The Quarter-Final ties in the Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup have been decided.

Four interesting matches beckon in the last eight following the conclusion of the group phase on Tuesday.

UL v IT Carlow

UCC v DCU

LIT v UCD

Mary I v NUIG

Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup Group B

UL 4-31 DCU ST PAT'S 2-14

By Jackie Cahill at DCU Sportsgrounds

Brian Lohan’s University of Limerick stamped their class all over this afternoon’s final Group B fixture against DCU St Pat’s, running out 23-point winners.

Clare’s Bobby Duggan landed 12 points – including 10 from play – and Tipperary All-Star John McGrath collected 1-8 as UL won what was a dead rubber encounter on DCU’s all-weather surface.

UL had already guaranteed themselves top spot in the group – and a home quarter-final – but they still produced a polished display.

Tony Kelly, fresh from his club exploits with Ballyea, also impressed before he was taken off at half-time by Lohan, with UL 2-14 to 1-7 clear at the break.

DCU St Pat’s did have good displays from Kilkenny pair Billy Ryan and Sean Morrissey, who scored 2-7 and 0-4 respectively, but UL were far too good and on the evidence we’ve seen thus far, they’ll go close to a second Fitzgibbon title in three seasons.

The writing was on the wall early on for St Pat’s as UL cruised into a six-point lead, before Morrissey finally managed an opening score for the hosts.

That was followed by Ryan’s first goal in the tenth minute, a blistering 20m free that evaded the massed UL ranks on the line.

But UL scored their opening goal in the 20th minute, Mike Mullins on hand to net after McGrath’s long-range free had struck the upright.

And UL’s second goal arrived on the stroke of half-time, McGrath taking a pass from Tom Morrissey before drilling home a rising drive.

Ryan scored his second goal for St Pat’s early in the second half but UL managed two more before the finish – subs PJ Scully and Lorcan Lyons both on target.

Scully struck midway through the second half, before Lyons notched UL’s fourth goal three minutes from the end.

In the other Group B encounter CIT drew 0-19 each with NUIG which meant the Galway outfit, managed by Tony Ward, advanced to the knockout stages.

**Scorers for UL: **B Duggan 0-12 (1f, 1 65), J McGrath 1-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), L Lyons 1-2, PJ Scully 1-1, M Mullins 1-0, T Kelly 0-3, A Morrissey, J Forde, A McGuane, R Lynch and J.P. Lucey 0-1 each.  

Scorers for DCU St Pat’s: B Ryan 2-7 (1-7fs), S Morrissey 0-4, F Curran 0-2, C Breathnach 0-1.

UL: P Maher (Tipperary); L O’Connor (Clare), B Troy (Kilkenny), G Ryan (Clare); J Henley (Waterford), D Fitzgerald (Clare), J Forde (Tipperary); T Kelly (Clare), A McGuane (Clare); T Morrissey (Limerick), B Duggan (Clare), J.P. Lucey (Waterford); D Gleeson (Tipperary); M Mullins (Galway), J McGrath (Tipperary).

Subs: L Lyons (Limerick) for Kelly (h.t.), PJ Scully (Laois) for Mullins (h.t.) P Ryan (Limerick) for Fitzgerald (h.t.), R Lynch (Limerick) for T Morrissey (h.t.), A Morrissey (Galway) for McGrath (41).

DCU ST PAT'S: K Dunphy (Kilkenny); R Tubrid (Wexford), B McDowell (Kilkenny), D O’Shea (Kilkenny); G Malone (Wexford), N Mullins (Kilkenny), C Brady (Faughs); J Barún (Waterford), R Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny); P Spellacy (Dublin), B Ryan (Kilkenny), S Morrissey (Kilkenny); C Breathnach (Waterford), M Óg Storey (Wexford), F Curran (Waterford).

Subs: T Devlin (Dublin) for Breathnach (41), G Kelly (Kilkenny) for Curran (41).

REFEREE: G Quilty (Kilkenny).

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Group A

IT Carlow 6-20 GMIT 0-11

Mary I 5-28 DIT 1-8

Aaron Gillane scored 3-9 as Mary I produced a brilliant performance to defeat DIT.

Cian Lynch also landed six points from play for the holders, who dominated throughout.

DJ Carey's IT Carlow were inspired by Stephen Maher, who registered 3-12 during a facile win over GMIT at Carnmore.

Group C

DCU 0-19 Trinity College 1-15

LIT 5-14 WIT 3-13

LIT and DCU did enough to advance from a highly competitive Group C.

Trinty College were gritty, but DCU were aided by a 12 point haul from Waterford star Patrick Curran.

Group D

UCC 0-22 Maynooth University 0-14

UCD 1-25 UUJ 0-5

Nicky English's UCD progressed to the Quarter-Finals following a convincing win over Ulster University.

Rob O'Shea's accurate free-taking was influential as UCC outfoxed Maynooth University. Jamie Barron and Seamus Kennedy were other important contributors for a highly rated UCC team.