Daithi Lohan (Wolfe Tones Na Siona, Clare)
SUBS: Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh) for Fanning (49 mins), Eoin Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary) for O'Brien (51 mins), Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton) for Meehan (55 mins), Shane Lowe (Moyne- Templetuohy) for Hogan (56 mins), Ciaran Lloyd (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary) for D Ryan (59 mins).
TUS MIDWEST: Enda Dunphy (St Mary's, Tipperary); Paddy Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), Tom Collins (Ballygar, Galway), Darragh Casey (Granagh-Ballingarry, Limerick); Jack McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels, Carlow), Eoin Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh Keogh (Clooney-Quin, Clare); Joseph Ryan (Birr, Offaly), Niall O'Farrell (Broadford, Clare); Cian O'Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary), Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary), Gearóid Ryan (Cappawhite, Tipperary); Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Kian O'Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs, Tipperary), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall, Tipperary).
Jack Ryan (Drom & Inch, Tipperary) for Connolly (ht), Paddy Morrissey (Ahane) for Collins (38 mins), Oisin Kavanagh (Broadford, Clare) for O'Kelly (51 mins), Michael Ryan (Murroe-Boher) for O'Dwyer (56 mins).
REFEREE: Liam Gordon (Tipperary).
