FITZGIBBON CUP FIRST ROUND Limerick IT 3-14 UCC 1-6: GALWAY'S JOE Canning showed his undoubted class as LIT were comprehensive victors over the reigning champions, UCC, in yesterday's Fitzgibbon Cup clash at the Mardyke.

Canning was in sensational form, shooting 3-8 in atrocious conditions. But the weather had no impact on Canning’s play as the Portumna maestro helped his team to a 3-7 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

All three goals arrived from play, in the fifth, 13th and 26th minutes, to help the Davy Fitzgerald-trained LIT side move into an unassailable lead midway through.

UCC tried hard to make a game of it in the second half and were boosted by a 39th-minute goal by Eoin Murphy and some good points by Shane Burke.

But LIT maintained their grip on proceedings inspired by Clare defenders James McInerney and Nickey O’Connell, and the wonderful point-taking of Canning ensured they were 14 point victors.

LIT: M Ryan; J Gunning, C Cooney, C Chaplin; N O'Connell (0-1, free), J McInerney, R Sherlock; P O'Brien, S Collins; W Hyland (0-1), S Callinan (0-1), N Quinn (0-1); S Tobin (0-1), J Canning (3-8, four frees, one 65), B Gaffney (0-1). Subs: J O'Keeffe for Sherlock (55 mins), T Dalton for Cooney (57), P Browne for Canning (60).

UCC: M Collins; C O'Sullivan, R Foley, C O'Driscoll; A Quilligan, K Hartnett, J Jordan; B O'Sullivan, M Cahill; S Burke (0-2), R White, J Halbert; S Moylan (0-1, free), E Murphy (1-3 three frees), L O'Farrell. Subs: B Beckett for White (half-time), D Honan for Murphy (41 mins), E Martin for Cahill (44 mins), G Mulcahy for Halbert (53 mins), S Corry for Quilligan (60 mins).

Referee: Cathal McAlister(Cork).