Aaron Gillane was excellent for Mary I.
Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final
MARY I 4-18 NUIG 1-16
By Jackie Cahill at MICL Grounds
Limerick’s Aaron Gillane scored 2-10 as holders Mary Immaculate College stormed into the semi-finals of the Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup.
Gillane registered 3-9 against DIT last time out and continued in his rich vein of scoring form as the finals weekend hosts, NUI Galway, were sent crashing out.
Gillane was a member of John Kiely’s extended winter training panel in Limerick before being deemed surplus to requirements recently.
But on this evidence, Gillane could earn a recall as he called the tune for an impressive Mary I outfit, who showed ominous form on home soil.
Gillane had eight points on the board by half-time – including four from play – before bagging two classy second half goals.
But the best goal of the game was knocked home by Cork’s rising star Luke Meade, who brilliantly controlled Tadhg Gallagher’s delivery from the right touchline on his stick before batting home from close range, all in one, fluid movement.
That was Mary I’s second goal of the game, in the 20th minute, after Gallagher had found the net himself in the fourth minute, pouncing from close range after Colm Galvin rattled the crossbar with a fierce shot.
NUIG were heavily reliant on Gerry Hennelly’s free-taking to remain in touch and they were six points behind at half-time – 2-11 to 0-11.
A star-studded Mary I showed that it will take a good team to stop them retaining their Fitzgibbon crown with an assured second half display.
Gillane rattled home their third goal, and his first, in the 35th minute from a Darragh O’Donovan assist.
And Gillane, who was off-target with another effort, added his second goal in the 41st minute.
There was a consolation goal for NUIG three minutes from time when Gearoid Loughnane was on hand to find the net after Hennelly’s free was blocked. Mary I march on and will play Limerick IT or UCD in the last four.
Seamus Kennedy impressed for UCC against DCU.
Meanwhile at the Mardyke Michael Breen's late goal sealed UCC's 1-18 to 0-16 win over DCU.
A highly competitive encounter was level at 0-11 each at half-time. It was similarly tight in the third quarter before UCC finished strongly.
The teams were deadlocked at 0-14 each with 13 minutes remaining, but Breen's major guided UCC into the penultimate round of the competition.
Scorers for Mary I: Aaron Gillane 2-10 (4fs, 2 65s), Luke Meade 1-2, Tadhg Gallagher 1-0, Michael O’Neill 0-3, Darragh O’Donovan 0-2, Thomas Monaghan 0-1.
Scorers for NUIG: Gerry Hennelly 0-9 (6fs, 1 65), Gearoid Loughnane 1-0, Conor Whelan 0-3 (1f, 1 sl), Conor Cleary (f), Ian Fox, Oisin Donnellan and Sam Conlon 0-1 each.
MARY I: Ciaran Barrett (Tipperary); David Sweeney (Tipperary), Richie English (Limerick), Eoin Quirke (capt. – Clare); Conor Twomey (Cork), Ronan Maher (Tipperary), Alan Flynn (Tipperary); Colm Galvin (Clare), Stephen Cahill (Tipperary); Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick), Michael O’Neill (Clare), Aaron Gillane (Limerick); Tadhg Gallagher (Tipperary), Cian Lynch (Limerick), Luke Meade (Cork).
Subs: Thomas Monaghan (Galway) for Gallagher (39), Thomas Grimes (Limerick) for Gillane (45), Colm Stapleton (Laois) for Twomey (49), Tim O’Mahony (Cork) for Lynch (51), Paul O’Connell (Clare) for O’Donovan (55).
NUIG: Cathal Tuohy (Galway); Conor Ryan (Tipperary), Ger Fennelly (Tipperary), Ger Forde (Galway); Shane Moloney (Galway), Conor Cleary (capt. – Clare), Mike Connelly (Galway); Ian Fox (Galway), Oisin Donnellan (Clare); Gearoid Loughnane (Galway), Kevin McHugo (Galway), Conor Whelan (Galway); Gerry Hennelly (Galway), Sam Conlon (Tipperary), Aiden Helebert (Galway).
Subs: Niall Mitchell (Westmeath) for Helebert (39), Jack Commins (Galway) for McHugo (44), Conor Cosgrove (Galway) for Connelly (54), Stephen Barrett (Galway) for Loughnane (57).
REFEREE: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
