Quarter Final of the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup
Mary Immaculate College 1-25
TUS Midwest 1-17
Mary Immaculate College booked their place in the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup after a 1-25 to 1-17 win over TUS Midwest at the MIC Grounds earlier this afternoon.
There was a huge Tipperary presence on the pitch in this game, with 17 Premier players starting or coming off the bench as Jamie Wall's side got off to a blistering start in both halves and went a long way to see out their derbies Limerick in it. it was a good contest 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, Devon Ryan (both Cashel King Cormacs) and O'Brien had Mary I winning three times in two minutes before Niall O'Farrell got TUS on the scoreboard.
Colin O'Brien, Quinn and a second Devon Ryan free saw Wall's lead by 0-6 to 0-1 but a well worked goal from Sean Kenneally (Moneygall), following set up by Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris ), brought TUS back into the 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 high and hit the back post with a stunning finish to see Mary I have a 1-15 to 1-7 advantage at half-time.
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.
For Mary I, the Tipperary players who impressed came in the form of Joe Caesar who had a good game picking out Ger Browne, Devon Ryan who hit his frees well and Cathal Quinn who was in good form at midfield and hit 0-3 during. the game.
TUS Midwest were better served by Eoghan Connolly in the first half before his withdrawal, with Sean Kenneally hitting 1-2 despite living off the limited supply, while Kyle Shelly hit his placed balls well.
Scorer: Mary I: Devon Ryan (0-10, 0-9f), Shane Meehan 1-2, Shane O'Brien 0-4, Cathal Quinn 0-3, PJ Fanning, Conor Hennessy 0-2 each, Colin O'Brien (0- 2, 0-1f).
TUS Midwest: Kyle Shelly (0-9, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Sean Kenneally 1-2, Ger Browne (0-3, 0-1f), Cian O'Dwyer, Jack Ryan, Niall O'Farrell.
Mary I: Jason Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick); Adam Hogan (Feakle, Clare); Keith Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford), Ronan Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary), Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary); Colin O'Brien (Liscarroll-Churchtown, Cork), Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway); Daithi Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Clare), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick), Shane Meehan (Banner, Clare).
Under used: Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick) for Fanning (49); Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary) for O'Brien (51); Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton, Limerick) for Meehan (55); Shane Lowe (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary) for Hogan (56); Ciaran Lloyd (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary) for D Ryan (59).
TUS Midwest: Enda Dunphy (St Mary's, Tipperary); Thomas Collins (Ballygar, Galway), Paddy Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), Darragh Casey (Granagh Ballingarry, Limerick); Darragh Keogh (Clooney Quin, Clare); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Jack McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels, Carlow); Joseph Ryan (Birr, Offaly), Niall O'Farrell (Broadford, Clare); Gearoid Ryan (Cappawhite, Tipperary), Cian O'Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary), Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary); Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall, Tipperary), Kian O'Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs, Tipperary).
Under used: Jack Ryan (Drom & Inch, Tipperary) for Connolly (HT, inj); Paddy Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick) for Collins (38); Oisin Kavanagh (Broadford, Clare) for O'Kelly (51); Michael Ryan (Murroe Boher) for O'Dwyer (56).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
