Waterford have edge to land ninth title

FITZGIBBON CUP FINALS WEEKEND: THE ULSTER Bank Fitzgibbon Cup weekend, hosted by Trinity College, begins this afternoon at the Clanna Gael Fontenoy grounds in Ringsend with the semi-finals of a very open competition.

Holders Waterford IT are the marginal favourites after their emphatic defeat of Joe Canning’s Limerick IT in the quarter-finals but there isn’t a great deal between the last four. Cork IT are chasing a Sigerson/Fitzgibbon double, something that hasn’t been achieved since UCC did it 21 years ago.

Despite being a relatively small institution with an enrolment of about 5,000 Carlow IT have no dual players, a surprising situation put down to the academic pressure on students. They do, however, have players from both sides of the picket line in the current hurling dispute in the county.

Cathal Naughton is the best known but Brian Corry and John O’Callaghan were also involved with the 2008 panel. From the other side, currently labouring away in the National Hurling League, are Adrian Mannix and Eoghan Cronin – scorer of the late point that ousted UCD – Chris Murphy, Tony Murphy and Ger O’Driscoll.

They will have their work cut against a powerful University of Limerick team, which blitzed a St Patrick’s Drumcondra side featuring Kilkenny’s All-Ireland captain James Fitzpatrick and Richie Hogan. With Offaly’s Brian Carroll and another Kilkenny under-21 hurler Matt Ruth leading the way up front and further bolstered by Tipp underage notables JB McCarthy, Ryan O’Dwyer and Thomas Stapleton, the Limerick club will fancy their chances.

WIT return with only half of the side that won last year’s spell-binding final against then holders LIT but their form has been good. They face UCC in today’s second semi-final. The Cork team are reasonably experienced and have a number of prominent players.

The 2008 Cork reserve goalkeeper Anthony Nash, who lined out against Clare in the championship last July, All Star nomination Shane O’Neill, Kevin Hartnett and Richie Foley, who has been hurling well for Waterford in the league, are all on board as well as Kilkenny under-21 John Mulhall.

Built from the back they will nonetheless provide a very competitive match for the holders.

But WIT are deserving favourites, effective at the back where Richie McCarthy played very well on Canning in the quarter-final. In the half forwards they have ball winners and pace with Cork’s Fintan O’Leary and Kilkenny’s TJ Reid whereas up front the experience of Ray McLoughney has been complemented by his Tipperary county man Timmy Hammersly, who hit two goals against LIT from full forward.

It promises to be a rewarding weekend with the final in Parnell Park tomorrow.

Chances are that it will be a WIT-UL final with perhaps the holders hanging on for a ninth title.

OTHER SEMI-FINALS: Today: Fergal Maher Cup: St Mary’s v BMCV Kings Inns, 11.30; Marino v Napier College, 2.0, main pitch Trinity College Sports Grounds, Santry Avenue. Ryan Cup: UUJ V NUI Maynooth, 12.00; IT Tralee v MICL, 2.30, Na Fianna main pitch, Glasnevin.

FINALS: Tomorrow: Fergal Maher Cup: 12.00, main pitch Trinity College Sports Grounds Santry Avenue; Ryan Cup: Clanna Gael Fontenoy pitch one, Ringsend, 2.00; Fitzgibbon Cup: Parnell Park, 5.00.