Kiely the hero as UL snatch double away from NUIG

UL 1-21 NUIG 2-15

Mikey Kiely was the hero once again as University of Limerick captured their seventh Fitzgibbon Cup in dramatic circumstances after Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch was controversially sent off in the closing stages.

Lynch was harshly red-carded by Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan, after consulting linesman Sean Cleere, following an apparent trip on UL centre-back Bryan O'Mara three minutes from time with NUIG leading by 2-15 to 0-17 and poised to complete a Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup double.

But the dismissal of Lynch proved decisive and UL came storming back to shoot points in a row and draw level in stoppage time before Kiely, who shot a last gasp goal to beat IT Carlow in the semi-final on Thursday night, then soloed through and finished the ball to the net in the third and final minute of injury-time and capture their first crown since 2018.

NUIG, with Lynch operating in the full-forward line in the opening half when they had the breeze, led by four points at the break.

The opening five points of the game came from frees, with Evan Niland hitting three for NUIG and Gearoid O’Connor responding with a brace for UL before John Fleming hit the first from play after 14 minutes to push the Galway college 0-04 to 0-02 in front.

Bryan O’Mara cut the gap with a long range free but then Fleming soloed through and superbly flicked the ball with one hand past UL goalkeeper Dean Mason after 16 minutes.

The response from UL was impressive, with Kiely, Ciaran Connolly and O’Mara shooting points in a blistering three-minute spell, but the next three scores came from NUIG.

Niland pointed two more frees and was involved in sending Conor Walsh through to set up Mark Kennedy for a goal to extend the lead to 2-06 to 0-6 five