Early exit for SETU Waterford but they go down fighting
Referee James Owens with SETU captain Josh Fitzgerald and MICL captain Jim Quilty. Photos: Noel Browne
SETU Waterford suffered an early exit from the FitzGibbon Cup on Wednesday night, losing their second game of the tournament, as they fell to Mary Immaculate College, exiting the competititon with a game left to play, but Fintan O’Connor’s men went out on their shield. Even with talisman Reuben Halloran on crutches, a determined SETU Waterford pushed the defending Fitzgibbon Cup champions all the way and deserved at least a share of the spoils.
Halloran, who fired 1-10 against UL in round one, injured his heel during a challenge match against Wexford the Sunday before. In his absence, Cork forward Sean Walsh and Offaly midfielder Cathal King stepped up to the plate. Walsh has been a consistent Fitzgibbon performer over the past three seasons. He took on the free taking duties and also produced three points from play. King drove forward from first whistle to last. He won five frees and landed three points from play. The non-stop work rate and the ferocious tackling all over the field put them in the shake-up for a surprise result. 1-8 from Limerick attacker Shane O'Brien and four points from wing back Cian Scully saw Mary I dig it out in the end and reach the knockout stages. The visitors had injury issues of their own as Clare All Ireland winners Adam Hogan and Shane Meehan didn’t feature.
It was a close match. Five minutes into injury time, with only a point between them, Cathal King went to ground under a late challenge. SETU appealed for a free but referee James Owens waved play on and Cian Scully landed a monster score from his own 65. His third point of the second period and his fourth in total. SETU could also feel aggrieved with a first half point incorrectly awarded to Mary I when O’Brien’s free clearly drifted right and wide. The away side were guilty of sixteen wides and four balls short but still secured back to back wins. The wide tally stood at ten by the break as they went in 1-8 to 0-8 ahead. The key moment came on 25 minutes when Shane O'Brien stole the ball from Pauric Wickham, went through one and one and batted one handed past Kilmallock club mate Barry Hennessy. Sweeper Conor Keane frustrated the Mary I attack up to that point. O’Brien finished the half on 1-4 including that controversial free. Clare attacker Diarmuid Cahill chipped in with two from play.
Sean Walsh shot six points for the hard working hosts. Cathal King struck from 60 metres and won four frees. John Groves had their clearest goal chance in the sixth minute, created by Jake Foley and Walsh, but Mary I netminder Darragh Conway closed him down. SETU continued to outwork their opponents in the third quarter and five Walsh points put them in front. Willie Beresford and Paddy Phelan got on loads of ball around the middle. Cian Scully steadied the ship for the visitors with two long range efforts. Mary I upped their intensity and O'Brien converted a couple of frees. Oisin O’Farrell then soloed forward and flipped one over off the hurley. O'Brien snapped a high ball and scored another point. Cathal King continued to take the fight with his third score. Conor Keane made it a one point game before Scully sealed a steely Mary I victory.
