ROUND UP: Darragh McCarthy catches fire for University of Limerick in the Fitzgibbon Cup

The quarter-final stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup come into sharp focus in the coming weeks, with plenty of Tipperary interest participating in key final round games across the group stages on Wednesday evening.

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Mary Immaculate College produced one of the standout results of the round with a dramatic 1-24 to 5-9 victory over ATU Galway at Liam Mellows GAA Club, overturning a double-digit half-time deficit to secure a home quarter-final.

Trailing 4-7 to 0-11 at the break, Mary I dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents by 1-13 to 1-2. Shane O’Brien was the central figure, finishing with 1-15, while Oisín O’Farrell added three points and landed a crucial score to put Mary I ahead for the first time.

From a Tipperary perspective, Cathal Quinn started at midfield, with Joe Caesar and Eoin Craddock both contributing points as Mary I surged late to eliminate ATU Galway from the competition.

Elsewhere, TUS Midwest exited the Fitzgibbon Cup despite a battling 2-15 to 0-21 draw with a fancied University of Galway side in Moylish. The result was enough to send UG through to the quarter-finals, but not enough for TUS after their opening-round defeat.

University of Galway’s Sam O’Farrell, a rising Tipperary talent, finished as top scorer with 0-9, including eight frees, and struck one of the late scores that hauled his side level.

TUS looked set for a morale-boosting win when Seanie Kenneally raised a green flag late on, the Moneygall man finishing with 1-1, but late points from O’Farrell and Darragh Neary denied the hosts.

Tipperary players were prominent throughout for TUS, with Stephen Walsh, Robert Doyle, Andy Hoolan, Jack Leamy, Paddy McCormack and Kian O’Kelly all starting, while Sam Rowan was introduced from the bench.

Elsewhere, University of Limerick underlined their credentials with a 13-point win over DCU, claiming top spot in Group A and a home quarter-final. UL were not at full throttle but still had too much for DCU, pulling clear late after leading by just six points entering the final quarter.

Adam English struck two goals, while Darragh McCarthy and Adam Screeney also found the net. McCarthy, a Tipperary man, added 1-2 from play and was central to UL’s attacking play, while Oisín O’Donoghue chipped in with points from the half-forward line.

Jack O’Neill contributed 0-5 as UL eased away in the closing stages. UL will now host a quarter-final, while DCU progress as group runners-up.

With the group stages complete, the quarter-final line-up is now confirmed, and Tipperary players have left a strong imprint across the competition heading into the knockout phase.

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