Gaelic Games

Tony Kelly shows his class as underdogs Limerick IT stun their city rivals

Hurler of the year for 2013 outstanding as Davy Fitzgerald’s side spring huge upset

Tempers flare during yesterday’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final between University of Limerick and Limerick IT at the UL grounds. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Tempers flare during yesterday’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final between University of Limerick and Limerick IT at the UL grounds. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Thu Feb 20 2014 - 01:00

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK 1-13 LIMERICK 1T 2-16
Davy Fitzgerald's Limerick IT side stunned pre-match favourites and city rivals University of Limerick on their own patch in yesterday's Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final.

Clare's 2013 Hurler of the year Tony Kelly hit 1-10 for LIT, who were rated as 6-1 outsiders before throw-in.

Out-thought
Rated as 1/10 favourites, UL were out-thought by last year's All-Ireland winning boss Fitzgerald, but a power-packed LIT outfit did lose Seánie O'Brien to a red card that looks set to rule him out of finals weekend.

LIT led 0-10 to 0-6 at half-time but 1-1 from UL after the restart, including a goal from Tipperary's Jason Forde, hauled the home side back on level terms.

Limerick IT manager Davy Fitzgerald talks to his team after they had beaten favourites University of Limerick in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final on UL’s own home ground. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Limerick IT manager Davy Fitzgerald talks to his team after they had beaten favourites University of Limerick in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final on UL’s own home ground. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

LIT hit back to regain a firm grip on the game and goals from Kelly and Philip Ivors set up a semi-final against Waterford ITup at Queen's University .

Delighted
A delighted Fitzgerald was savouring the victory afterwards:

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"That was as big as anything I have ever done because we weren't given a snowball's chance but I love them odds anyway."
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK : S Hassett; P Flanagan, J Sheehan, J Browne; T Ryan, D Morrissey, C Ryan; B Maher, P Walsh (0-2) ; C Malone (0-1), P Collins (0-1) , B Stapleton; J Forde (1-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 sideline) , J Glynn, T Heffernan (0-2). Subs: S Morey for Maher (28 mins), T O'Brien (0-1, free) for Stapleton (44), M Carmody for Sheehan (51 ).
LIMERICK IT : A Murphy; S O'Gorman, M Minehan, C Nolan; P Flaherty (0-1) , E Boyce, A Dempsey; B O'Connell, T Kelly (1-10, 0-5 frees, one 65 ); S O'Brien, P Ivors (1-3), P Begley; M Gennery (0-2) , C McInerney, J Shanahan. Subs: S McGrath for Gennery (44 mins ), O Hickey for Ivors (60 mins).
Referee : D Kirwan (Cork).