Before this 2025 Fitzgibbon Cup final showpiece at Bekan, UL head coach Brian Ryan was quick to focus on his side’s own performance after being complementary of the Kilkenny spine to the DCU challenge.
Played in difficult pitch conditions, University of Limerick’s second half third quarter was too much for a battling DCU side. The Limerick side opening a decisive lead which forced the Dublin university to go for goals early without success.
UL learned from last year’s upset final loss to Mary Immaculate. They started the game with gusto and had five points on the board within the opening ten minutes. Adam English’s point from distance the highlight as Gearoid O’Connor was prominent too in scoring and open play.
DCU have had a magnificent 2025 Fitzgibbon Cup campaign. Their pathway to the final has seen notable scalps against Mary Immaculate and UCC and they were in touch at half-time thanks to Cian Boran and Denis Walsh on placed balls.
DCU’s distribution to the inside full forward line and middle third run game was creating issues for UL who introduced Evan O’Leary from Ahane on twenty minutes.
UL’s wide count increasing in the opening half; seven in total and the side were indebted to Gearoid O’Connor to keep the scoreboard ticking over as others around him struggled. DCU in touch as UL led by 0-9 to 0-8 at the break.
The second half though saw a different UL performance. A five point burst immediately after the restart putting DCU on the back foot.
Jack Leahy with a quick fire brace of points, O’Connor and English then got in on the act. From an one point game, the contest was now a six point margin. DCU forward line now struggling for the space as the Connealy and Fitzgerald started to assert dominance.
UL’s panel is ridiculously good evident in the substitutions called upon to close out the contest. O’Neill, Rynne, Hanniffy and O’Hanlon all provided the required impact. DCU only using two substitutes as squad depth was exposed.
Cathal Beirne may have scored a goal late on UL were akin to a boxer well ahead on points and doing enough to close out the contest. Hannify point a standout as UL had eleven different scorers during the contest.
DCU left it all on the Bekan pitch but UL were not to be denied today. Redemption for the Castletroy side and their ninth Fitzgibbon Cup success, their third success in the last four years.
Given their stacked hurling depth chart in freshers hurling, UL’s dominance of the Fitzgibbon Cup looks set to continue. A third Fitzgibbon in four years, UL are the hurling third level collegiate progamme to aspire to.
Scorers for UL: Gearóid O’Connor 0-10 (6fs), Adam English 0-2, Jack Leahy 0-2, Seán O‘Hanlon 0-2, John Connealy 0-1, Killian Doyle 0-1, Mark Fitzgerald 0-1, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1, Aidan O’Connor 0-1, Cathal O’Neill 0-1, Diarmuid Hanniffy 0-1.
Scorers for DCU: Denis Walsh 0-8 (7fs), Cathal Beirne 1-1, Peter Clarke 0-2, Cian Boran 0-2, Joe Flanagan 0-1, Darragh Carley 0-1.