Mary Immaculate College come up short in Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final against DCU

Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final

DCU 1-20

Mary I 1-18

Reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions Mary Immaculate College (MIC) have been knocked out of this year's competition after they were defeated 1-20 to 1-18 by DCU in Dublin on Wedensday evening. 

Mary Immaculate College led 0-4 to 0-2 after seven minutes but after that, DCU took control of the contest and the Dublin were always able to keep their noses out in front. 

Limerick's Shane O'Brien tried his best to inspire a Mary I comeback, the Kilmallock man finished with 0-11. Jamie Wall's side were still out Clare men Adam Hogan and Shane Meehan along with Limerick's Cian Scully who missed tonight's clash. 

DCU were full value for their victory and the Dublin college now advance into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup. UCC, UL and DCU will be joined by TUS Midwest or MTU Cork in the last four of the competition.

Donal Shirley and Joe Flanagan had the home side into an early lead. Mary I began to settle into the contest when two Shane O'Brien placed balls had the sides deadlocked.

Galway's Declan McLaughlin then sent over a spectacular effort from out on the sideline and O'Brien followed that up with his first point from play to push the south circular road college 0-4 to 0-2 clear. 

DCU stormed back through Donal Shirley, Cillian Dunne, Joe Flanagan and Sam Bourke and the North Dubin college were starting to gain a foothold in this game.

However, Conor Hennessy then set up Diarmuid Cahill for a neat point and last year's  man of the match in the Fitzgibbon Cup final Joe Caeser pointed from distance to make it 0-8 to 0-7. Cillian Dunne and Colin Spain extended their side's lead on 19 minutes. 

DCU's Sam Bourke sent a long delivery into the edge of the square and Mary I goalkeeper Darragh Conway misjudged the sliotar which ended up in the back of the net.

On 28 minutes, Mary I were handed a lifeline when Fionn McDonagh tapped the sliotar into the DCU net and the Galway native eased his side's concerns as they trailed 1-11 to 1-8 two minutes from the break.

Cathal Beirne and Cian Boran re-established DCU's five point lead but O'Brien's placed ball meant Mary I were 1-13 to 1-9 behind at the interval. 

Twelve minutes into the second half it looked as if Ronan Power, Jimmy Quilty and Shane O'Brien were starting to inspire the Limerick college to a comeback. That was as close as Wall's side could get in the second half. 

The victors went on to hit the next six points in a six minute period with Flanagan, Cathal Beirne, Donal Shirley and Billy Reid all landing crucial scores for the hosts. 

Limerick senior hurler Shane O'Brien made it a one score when he got his eleventh point of the evening on 56 minutes and Mary I trailed 1-19 to 1-16. 

DCU who reached the league final earlier this year got the insurance score they needed in the closing stages through Westmeath native Peter Clarke. Mary I to their credit didn't throw in the towel the influential Jimmy Quilty and Ronan O'Connor gave their college some hope in injury time. In the end, it was too late as DCU hung on for a narrow two point victory. 

SCORERS:

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: Shane O'Brien (0-11, 0-7 frees, 0-1 65), Fionn McDonagh 1-0, Jimmy Quilty 0-2, Diarmuid Cahill, Joe Caesar, Ronan Power, Ronan O'Connor and Declan McLaughlin 0-1 each

DCU: Joe Flanagan (0-5, 0-3 frees), Sam Bourke (1-1, 0-1 free), Donal Shirley 0-4, Cillian Dunne (0-3, 0-2 frees) Cathal Beirne 0-2, Colin Spain (0-2, 0-1 sideline cut), Cian Boran, Billy Reid and Peter Clarke 0-1 each.

MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: Darragh Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry); William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick); Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock, Limerick); Ronan Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); Ronan O’Connor (Feakle, Clare), Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen, Galway), Declan McLaughlin (Portumna, Galway), Jamie Ryan (O'Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny); Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton, Limerick), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock, Limerick),  Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin, Clare). 

Subs: Eoin Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary) for Cahill (half-time), Darragh Brennan (Skeheenarinky, Tipperary) for Hennessy (45 minutes), Patrick Finn (Bruff, Limerick for Dore (48 minutes), Dara Whelan (Turloughmore, Galway) for Ryan (54 minutes).

DCU: Cian Byrne (Wexford); Ivan Bolger (Kilkenny), Paddy Langton (Kilkenny), Padraig Lennon (Kilkenny); Sam Bourke (Offaly), Padraic Moylan (Kilkenny), Billy Reid (Kilkenny); Donal Shirley (Offaly), Colin Spain (Offaly); Cathal Beirne (Kilkenny), James Carroll (Kilkenny), Darragh Carley (Wexford); Joe Flanagan (Dublin), Cian Boran (Kildare) Cillian Dunne (Laois).

Subs: Peter Clarke (Westmeath) for Carroll (33 minutes), Denis Walsh  (Kilkenny) for Dunne (33 minutes), Conor Kehoe (Carlow) for Carley (53 minutes).

REFEREE: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)