They’ll be hard beaten, that’s for sure.
Gary Kirby’s University of Limerick demolished DIT in their Fitzgibbon Cup opener on their 3G pitch on Sunday. The 2015 champions have an embarrassment of riches in attack, in defence and on the bench. They put 3-29 past a well stacked DIT, and it’s no wonder they’ve been installed as hot favourites for the competition.
Their forward line is a who’s who of distinguished inter-county attackers. Their defence would be the best placed rearguard in the whole of the competition to keep these forward’s quiet. Their bench boasts some top quality performers, like Michael Casey, Barry Nash, Sean Finn and Barry Heffernan.
The home side got off to a flier and never looked back. They led by 14 points at half-time on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-7. They led by 8 at full-time.
Tipperary seniors John McGrath and Jason Forde caused the Dublin college plenty of problems, scoring 2-11 between them.
But any one of their attackers could explode on any given day. You’ve Tony Kelly, Gearoid Hegarty, Ian Galvin, Kevin O’Brien, Tom Morrissey and Barry Nash as able deputies.
It’s some squad. It’s the reason they’re 15/8 favourites to win it outright.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/955153566016114688
Because DIT are no slouches themselves. Former All-Star ‘Bonner’ Maher raised two green flags. Westmeath stars Tommy ‘Jogger’ Doyle, Niall O’Brien, Niall Mitchell and Derek McNicholas also representing them, as is Kilkenny forward Liam Blanchfield.
They are now priced at 50/1 for the competition outright – which isn’t bad value if you’re fond of an outside bet.
A repeat of last year’s final took place in Heywood Community School Astroturf in Laois, where Jamie Wall’s defending champions Mary Immaculate took on DJ Carey’s IT Carlow.
The Carlow college have won the last four Fitzgibbon Leagues, and they’ll be hell bent on raising the Fitzgibbon trophy aloft this February.
They’re well set to do just that. They may not have the star quality of UL, but what they do have is a team. They’re a physical outfit – perhaps the most physical in the competition.
Carlow’s Christy Ring hero of last year James Doyle is a class act at centre back. Their full forward line of Jack Fagan, Mark Russell and Cathal Dunbar is threatening. In midfield, Richie Leahy and Colin Dunford are strong runners and as lively as they come.
Charles Dwyer is an experienced campaigner at half forward, and has that knack of just popping up in the right places at the right times. He scored 0-6 from play today. Beside him, Martin Kavanagh is similarly prolific.
Mary I have lost some of their star turns from last year, with none of their six defenders from last year’s final playing today. Carlow showed their class with Richie Leahy’s goal the difference. They won by 1-22 to 0-22.
They shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Meanwhile NUIG defeated Trinity College Dublin by 2-21 to 0-13.
Trinity weren’t worth the plunge at 8/1…
Shoutout to all the boys hopping my phone out of it snapping because I told them to lump on us at 8/1 🙄
— Trinity College GAA (@TCDGAA) January 21, 2018
On Monday, DCU Dóchas Éireann will take on Davy Fitzgerald’s LIT, who they defeated in the League semi-final.
Here are the odds for the whole competition via PaddyPower.
At 100/30, Carlow IT are appealling. It’s worth noting that the winner of Monday’s clash will definitely shorten.
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