ROUND-UP: Tipp players with Mary I and UL progress to Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals

Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final

Mary Immaculate College 1-25

TUS Midwest 1-17

Mary Immaculate College booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup following a 1-25 to 1-17 victory over TUS Midwest at the MIC Grounds in the first of Wednesday's quarter-finals.

There was a huge Tipperary presence on the field in this game, with 17 Premier players featuring either as starters or from the bench, as Jamie Wall's side had superb starts to both halves and it went a long way to seeing over their Limerick derbies in what was a good contest throughout.

The deadly duo of Shane Meehan and Shane O'Brien did a lot of the damage for Mary I, landing 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 three up inside two minutes before Niall O'Farrell got TUS on the scoreboard.

Colin O'Brien, Quinn, and a second Devon Ryan free then saw Wall's charges race into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead but a well-worked goal from Sean Kenneally (Moneygall), after being set up by Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris), brought TUS back into the game on seven minutes.

Mary I kept on top with scores from Devon Ryan and PJ Fanning but TUS stayed in touch with Shelly equally as proficient from placed balls.

Another from Fanning had Mary I four to the good heading towards the break and then a superb goal by Meehan gave his side a big lead a the break.

Diarmuid Ryan collected a pin-point Jason Gillane puck-out and sent the ball long in the direction of the full forward line. Meehan rose highest and hit the back stanchion with a stunning finish to see Mary I into a 1-15 to 1-7 halftime advantage.

The second half started as the first did, with Mary I on top. O'Brien provided a couple of masterful scores to stretch 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 opening 10 minutes of the second half. TUS diligently stayed to their task with two Ger Browne points and from Shelly getting them to within touching distance.

However, it was Mary I that could afford to take Fanning, O'Brien and Meehan long 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 up 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 best served by Eoghan Connolly in the first half before his withdrawal, along with Sean Kenneally who hit 1-2 despite living off limited supply, while Kyle Shelly hit his placed balls well.

Scorers: 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).

Subs 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).

Subs 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)