UL manager Brian Ryan before the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup round two match between University of Limerick and ATU Galway at the University of Limerick in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
Last year’s Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Final defeat to Mary I seriously stung everyone involved with the UL team.
They went into the match on a hot streak of 14 consecutive wins in the competition and as as warm favourites to complete a historic three-in-a-row of titles, but came up short on the day against a hungrier, cuter Mary I outfit.
This year they look like a team driven to make amends for that defeat.
The League title was annexed in some style and they’ve won their four Fitzgibbon Cup matches on the way to Saturday’s Final against DCU by an average of 13 points each.
“The lads have been very committed since they came back to college last October,” says UL manager, Brian Ryan.
“There was a sense that they wanted to atone for last year among the more senior players.
“We had a good run through the League and we ended up winning it. We've a big panel of players and that was helpful as we moved along and navigated the various challenges in the League and then in the Fitzgibbon draw.
“We've been happy with the form we've shown but we know it's going to be a very tough final. DCU have never won a Fitzgibbon and they've had some very good teams over the years.
“They've beaten the reigning Fitzgibbon champions and have since beaten a fancied UCC side that topped their group. That bodes well for them.”
This is Ryan’s fourth year in charge of the UL and fourth final in a row. If they could make it three titles in four years, what would it mean to everyone involved with the team?
“It would be a very significant achievement for the management team and for the players themselves personally,” says Ryan.
“And I suppose even more so for the more senior players who have been involved.
“We've seven or eight new guys this year who didn't start last year. Colleges teams are continuously transitioning. It's not like a club team or inter-county team where you have players for seven or eight years.
“The likes of Gearoid O'Connor and Brian O'Sullivan are rarities where you'd have them for fours years. You'd have to be an exceptional second year to get on a Fitzgibbon Cup team in any college.
“You're usually talking about lads in their third or fourth year so two years would be the max for most players.”
Gearóid O'Connor will play in his fourth Fitzgibbon Cup Final in a row for UL. Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The aforementioned Gearoid O’Connor and Brian O’Sullivan will both be playing in their fourth final in a row and are very much two of the leaders of this UL team.
“It's a magnificent achievement for them,” says Ryan. “It's their last year for both of them and they've been very committed.
“They've two excellent players. Brian O'Sullivan is in a rich vein of form at the moment. He's been excellent throughout the League and the Fitzgibbon.
“Gearoid has been excellent as well. He was very good again in the semi-final and his free-taking is excellent. He's just very committed to us too.
“This competition means an awful lot to the players.”
The UL teams of the last four years have all been serious outfits, but what Ryan likes most about this year’s crop is the strength in depth of the panel.
“Each team has had their own characteristics, traits, and characters,” he says. “In the first period of time we had Bryan O'Mara as an excellent captain and a great leader. We had some outstanding players.
“What we've worked hard at this year is developing the bench as well. That has been helpful to us this year in that we can call on five or six subs who can come in from the panel of 35 and make a big impact.
“We've utilised the bench well in all our matches so far and I'd say we'll need that again this weekend.”
Saturday, February 15
Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Final
UL v DCU, Connacht GAA Centre, 2.45pm (TG4)
