JUST UNDER 12 months after she got the all-clear, Bríd O’Sullivan captains Mourneabbey against Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Senior club final today.

She has already been successful with the captain’s armband twice at this stage of the competition, but this year holds a special significance.

“It started off as a bump in my thumb. I had it for quite a while and I just put it down to getting a bang in a match,” said O’Sullivan.

“It was never sore and I thought it was nothing but finally then in February of 2020 I was at the doctor and said it in passing.”

That bump turned out to be soft tissue sarcoma, a cancer usually found in arms, legs, the chest, and abdomen, while hers had unusually developed in her right thumb.

But initially it seemed benign and O’Sullivan’s doctor recommended getting a biopsy, more as a precaution than anything else.

Covid-19 was just taking hold in Ireland at the time and that was a contributory factor as the procedure was delayed until the following September.

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But the Cork stalwart still had her sights set on her football in the days prior to going under the knife.

“It was a small procedure under local anaesthetic and I remember at the time, it was a Wednesday and I was supposed to be playing a challenge game with Mourneabbey on the Friday,” said O’Sullivan.

“To show how not worried I was about it, I was tempted to cancel the procedure because I knew I would have stitches in my thumb and I wouldn’t be able to play the challenge game.

“I ended up doing it anyway to get it over with. I got it removed on the Wednesday, strapped, played the game on the Friday and honestly did not give it a thought.”

There was still no alarm from her health professionals but one phone call in late October changed everything.

The 28-year-old was on mid-term break from St Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow, where she is a PE and Science teacher.

“I woke up with a missed call and it was the secretary of the doctor who had removed it, asking me to ring back,” said O’Sullivan.

“She said that the doctor wanted to see me in person and could I come up that evening. At that point I was like, what’s wrong, she wants to see me in person.

“I went up that evening with my parents and went in with my mam, she basically told me what they had removed was a rare form of cancer, called soft tissue sarcoma.”

O’Sullivan of Cork during last summer’s TG4 All-Ireland senior championship Group 2 Round 1 match between Cork and Meath at St Brendan’s Park in Birr, Offaly.

Source: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE

It was Ms Jenny Lynch from the Mater Private that delivered the diagnosis, with Bríd and her mother Reena sitting in disbelief opposite her, while father Dan waited in the car.

But it wasn’t until the plastic surgeon offered up some of the consequences that the O’Sullivans were left in real shock.

“She said if it’s just in the soft tissue underneath the surface of your skin, it’s just a case of removing more of the soft tissue,” said the Killavullen native.

“The thing about it being in your thumb is it’s really uncommon and you don’t have loads of tissue there.

“She said if it’s gone down as far as your nerve you will have to get some of the nerve removed and you mightn’t have some feeling in your thumb. But if it’s gone down as far as the bone, you might be looking at getting your thumb amputated.”

O’Sullivan had already captained Mourneabbey to two All-Ireland titles and matched those feats with Cork, where she starred in a couple of All-Ireland successes as well.

And for her, it was football she thought about before her long-term health or the other difficulties she might face in life with the potential of such a troublesome diagnosis.

“For someone who doesn’t play football, they would be thinking how does your mind go directly to that but when it’s something you spend a lot of your time doing, your mind goes there,” said O’Sullivan.

“The whole way along, I actually had been quite calm as she was explaining, if this comes up on the scan you will have to do this but it was the point where she talked about the amputation, that was the heart sinking moment.

“The first thing I said to my parents on the car journey home was: ‘What am I going to do about football?’ They essentially laughed in my face, thinking what? How are you even able to think about football?”

But O’Sullivan’s cancer had only reached part of her nerve and it never reached the bone.

She had surgery that December, where she had a skin graft from her arm to her index finger and the skin from her index finger was put onto her thumb.

Then, at the end of January 2021, they investigated the results and weren’t sure they had cleared all of the cancerous cells. It was less invasive from there and she eventually got the good news in February 2021.

Now, O’Sullivan receives CT and MRI scans every six months and that will become a yearly occurrence in time.

“I want people to know that nothing is too small, cancer doesn’t discriminate, you are never too young or never too fit to be affected by it,” she said.

O’Sullivan during the 2021 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland senior club semi-final between Mourneabbey and St Peter’s Dunboyne at Clyda Rovers GAA, in Cork.

The versatile forward will surely have a major influence on today’s proceedings at St Brendan’s Park in Birr [throw-in 1pm, live on TG4] and she has a lot to be thankful for with a fresh new outlook at the start of 2022.

Chief among those who helped her along the way are Ephie Fitzgerald and Paddy O’Shea, who ensured she remained a vital part of the Cork set-up, where she trained right up until the week before her first operation.

While her Cork team-mates were brilliant, so too were the Mourneabbey family, which very much includes manager Shane Ronayne.

“Shane puts so much into it and you would like to repay that when you see him putting so much in. He will be a real positive for Cork this year,” said O’Sullivan.

“You could say that Shane is our secret to success here in Mourneabbey. We haven’t looked back since he came. We have won seven out of the eight county finals, every Munster final and two All-Ireland finals since he has been
involved.

“He’s just an excellent trainer and knows how to get the best out of everyone. Over the years, he has become a fantastic part of the team in terms of being an excellent manager. “He’s a great friend for all of the players as
well.

“So yeah, we are lucky to have him.”

LIMERICK’S LEGENDARY GOALKEEPER says he was delighted to see his county finally end their wait for All-Ireland glory in 2018 on his upcoming episode of Laochra Gael.

Quaid is the next GAA figure to feature in the series which will be aired on TG4 next Thursday.

The episode explores various fascinating aspects of Quaid’s life, including his family’s ties with the goalkeeper position. He also details an unfortunate accident where one of his testicles exploded while saving a penalty, which hampered the final stages of his time playing hurling.

Quaid enjoyed a decorated career between the sticks for his county, although an All-Ireland medal proved to be elusive.

He recalls the joy he felt when Limerick lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time in 45 years in 2018, defeating the then-champions Galway in the final.

Nickie Quaid — son of Joe’s first cousin Tommy — lined out in goals for Limerick that day and continues to carry the family tradition of being the county’s chief netminder.

Joe could barely look as Galway’s Joe Canning stood over a crucial free near the end of the game.

“When he stood over the free,” Quaid begins, “I turned around. I couldn’t watch it. I looked up and I picked a Galway supporter and I picked a Limerick supporter and I watched the two of them.

“I heard the free being hit and none of them reacted. And I said, ‘What’s going on?’ And just as I turned, the ball was dropping in the square and all I could think was, ‘There’s going to be a flick, a goal and the match is over. And we’re gone again.

“And then Tom Condon came out with the ball. I just turned around and the four kids had tears flowing down their eyes.

“I went down and met Nickie at the side and all I said to him was, ‘Your father would be so proud of you.’ It was just unbelievable. And for my father and Jack to be able to see it.

“It was something I always wondered if I’d be jealous because it wasn’t me there. But I wasn’t, it was just magical. Declan Hannon said it in his speech afterwards that it was for all the people that had gone before them, and it felt like he was talking to me.”

Quaid’s cousin Tommy, who was also a famous goalkeeper for Limerick, passed away while performing renovation work on a Credit Union in Charleville in 1998.

Nickie Quaid also features in the episode and explains that he and his brothers were too young at the time to realise what had happened. They came to appreciate their father’s legacy in time.

“Tommy was my hero,” Joe remembers.

“I remember that day, [Tommy’s sons] Jack, Nickie and Tommy were out the back. Their father was laid out and they were out the back pucking balls.

“To watch young Jack with his father’s boots in his hands walking behind the coffin. And Nickie and Tommy there with Breda. It was heartbreaking.”

Joe Quaid’s Laochra Gael episode will be shown next Thursday night, 3 February on TG4 at 9.30pm.

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DCU were crowned champions in 2020.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

THE DRAW FOR the quarter-finals of this year’s Sigerson Cup has been made today.

2020 champions DCU, who needed a last-minute penalty converted by Sligo’s Red Óg Murphy to overcome St Mary’s College a week ago, will take on Ulster University in Dublin on Wednesday, 2 February (5pm). 

University Limerick meet Queen’s University in Abbottstown on the same evening (7pm).

The previous day, Tuesday, 1 February, sees MTU Kerry take on Maynooth in Tralee (5pm), while NUI Galway face Letterkenny IT in Dangan (6.30pm).  

The @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup Quarter-Finals

Big games ahead! Stay tuned for streaming details #GAA #FirstClassRivals #SigersonCup pic.twitter.com/A7sdIrfeop

— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) January 27, 2022

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NUIG 1-20
Mary Immaculate 2-9

John Fallon reports from Dangan

NUIG ADVANCED TO the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup with an accomplished display in dreadful conditions on their college grounds in Galway as Mary I fell to a second defeat in the competition.

Incessant rain, a strong breeze and a very wet surface made conditions extremely testing for both sides but they still served up a good contest for the sizeable crowd on a miserable night on the banks of the Corrib.

NUIG held an edge throughout and Clarinbridge’s Evan Niland showed the sort of pinpoint accuracy which he will hope to take into the Allianz League in Henry Shefflin’s first year in charge of Galway.

It helps, of course, in such testing conditions to have the Hurler of the Year in your ranks and the deft touches of Cian Lynch were pivotal throughout as the Galway college got on top.

Galway senior Brian Concannon was also influential as they used the breeze to build up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes before the Limerick college responded with a handful of frees from Devon Ryan which saw the gap cut to 0-8 to 0-5 eight minutes from the break.

But NUIG finished the half strongly and a good point from impressive corner-back Conor Caulfield and a couple of more frees from Niland saw them lead 0-12 to 0-5 at the interval.

Mary I needed a good start to the second-half and they got it when goalkeeper Eamon Foudy blasted home a penalty and Ryan added another free to cut the gap to 0-12 to 1-6.

Niland and Phillp Wall exchanged points before another one from the Galway sharpshooter pushed them four clear and they never looked back when Concannon soloed in from the left and blasted to the net and another Niland point pushed the gap out to 1-15 1-7 with ten minutes left.

NUIG never looked like getting caught and while Diarmuid Ryan got a late goal they were unable to rescue a lost cause and bowed out with a second defeat.

Scorers for NUIG: Evan Niland 0-10 (0-8f), Brian Concannon 1-3, Conor Caulfield 0-1, Mark Gill 0-1, Ian McGlynn 0-1, Diarmuid Kilcommins 0-1, Conor Walsh 0-1, Cian Lynch 0-1, Mark Kennedy 0-1.

Scorers for Mary Immaculate: Devon Ryan 0-6f, Diarmuid Ryan 1-0, Eamon Foudy 1-0pen, Phillip Wall 0-2, Colin O’Brien 0-1.

NUIG

1 Liam O’Reilly (Castlegar, Galway)

2 Eoin Lawless (Athenry, Galway

3 Jack Fitzgerald (Killimordaly, Galway)

4 Conor Caulfield (Kilconieron, Galway)

5 Caimin Killeen (Loughrea, Galway)

6 Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields, Galway)

7 Mark Gill (Castlegar, Galway)

8 Ian McGlynn (Kilconieron, Galway)

9 Diarmuid Kilcommins (Annaghdown, Galway)

10 Conor Walsh (Turloughmore, Galway)

11 Cian Lynch (Patrickswell, Limerick)

12 Brian Concannon (Killimordaly, Galway)

13 Phillip Hickey (Eire Og Nenagh, Tipperary)

14 John Fleming (Meelick/Eyrecourt, Galway)

15 Evan Niland (Clarinbridge, Galway)

Subs:

26 Mark Kennedy (Clarinbridge, Galway) for Hickey (39)

25 Niall Collins (Cappataggle, Galway) for Fleming (56)

18 Sean Burke (Kilconieron, Galway) for McGlynn (58)

21 Oisin Salmon (Clarinbridge, Galway) for Walsh (58)

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick:

1 Eamon Foudy (Inagh-Kilnamona, Clare)

2 Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers, Tipperary)

3 Keith Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary)

4 PJ Fanning (Mount Sion, Waterford)

5 Shane Ryan (Clarinbridge, Galway)

6 Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe, Clare)

7 Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones, Clare)

8 Aaron Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane, Tipperary)

30 Cormac Power (Ballygunner, Waterford)

10 Jason Gillane (Patrickswell, Limerick)

11 Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary)

12 Eanna McBride (JK Brackens, Tipperary)

13 Phillip Wall (Kilbrittain, Cork)

14 Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens, Tipperary)

15 Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels, Cork)

Subs:

27. Jack Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary) for Fanning (10)

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

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Sigerson Cup third round results

• Maynooth University 2-6 St Mary’s 0-10

• Ulster University 2-11 MTU Cork 0-8

*******

DERRY’S NIALL LOUGHLIN and Tyrone’s Ryan Jones struck second-half goals in Abbotstown this evening as Ulster University progressed to the Sigerson Cup quarter-finals at the expense of MTU Cork.

They had nine points to spare over MTU Cork, who were missing their sharpshooter and captain Damien Gore through injury, in a clash played at Abbottstown in Dublin.

David Buckley was superb for MTU Cork in attack as he scored 0-5, three efforts from play, and they trailed 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Following traded points in the early moments from Michael Gallagher and MTU corner-forward Dylan O’Connor, Ulster University created some daylight with back-to-back scores courtesy of Michael McGleenan and Ruairi Slane.

Ruairi Gormley and Niall Loughlin added to the Ulster men’s tally, but their Leesiders kept themselves in touch with a spectacular two-point salvo from impressive centre-forward Buckley.

Yet, even though the Cork native grabbed his third of the night at the tail end of the opening period, Ulster University brought a 0-7 to 0-4 cushion into the interval after Loughlin (’45’) and captain Mark McKearney had found the range.

Although it initially remained delicately poised on the resumption, Loughlin subsequently shook the net on 44 minutes to create significant daylight in the contest.

This threw down the gauntlet to MTU, but in spite of Buckley continuing to lead the way for the Leesiders, Jones ventured forward from defence to grab a 50th-minute goal that ultimately placed the outcome beyond doubt.

The quarter-final line-up is now completed for the 2022 Sigerson Cup with the draw to take place tomorrow for next week’s last eight fixtures.

• Quarter-finalists: MTU Kerry, NUI Galway, UL, DCU, Queens University, Letterkenny IT, NUI Maynooth, Ulster University.

Scorers for Ulster University: Niall Loughlin 1-2 (0-1 ’45’), Ryan Jones 1-0, Liam Nugent 0-3, Andrew Gilmore (f), Mark McKearney, Michael Gallagher, Ruairi Gormley, Michael McGleenan, Ruairi Slane 0-1 each.

Scorers for MTU Cork: David Buckley (0-5, 2f), Dylan O’Connor (0-2, 1 ’45’), David O’Connor (0-1).

Ulster University

Odhran Lynch (Magherafelt, Derry);

Ryan Jones (Dungannon, Tyrone), Finn McElroy (Longstone, Down), Aidan Clarke (Omagh, Tyrone);

Mark McKearney (Dungannon, Tyrone), Michael McKernan (Coalisland, Tyrone), Michael Gallagher (Trillick, Tyrone);

Thomas Galligan (Lacken, Cavan), Ruairi Gormley (Strabane, Tyrone);

Tom Close (Clonduff, Down), Michael McGleenan (Eglish, Tyrone), Karl Gallagher (Emyvale, Monaghan);

Andrew Gilmore (St John’s, Down), Niall Loughlin (Greenlough, Derry), Seamus Loughran (Ballyholland, Down)

Subs

Liam Nugent (Rock, Tyrone) for Close (36)

David Mulgrew (Ardboe, Tyrone) for Gormley (42)

Seamus Loughran (Ballyholland, Down) for Gilmore (45)

Dominic McEnhill (Rossa, Antrim) for McKernan (52)

Ronan Beatty (Carryduff, Down) for Loughlin (54).

MTU Cork

Ryan Scully (St Finbarr’s, Cork);

Paul Ring (Aghabullogue, Cork), Aodhan Behan (St Senan’s, Limerick), Adam Murphy (Aghabullogue, Cork);

Colm O’Shea (Kilshannig, Cork), John Cooper (Eire Og, Cork), Brian Hodnett (Carbery Rangers, Cork);

Rory Maguire (Castlehaven, Cork), Cillian Donovan (Macroom, Cork);

Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk, Kerry), Brian Hodnett (Carbery Rangers, Cork), Conall Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary);

Andrew Whelton (Castlehaven, Cork), Daniel O’Connell (Kanturk, Cork), Dylan O’Connor (Castletownroche, Cork) 

**************

Earlier Maynooth University claimed a dramatic victory by two points against St Mary’s Belfast, with Naas player Paddy McDermott firing home an injury-time goal.

Paddy McDermott (right) was part of NUI Maynooth’s victory tonight.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

St Mary’s made the early running to go ahead 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time but only raised a single white flag in the second half. Cian McConville was their top scorer with 0-4, while Ryan Coleman grabbed a brace of points.

Maynooth struck for two crucial goals in the second half to clinch victory with Shane O’Sullivan, their top scorer with 1-3, and McDermott both finding the net.

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Fitzgibbon Cup results

• Group A: UCC 3-22 UCD 1-14

• Group B: IT Carlow 2-22 Maynooth University 1-21; Waterford IT 2-20 DCU 0-18

*******

UCC AND IT Carlow both claimed their second victories in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup as the group stage action continued tonight. 

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The 2020 finalists, the last year this competition was played, are both unbeaten in their groups and on course for the knockout stages.

UCC ran out convincing 3-22 to 1-14 victors over UCD at the Mardyke by 14 points, while IT Carlow saw off Maynooth University by 2-22 to 1-21 at their home path in Carlow.

Tipperary senior Mark Kehoe excelled for UCC with 1-6 from play while Cork’s Padraig Power and Conor Cahalane also raised green flags. Limerick’s Will Henn and Cork’s Daire Connery shot 0-4 apiece for UCC.

Galway’s Donal O’Shea was top scorer for UCD with 0-9 while Diarmaid Ó Floinn bagged their only goal of the game. UCC were in front 0-14 to 1-6 at the interval before they fired home three second-half goals, Power impressing off the bench.

Fitzgibbon Cup
UCC 3-22
UCD 1-14
Result. @HigherEdGAA @UCCSport pic.twitter.com/9EKEbtGzSa

— UCC GAA (@ucc_gaa) January 26, 2022

DJ Carey’s Carlow team triumphed with Marty Kavanagh scoring 1-7, Chris Nolan shooting 1-4, while Wexford’s Seamus Casey fired 0-3. Maynooth’s top scorers were Conor Drennan (1-6), Jack O’Dwyer (0-7) and Cian Boyle (1-3).

In tonight’s late game, Waterford IT bounced back from last week’s opening defeat to IT Carlow as they triumphed by eight points against DCU.

MATCHES IN THIS year’s GAA football and hurling leagues will be live streamed by the BBC for the first time this season.

A game each weekend will be covered on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport NI website starting this Saturday 29 January 29 as Derry entertain Down in Owenbeg in their Division 2 football clash.

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The football coverage continues with Galway’s visit to Newry to meet Down in Division Two a week later. The first live hurling match will see Dublin taking on Antrim at Corrigan Park in Division One on Saturday 12 February.

The first Division One Football game is on 19 February 19 with Armagh playing neighbours Monaghan at the Athletic Grounds. Down against Roscommon in Division Two is the match that is the focus on 26 February, while Armagh’s tie against Kildare is then covered on 12 March

The BBC’s live streamed coverage of league games for 2022 will conclude with the Division Two Hurling tie between Down and Kerry on 19 March.

THE GAA HAVE confirmed that water breaks have been removed from match regulations.

One water break per half was introduced in club and inter-county games in 2020 as GAA action resumed amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

As restrictions loosened in recent days, their abolishment was expected, and the Association confirmed the news in its latest Covid-19 update for members this afternoon.

This change paves the way for the return of Maor Uisces, with two permitted per team.

They cannot enter the field of play, unless in hurling when carrying a replacement hurley to a player.

“Counties and Clubs should note that the provision for Water Breaks in our games is now removed from our Match Regulations with immediate effect,” the update reads.

“The following provisions in this context now apply:

“Maoir Uisce – Two Maoir Uisce who must be over 18 years of age, are permitted per team; they may not enter the field of play. Each must wear an official bib (Football: Purple or Green | Hurling: Brown or Lilac) and will be situated as per the “Pitch Layout” in our Match Regulations, and at least two metres from the sideline.

“Official team personnel (Selectors/Coaches), substitutes, injured players or members of the extended panel may not act as Maoir Uisce. In the event that any official team personnel, injured player(s) or a member of the extended panel act as a Maoir Uisce, any breach of rule, shall be considered as a Misconduct at Games by Team Officials infraction.

“Maoir Uisce are not permitted to have/use communications devices i.e. walkie talkies.

“In hurling the Maoir Uisce will also act as hurley carriers & may enter the field of play with a replacement hurley when necessary.

“This will also mean that the number of people allowed access to the controlled zone for games in our Match Regulations will increase by 2 (i.e. from 40 to 42) to accommodate this change.

“In this context, Counties and clubs should a note the provisions on unauthorised entry to the field of play as outlined in Rule 1.4 of the Rules of Control.”

Further details on rules and regulations surrounding entry to the field and incursions are included, and the full update, signed off by President Larry McCarthy and Director General Tom Ryan, can be read here.

– Originally published at 12:38

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MOURNEABBEY FORWARD LAURA Fitzgerald says losing their Cork crown in 2020 is a major driving force behind their charge for All-Ireland glory this weekend.

Mourneabbey’s Laura Fitzgerald.

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

Mourneabbey have been the dominant club in Ladies Football for the best part of a decade, winning six consecutive Munster titles, and back-to-back All-Ireland triumphs in recent years.

But they encountered their first major slip two years ago.

That defeat at the hands of West Cork was a devastating blow to Shane Ronayne’s side, who were seeking a county seven-in-a-row at the time. The sides had tussled in the two previous deciders, and West Cork ensured that they would not be denied a third time.

Despite the result, Mourneabbey were briefly expected to represent Cork in the provincial championship, as West Cork were unable to progress due to their status as a divisional outfit. There were other complications regarding West Cork’s eligibility in the Cork championship, but in any case, the competition ceased at county level due to Covid-19 restrictions that were in place at the time.

Mourneabbey launched their reboot in 2021 with an effort that brought them back to the summit in Cork, after a five-point win over Éire Óg in the county final.

They added the Munster title after getting the better of Tipperary’s Aherlow which effectively marked a provincial seven-in-a-row for the Cork champions.

A crushing victory over Dunboyne followed in the All-Ireland semi-final to send them through to a showdown with Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway in the Currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Ladies senior club final this Saturday.

The clash will also be a repeat of the 2019 All-Ireland final where Mourneabbey defended their title.

“It came crashing down,” Fitzgerald recalls of that 2020 campaign that ended in defeat.

“Not that we thought our reign was over but we were extremely devastated to have lost that match, we didn’t perform particularly well. But that’s the making of a great team. If you don’t perform on the day, that’s it, you can’t have any complaints.

Mourneabbey were All-Ireland champions when the final was last played in 2019.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“We were technically supposed to be training for a Munster competition but that didn’t transpire. But definitely it was the ingredient that made us that bit hungrier this year. We came back to training as if we lost all six county titles. We had to seriously make up for the loss that we’d just experienced.

“We had a couple of years won previously, and not that it meant nothing, but we had to redeem ourselves massively in Cork itself. We went out with a purpose this year definitely.

“We let the committees and councils fight that one out, but we can only train and play when we’re told to. West Cork were a serious outfit so we had no issue with them.

“We trained for about two weeks before the competition was called off but I think there was issues with us representing Cork in the Munster championship because we hadn’t won the county final.”

Fitzgerald has been in impeccable form for her club this year, netting 10 goals in their last three games. Four of those came against Dunboyne in the All-Ireland semi-final as part of an emphatic 30-point win.

That result was particularly significant given that it was against a side that contained talented duo Emma Duggan and Vikki Wall who were central to Meath’s incredible All-Ireland triumph.

“I wouldn’t keep count,” Fitzgerald replies modestly when her tally is relayed to her.

“I am just very lucky to be playing on the pitch and to be scoring goals, finishing off moves which others have started.

“Collectively we have worked on being that more clinical and ruthless as well which is what Shane really pushes for. coming into this stage of the All-Ireland series if the goal is there you just have to take it because it is probably the difference at the end of the game so it is something we have worked on collectively.

“I’m just very fortunate for the position I play in and the players I have around me. To be honest, I’m just one of 15 that’s on the field at any given time.”

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Kilkerrin-Clonberne will bring a considerable fight to St Brendan’s Park in Birr this weekend. Galway star sisters Louise and Nicola Ward are key components in their system, along with fellow county teammate Olivia Divilly.

Revenge for the devastation they suffered in the 2019 All-Ireland final must surely be on their mind too. It was Fitzgerald who kicked the decisive score that day with a last-minute free and she has vivid memories of how hard their opponents were to shake off.

“Their fitness levels,” she begins when asked for her memories of that day. “They were a serious outfit, they had 15 very good players on the pitch at all times.

“I know Nicola [Ward] went off injured but you wouldn’t have known with the replacement that came on. They were relentless and the fact that it went down to the last 20 or 30 seconds kind of shows that… the only thing only thing on our performance, I don’t think we were 100% ourselves and we’ve reflected on that.

“We know we weren’t at our very best that day but still fought to win. We’re definitely going to have to bring our A game on Saturday or else it’s going to be game over.”

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Letterkenny IT 0-7
UCD 0-6

Alan Foley reports from Convoy, Donegal

LETTERKENNY INSTITUTE OF Technology produced a massive surprise to see off University of College Dublin to seal a last eighth berth in the Sigerson Cup. 

In only their second year in the senior bracket – they were semi-finalists when the competition was last played in 2020 – the side managed by Maxi Curran came through what might only be termed as a struggle at the Donegal Training Centre in Convoy.

The biggest margin between the sides over the course of the hour was when the all-Donegal side led 0-3 to 0-1 at the start of the second half, with Joel Bradley-Walsh scoring the second of his four points on the night.

UCD led only in the first half through a 45 from Aaron McClements and didn’t manage to score from play till Brian McLoughlin popped over in the 47th minute.

Both sides were creating a decent number of chances, with finishing poot from both. Conor O’Donnell of LyIT and UCD’s Daire Cregg and Eoin Harkin did provide an exception to that.

Last week, Bradley-Walsh hit a hat-trick as LyIT were beaten in a against University of Limerick, 2-23 to 3-15 at the Connacht AirDome. Tonight, with the score 0-6 to 0-6, he kept his nerve to hit the winner with a marked ball in injury time. McLoughlin had the chance to level it in the fifth minute of injury-time but his shot fell to the right and wide.

*****

Tonight’s other Round 3 game saw Queens University defeat IT Carlow by 0-17 to 0-16 in the Sigerson Cup. Queens University and Letterkenny IT join UL, NUI Galway, DCU and MTU Kerry, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Tomorrow’s Round 2B games see Ulster University play MTU Cork and Maynooth University face St Mary’s College Belfast.

@ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA Sigerson Cup final score
@itcarlow 0.16@QueensGAA 0.17#FirstClassRivals #sigersoncup

— IT Carlow GAA (@ITCarlowGAA) January 25, 2022

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Scorers for Letterkenny IT: Joel Bradley-Walsh 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 mark), Conor O’Donnell 0-2, Jason McGee 0-1 (0-1f),

Scorers for UCD: Brian McLoughlin 0-2, Daire Cregg 0-2 (0-2f), Aaron McClements 0-1 (0-1 ’45), Eoin Harkin 0-1.

Letterkenny IT

(All Donegal unless stated)

Emmett Maguire (Termon)

Dylan Dorrian (Milford), Caolan Ward (St Eunan’s), Kieran Tobin (St Eunan’s)

Conor O’Donnell (Carndonagh), Oisin Langan (St Michael’s), Jack Gallagher (Glenswilly)

Rory O’Donnell (Milford), Ryan McFadden (Termon)

Peadar Mogan (St Naul’s), Jason McGee (Cloughaneely), Kealan Dunleavy (Glenswilly)

Jack McSharry (Killybegs), Joel Bradley-Walsh (MacCumhaill’s), Eoin Dowling (St Eunan’s)

Subs

Aaron Gilhooley (MacCumhaill’s) for Gallagher (28)

Sean Neary (Bonniconlon, Mayo) for McSharry (47)

Keelan McGroddy (Downings) for Dorrian (53)

UCD

Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)

Ryan O’Toole (Scotstown, Monaghan), Eoin Harkin (Dunsany, Meath), Paddy O’Keane (St Patrick’s, Wicklow)

Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Martin O’ Connor (HWH Bunclody, Wexford), Darragh Ryan (Sarsfields, Kildare)

Ethan Devine (Na Fianna, Meath), Aaron McClements (Loughinisland, Down)

Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí (Naomh Conaill, Donegal), Darragh Kennedy (Killygarry, Cavan), Ruairí McCormick (Warrenpoint, Down)

Daire Cregg (Boyle, Roscommon), Ray Connellan (Athlone, Westmeath), Brian McLoughlin (Clane, Kildare)

Subs

Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert, Offaly) for McCormick (half-time)

Adam Loughran (Aghagallon, Antrim) for Mac Ceallabhuí (47)

Ciaran O’Reilly (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Kennedy (47)

Matthew Corcoran (Geraldines, Louth) for Devine (57)

Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan).

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