O'Connor stars as University of Limerick cruise past MTU Cork in Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final

University of Limerick have advanced into fourth Fitzgibbon Cup final in-a-row after they defeated MTU Cork 1-28 to 0-10 in Mallow GAA Grounds on Wednesday evening. 

Referee Thomas Walsh issued two red cards in the opening period. MTU Cork's Alan Connolly and Mikey Finn were both dismissed for shoulder challenges to the head in the first half.

UL made their extra player count in this encounter. Last year's Fitzgibbon Cup finalists hit 1-7 without reply in eleven minutes at the start of the second half to put this contest to bed after 43 minutes. 

After coming up short in last year's Fitzgibbon Cup decider to Mary Immaculate College, UL looks like strong favourites to one step further than last year.

The sides were deadlocked 0-3 apiece after the opening quarter. Adam English, Aidan O'Connor and Gearoid O'Connor were all on target for the Castletroy College. Alan Walsh, Ronan Walsh and Alan Connolly were keeping Cork school within touching distance. 

On 15 minutes the first red card was issued when Cork senior hurler Alan Connolly received his marching orders for a shoulder challenge to the head on UL corner back Michael Corocoran. Four minutes later Mikey Finn was sent off for a shoulder challenge to head on UL's Aaron Morgan. 

Jack Leahy and Aidan O'Connor combined to push the University of Limerick 0-6 to 0-3 clear six minutes before the break. Aaron Morgan then managed to get the sliotar away to Gearoid O'Connor who managed to get his third point of the evening.

Cork's Alan Walsh and Jack Cahalane reduced the gap to two points on 28 minutes. Tipperary senior hurler Gearoid O'Connor extended UL's lead but that ws quickly cancelled out by an effort from Sean Walsh as the victors led 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval. 

MTU hit the ground running after half time through Jack Cahalane and Diarmuid Healy and the sides were level for the first time in 21 minutes. 

UL powered past MTU Cork in the next 28 minutes outscoring their opponents 1-20 to 0-2 for the remainder of the second half. Aidan O'Connor set Colm O'Meara up for the opening goal of the evening when O'Connor played the sliotar across to O'Meara who made no mistake from close range. 

UL substitutes Diarmuid Hannify, Sean Rynne and Sean O'Hanlon all managed to make an impact from the bench in that period. Fitzgibbon Cup captain Colin Coughlan, Jack Leahy and Brian O'Sullivan proved to be handful for MTU Cork in the second half, all three players were on target with 0-15 between them throughout the 60 minutes. 

MTU Cork could only register two placed balls from Jack Cahalane on 44 and 48 minutes as UL eased to comfortable 21-point victory. 

Brian Ryan's side will aim to win their ninth Fitzgibbon Cup against DCU on Saturday at 2:45pm in the Connacht GAA centre of excellence. 

SCORERS:

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Gearoid O'Connor (0-5, 0-3 frees), Colm O'Meara 1-2, Colin Coughlan and Jack Leahy 0-4 each, Brian O'Sullivan 0-3, Adam English, Diarmuid Hannify, Sean Rynne and Aidan O'Connor 0-2 each, Killian Doyle and Sean O'Hanlon 0-1 each

MTU CORK: Jack Cahalane (0-4, 0-4 frees), Alan Walsh 0-2, Alan Connolly (0-1 65), Ronan Walsh, Diarmuid Healy and Sean Walsh 0-1 each 

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: Darach Fahy (Adrahan, Galway); Aaron Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), John Conneally (Clooney Quin, Clare), Michael Corcoran (Silvermines, Tipperary); Killian Doyle (Emeralds, Kilkenny), Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown, Limerick); Brian O'Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork), Adam English (Doon, Limerick); Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Colm O'Meara (Clonlara, Clare), Patrick Crotty (Scariff, Clare); Jack Leahy (Dungourney, Cork), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown, Limerick), Patrick O'Donovan (Effin, Limerick).

SUBS: Ciarmhac Smyth (Middleton, Cork) for Corcoran (16 minutes, injury), Diarmuid Hannify (Oranmore Maree, Galway) for Aidan O'Connor (44 minutes), Sean Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona, Clare) for Crotty (45 minutes), Sean O'Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway) for English (49 minutes), John Fitzgerald for Gearoid O'Connor (58 minutes).

MTU Cork (Cork unless stated): Cathal Wilson (Newcestown); Fionn O'Connell (St Catherine's), Eoin Varian (Glen Rovers), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); Ronan Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Waterford); Michael Mullins (Whitechurch), Mikey Finn (Midleton); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Brian Lynch (Ballinhassig), Sean Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford); Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Alan Connolly (Blackrock) Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr's).

SUBS: Rhys McCarthy (Carrigaline) for Lynch (35 minutes), 

REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)