No Limerick representation on UL squad

Neither the hurling nor football teams that represented University of Limerick in the opening rounds of the Waterford Crystal SH and McGrath Cup SF competitions featured any local representation!

In the hurling tournament, the university went out to Clare, 0-20 to 1-13, after a lively contest at Meelick. 
The sides were level on no less than five occasions before Mike McNamara’s XV made the better dash for the finishing line, reeling off four neat points on the trot on the run-in.

Matt Ruth, son of the former Kilkenny stalwart of the same name, hit a cracking goal and Brian Carroll (Offaly leveled) moments later.

The outing was also noticeable for the return of Clare’s Tony Griffin, who cycled across Canada to raise funds for Cancer last year, an unselfish decision on the part of a previous season’s All-Star.

UL, leading contenders for the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup, will meet the winners of tomorrow night’s Cork/Limerick Institute of Technology at Newtownshandrum, provided, of course, this match escapes the Leeside strike threat. 

In terms of the intervarsity competition, UL are in there with LIT and Waterford Institute of Technology, in the Group of Death from which only two teams will advance.

Limerick are not competing in the Waterford Crystal Tournament due to a boardroom oversight.

On the football front, David Moran – son of Kerry legend Ogie – produced a masterful performance at UL squeezed-out Waterford, 1-15 to 2-9, after extra-time in the McGrath Cup tie at Fraher Field, Dungarvan. 

Moran emerged as the winners’ top scorer with 1-3, with the goal from the penalty spot, while Cork’s Fichra Lynch helped himself to an array of delightful points.

Lynch (2) and Gary Brennan of Clare were the students who kicked the match-winning points when fitness told in the dying stages of an enjoyable outing. 

Twelve-months ago, UL also won their opening round, against a Páidí Ó Sé managed Clare outfit at Miltown Malbay, only to come a cropper soon afterwards.

That was a contest that earned national attention, but a year on the students of Plassey College won’t be too bothered if their early-season exploits remain low-key.

The University of Limerick will bump into St Mary’s, Belfast, in next month’s Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup.

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