Gearóid O'Connor the big name amongst the Tipperary hurlers playing Fitzgibbon Cup this evening

The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Semi-Finals take place this evening with some of the best youthful hurlers in Ireland taking to the field for their respective college teams. Tipperary are well represented with ample presence across the teams involved. The big name is Gearóid O'Connor who is looking for yet another title with his college teammates at UL, and he is hoping to make it four 'man of the match' awards in four games following on from his key role for Tipperary against Dublin and Galway in the league as well as for UL against UCC in the quarter final. 

First off this evening at 5.15pm it is Mary Immaculate College playing against SETU Waterford at Mallow. The Limerick college features many Tipperary players amongst their squads with Cathal Quinn and Devon Ryan of Cashel King Cormacs both key players in defence and attack. At full back Keith Ryan of Upperchurch Drombane plays a key role too and Joe Caesar of Holycross Ballycahill as well as Nenagh’s Conor Hennessy are also part of the 'Mary I' team.

Kilbrittain’s Jamie Wall is their manager. Mary Immaculate last reached the final in 2020 and this year will look to the Tipperary lads as well as other key players such as Diarmuid Ryan of Clare, Shane O’Brien (Limerick) and Shane Meehan (Clare).

Unusually there are no Tipperary players involved with SETU Waterford but the team is managed by Fintan O’Connor.  Their team is backboned by Waterford hurlers such as Reuben Halloran as well as Patrick and Padraig Fitzgerald. Gavin Fives and Conor Ryan are are part of their team. 

In the second game of the evening it is the glamour tie with University of Galway taking on the defending champions University of Limerick at St Joseph’s Doora Barefield field. It is a repeat of the finals of 2022 and 2023 finals. The Limerick side are looking to win three on the trot and a number of Tipperary players have played a key role in recent years most notably Player of the Match last Sunday for Tipperary against Galway, Gearoid O'Connor. Former Tipp underage star Max Hackett (Moycarkey Borris) also features for UL.

Conal Moran of Shannon Rovers and Michael Corcoran of the Silvermines  are also part of the set up for the champions. The UL  team is reliant on key star players namely Moyne Templetuohys Gearóid O’Connor as well as Colin English (Limerick) and Mark Rodgers (Clare). There are no Tipperary players amongst the University of Galway ranks with the backbone of the side made up from local players such as Colm Molloy, Niall Collins and Tiarnan Killeen who all have intercounty experience. Throw in at the Clare venue is at 6.30pm.

Details of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup games are below. Both games will be played on Wednesday February 14 and will be streamed online via the TG4 YouTube channel.

Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Semi-Finals

Wednesday February 14

Mary Immaculate College, v SETU Waterford, Mallow, 5.15pm

University of Galway v University of Limerick, St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, 6.30pm

The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Final will be played in Abbeydorney at 2.45pm on Saturday February 17 and will be live on TG4.