Browne red overshadows UL win

UL 2-18

Limerick IT 1-14

Jack Browne is ruled out of this afternoon's Fitzgibbon Cup final through suspension but University of Limerick were last night considering an appeal.

Browne saw red for an off-the-ball incident involving Limerick IT full-forward Paul Killeen and referee James McGrath sent off the Clare corner back. But UL manager Brian Lohan referenced an episode on finals weekend two years ago - when Limerick's Declan Hannon was sent off playing for Mary Immaculate College in the semi-final but lined out in the final after successfully appealing. On that occasion, McGrath was also the referee who sent Hannon off and Lohan said: "I was up at that (2013) match as well and in fairness to Declan Hannon, it was no more a sending off. "It was rightly turned around. What's going to happen this time?"

Clinching goal

LIT also finished a man down when Niall O’Connor was sent off for throwing his hurley at

Stephen Bennett

as the UL sub scorched through for a clinching goal two minutes from time.

Willie Ryan

scored a first-half goal for LIT but UL, who avenged last year’s quarter-final defeat to their local rivals, were 0-10 to 1-6 ahead at half-time.

LIT: A Muphy; M Kiely, N O'Connor, S Gleeson; W Ryan (1-0), B O'Connell, K Bennett; S O'Halloran, S O'Brien (0-1); J Campion, M Fitzgerald (0-2), P Flaherty (0-2); D Reidy (0-8, 7f), P Killeen (0-2), D Dempsey. Sub: P Fitzgerald for Campion (52).

UL: P Maher; J Browne, D McInerney (0-3), G Ryan; D Quinn, B Troy, B Stapleton; J Forde (1-3, 0-1 sl), T Kelly; J McGrath (0-4f), D Morrissey (0-1), T Heffernan (0-1); K O'Brien (0-2), C Martin (0-1), C McInerney (0-3). Sub: S Bennett (1-0) for Heffernan (47). Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).