Tipperary players impress as UL defeat Mary I in Division 1 Colleges hurling final

Electric Ireland Division 1 Hurling League Final

University of Limerick 1-22

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick 0-13

No fewer than 16 Tipperary players took to the field last night in the Electric Ireland Division 1 Hurling final, with UL running out convincing winners despite missing some key personnel.

Rhys Shelly’s second half penalty more or less put too much between the sides in the second half, with the UL defence on top throughout as Mary I couldn’t muster up the scores to bring the match back late on.

For UL, Gearoid O’Connor had a very assured outing at centre forward and proved deadly accurate with most of the chances which fell his way, while he was ably helped in defence by Bryan O’Mara who played well once again at centre back.

Elsewhere, Rhys Shelly had a brilliant outing, saving a penalty in the first half from a powerful Devon Ryan effort, before scoring a penalty of his own in the second half by unleashing his effort to the top corner past the helpless figure of Jason Gillane.

The pick of the Tipperary representatives for Mary I on the night came in the form of Devon Ryan who tried very hard despite being starved of possession, hitting his frees well, while Aaron Ryan never stopped all match at midfield and picked off two lovely points in either half.

UL will now go into the new year as firm favourites to retain their Fitzgibbon Cup title, as they managed to win this match at ease, despite being down four key players in the form of Patrick Crotty, Mark Rodgers, Adam English and Colin Coughlin.

Scorers: UL: Gearoid O’Connor (0-7, 0-4f), Sean Twomey 0-4, Rhys Shelly 1-0 pen, Diarmuid Hanniffy 0-3, Brian O’Sullivan, Ian Byrne 0-2 each, Cian Darcy (0-2, 0-1f), Conor Flaherty, Brian Heavey 0-1 each.

Mary I: Devon Ryan (0-6, 0-5f), Diarmuid Ryan, Aaron Ryan 0-2 each, Darragh Brennan, Cormac Power, Jon Nolan all 0-1 each.

UL: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, Tipperary); Conor O’Dwyer (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Clare) Mikey Gough (Smith O’Briens, Clare); Shane Staunton (Clara, Kilkenny), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross Ballycahill, Tipperary), Conor Flaherty (Claregalway/Carnmore, Galway); Jason O’Donoghue (Gort, Galway), Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork); Diarmuid Hanniffy (Oranmore, Galway), Geariod O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Ian Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny); Philip Wall (Kilbrittan, Cork), Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers, Cork), Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs, Tipperary).

Subs: Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers, Tipperary) for Darcy; Bryan Heavey (Garryspillane, Limerick) for Wall; Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane, Limerick) for Staunton; Rory Duff  Mungret St Pauls, Limerick) for O’Donoghue.

Mary I: Jason Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick); Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers, Tipperary), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary), Shane Lowe (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary); Ciaran Lloyd (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare), Shane Punch (Ruan, Clare); Aaron Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary), Cormac Power (Ballygunner, Waterford); Darragh Brennan (Skeheenarinky, Tipperary), Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Jon Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers, Carlow); Caoimhin Marren (Kinvara, Galway), Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels, Cork), James Devaney (Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary).

Subs: Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg, Tipperary) for Lloyd; Matthew Rosengrave (Beagh, Galway) for Punch; Darragh Helebert (Kinvara, Galway) for Marren; John Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla, Tipperary) for Devaney.

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)