NUIG win Fitzgibbon Cup after 30-year wait

NUI Galway's hurlers have won the Fitzgibbon Cup for the first time in 30 years. They beat Waterford IT at Pearse Stadium by a single point in a thrilling match which finished NUIG 1:17 WIT 1:16 after extra-time. The winning point was slotted over beautifully by forward John Conlon after probably the best move of a scrappy but highly entertaining match. For the second time in two days the Galway team pushed the game into extra time, having booked their place in the final against the Waterford side by beating Limerick IT. NUIG, who hosted this year's finals in the Fitzgibbon, Ryan and Fergal Maher Cups, forced the game into 20 minutes of extra time with a stirring comeback which saw them level the match at 1:11 apiece after 60 minutes of normal time. Scored by Seamus Hennessy who had pushed up from the half back line deep into injury time after NUIG had trailed by a massive 1-6 at one stage in large part to the free-taking expertise of man of the match WIT forward Timmy Hammersley scoring an impressive 1-11 in total. But the Galway side had it's own heroes, among them captain Finian Coone and goalscorer Caimin Morey on 43 minutes. NUIG took the lead for the first time in extra-time but WIT matched them score for score. The long wait for victory in the Fitzgibbon cup seemed lost when the visitors edged ahead with minutes to go, but buoyed by the exuberant home support NUIG scored twice without reply to secure the cup for only the tenth occasion in its history. Captain Finian Coone thanked the Waterford team for a hard-fought match, adding, “Surely you can't begrudge us this one”. He thanked all the backroom staff at NUIG but special mention went to Tony 'Horse' Reagan, recently retired Head of Sport and current Hurling Club Chairman at NUI Galway, who was honoured the previous night at the annual Fitzgibbon Cup dinner, and presented with a golfing trip to St Andrews in recognition of his tireless service over the past 40 years to NUIG hurling and football.

by Padraig McMahon