Fitzgibbon medal for Alley clubman
AFITZGIBBON Cup medal is winging its way to Buffers Alley after U.C.C. produced a superb display to see off Mary Immaculate from Limerick by 2-21 to 0-13 in Saturday’s final in Carriganore, writes Alan Aherne.
Ross Donohoe joined the illustrious group of Wexford hurlers who have adorned the winners’ list in this prestigious competition, making a late appearance off the bench as the Leesiders completed the first double since 1988 after the success of their footballers just three nights earlier in the Sigerson Cup final versus St. Mary’s of Belfast.
The losing squad included Alan Walsh from St. James’, while there was also Wexford involvement in the Fergal Maher (Division 3) decider.
Oisín Dunbar from Ballygarrett lined out at midfield on the Marino Institute of Education team which lost to St. Mary’s (Belfast) by 4-12 to 1-8, while their panel also included Steven Murphy (Oulart-The Ballagh).
The first final of the weekend was on Friday afternoon when University of Limerick beat U.C.D. in the Intermediate decider, open to hurlers who didn’t feature in the Fitzgibbon campaign.
Cathal O’Connor of Rathnure was part of that triumphant squad, with the Munster college beating a Belfield crew bolstered by a strong Slaneyside contingent.
Their number included his clubmate Brian Quigley in defence, as well as Jack Cushe (Naomh Eanna), Michael O’Brien (St. Patrick’s), Ciarán Murphy (Buffers Alley), Darren Codd (St. Martin’s), Bill Eviston (Crossabeg-Ballymurn) and Mikey Coleman (St. Martin’s).
The entire weekend was an organisational triumph, and much of the credit for this must go to Katie Redmond from Crossabeg-Ballymurn, the W.I.T. Vikings Club Development Officer and former county footballer, who was heavily involved behind the scenes.
Incidentally, the W.I.T. football squad which lost the Trench Cup semi-final to D.K.I.T. recently included Mark O’Neill (Gusserane), Joe Gardiner (Castletown), Dylan Furlong (Sarsfields), Cathal Devereux (Our Lady’s Island), David Doran (Réalt na Mara), Paddy Glover (Volunteers) and Mark Rossiter (Gusserane), while Horeswood’s Darren O’Reilly was team trainer.