Trinity set Fitzgibbon Cup alight on first day but this week looks even tastier

Niall McIntyre

And it’s ramping up already.

Last year’s champions UL are already up against it, Trinity College are motoring and Mary Immaculate are back in business.

They say Fitzgibbon hurling is the next thing to senior and on Sunday’s evidence it’s pushing that close too. Because we were reminded, like we are on every first Fitzgibbon Sunday, that the best hurlers in this island are playing in this great competition for colleges we didn’t even know they were in.

You know that’s the case when lads who are on their county teams can’t make it onto their college’s Fitzgibbon Cup team. UL for one again have an embarrassment of riches at this grade and against UCC they started with Tipperary’s second choice goalkeeper Barry Hogan, fellow panellist Cian Darcy and the Young Hurler of the year Kyle Hayes in reserve.

And they were still beaten by six points.

DCU are similarly well stocked and after beating Waterford IT in their pipe opener, they’ll welcome back Kilkenny senior Billy Ryan after his club Graigue Ballycallan were beaten and Patrick Curran on his way back from injury.

See every college’s Fitzgibbon panel here.

Aaron Gillane points the way again as Mary I power away from DIT

Those two are still the favourites, but UCC will be pushing them hard – Kerry’s most gifted hurler Shane Conway lording it over UL for them with Mark Coleman, Shane Kingston and Robbie O’Flynn also on hand. When Darragh Fitzgibbon returns, they’ll be even more of a force.

UCD and NUIG look decent too while IT Carlow, Limerick IT, Mary I and Waterford IT can never be written off.

It was Trinity’s day though.

Far away from the big smoke and down in the boggy fields of North Tipperary, their hurlers did what they’ve been threatening to do for a while now.

Just 15 minutes till throw in here in Borrisoleigh and the condition of the pitch is a stark reminder we’re no longer in the pale #turf #TrinAbú pic.twitter.com/Q2dTyfldqP

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

Despite a rocky start against the Guards in Borrisoleigh, Cian O’Sullivan’s excellence and Fionn Ó Riain Broin’s nerve shone through and with sub Mark Corry pouncing for a goal late on, that was enough to see them over the line and to hand the college their first Fitzgibbon win in recent history.

Having been promoted from the Ryan Cup in 2016, they’ve had a few educating years at this grade but they’re far from whipping boys and after serving their time at the foot of tables, they’re joining the big boys now.

Their 1-15 to 0-13 win over the Guards of Templemore was a historic one and their Twitter account, which has garnered a fair reputation since 2016, enjoyed every minute of it.

This one didn’t take off but it wasn’t far off.

Big Sulla first on the scoreboard for the boys in hoops, under heavy pressure from two guards he manages to wriggle free and get the shot off
TCD 0-1
Garda 0-2

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

Getting there…

In many ways this game reminds me of that film “The Longest Yard”…. a bunch of sound lads sliding all over in the mud trying to stick one to the Guards
TCD 0-1
Garda 0-5

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

The Gardaí aren’t used to this…

It’s evident that the Guards are the ones used to taking names and numbers rather than the other way around as one of their lads is left in disbelief after being booked for giving lip to the ref

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

Brilliant…

Half the stand pours onto the pitch screaming as one of the guards forgets it’s a hurl in his hand and not a flick baton and sees red for absolutely taking the hand off young Johnny Walsh… this is the reason we have an unarmed police force in Ireland
TCD 0-11
Garda 0-11

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

And the money shot…

GOOOALLL TRINITY!! Fresh off the bench Mark Corry makes an unbelievable block forcing a turnover and stays going to take the ball off the shoulder from Butler to send it scorching past the keeper leaving a smell of burnt bacon in the air 🐷
TCD 1-13
Garda 0-12

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

Sweet glory

FINAL WHISTLE GOESSS FUCKING YOPOUVEHHHHHHH!! Absolutely unbelievable, our first win in the Fitzgibbon and coming from 6 points down… by goddd it feels good
TCD 1-15
Garda 0-13

— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 20, 2019

Next up for them is Limerick IT and though that will be a far steeper challenge, Trinity will be up for it.