UL boss Brian Ryan wants his side to realise their full potential against Mary Immaculate in Fitzgibbon Cup final

Brian Ryan reckons UL have yet to reach their best as they close in on a historic Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup three-in-a-row.

The Limerick outfit are an hour from becoming the first team since UCC between 1996 and 1998 to string three titles together when they face Mary Immaculate in Saturday's final in Abbeydorney [2.45pm throw-in].

Cork great Joe Deane was part of an elite crew of players who featured in all three of those finals for UCC.

Current Tipperary star Gearóid O'Connor and Galway defender TJ Brennan are among a group now who can potentially match the feat.

UL are on a remarkable winning streak with 14 wins from 14 championship games since Ryan took over for 2022.

They breezed through the group stage again this term with huge wins over ATU Galway and TUS Midwest.

After that they took care of UCC in the quarter-finals before edging out University of Galway by a point in Wednesday night's dramatic semi-final.

University of Galway also lost finals to UL in 2022 and 2023 and Mary Immaculate College will be desperate to avoid that fate.

Asked if winning the three-in-a-row would mean a lot to him, UL manager Ryan shrugged.

"It would of course but really what I'm more keen on is that this team reaches its potential for the current season," he said. "I'm not convinced yet that we have been at our best. And I'm hoping that in this final we'll see players kick on to reach the heights and the potential that we know this team has."

All eyes will be on UL score-poacher O'Connor given his terrific form so far in 2024, for college and county.

Clare star Mark Rodgers - one of six players who started both last year's final for UL and Wednesday night's semi-final win - scored 1-03 midweek.

O'Connor and Brennan have both started their