Involvement in Fitz final is guaranteed
SOME WEXFORD involvement is guaranteed in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup third level colleges hurling decider after all four quarter-finals were staged on Thursday. There will be a showdown between D.C.U. and U.C.C. in the penultimate round tonight (Tuesday) as a result, and both teams have a Slaneyside interest.
That’s particularly the case with the Glasnevin crew, as the grand total of nine of their squad members hail from Wexford, while Blackwater’s James Donoghue is a selector.
They beat local rivals D.I.T. by 2-19 to 0-12 on Thursday, with Rory O’Connor (St. Martin’s) coming off the bench in the second-half to score two points.
Midfielder Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien) contributed one point, while Oisín and Pádraig Foley from Crossabeg-Ballymurn lined out in goal and at right half-back respectively.
Aaron Maddock (St. Martin’s) was introduced as a substitute, while the panel also includes James Henebery (Faythe Harriers), Conor Firman (St. Martin’s), Darren Byrne (Blackwater), and Joe O’Connor (St. Martin’s) who is still recuperating after an operation.
Quinn Saunders (Our Lady’s Island) came on for D.I.T., while Ronan Gahan (Shamrocks) was also a member of their squad.
Next up for D.C.U. is a clash with U.C.C. who had Ross Donohoe (Buffers Alley) on board at left half-forward when they beat I.T. Carlow by 3-19 to 1-11 in the Mardyke on Thursday.
The losers included Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien) at left corner-back, Michael Redmond (Rathnure) at right half-back, Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna, 0-2) at right half-forward, and Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien, 0-5 frees) at right corner-forward.
The second semi-final will see N.U.I.G. taking on Mary I whose sole Wexford representative, Alan Walsh (St. James’), didn’t feature in their 2-20 to 0-12 dismissal of C.I.T.
Turning to football, Martin O’Connor (HWH-Bunclody) is the last Wexford player standing in the Sigerson Cup after he featured at left corner-back on the U.C.D. side which knocked out D.C.U. by 2-16 to 1-9 in Wednesday’s quarter-final.
They will travel to Mallow on Saturday to meet St. Mary’s from Belfast who ousted a Maynooth side including Darragh Lyons (St. James’) at midfield on a 0-15 to 0-13 scoreline.
U.C.C. will face N.U.I.G. after crushing an I.T. Carlow team featuring Nick Doyle (Starlights) at right half-forward by 4-21 to 0-5.
Meanwhile, W.I.T. advanced to a Trench Cup (second division) football semi-final in Mallow on Friday with a 2-13 to 2-8 win against Trinity College in Santry Avenue.
Their team included Wexford inter-county duo Mark O’Neill (Gusserane) and Cathal Devereux (Our Lady’s Island), while Darren O’Reilly (Horeswood) is the trainer.