Mary Immaculate 1-30
UL 3-22

Mary Immaculate College Limerick are Fitzgibbon Cup champions for the first time after seeing off the stubborn challenge of holders UL in a drama-filled final at Cork IT today.

There's a saying in GAA circles that winning the first is always the hardest and that's a theory that Mary Immaculate College's players can testify to following this local derby.

Extra extra-time of five minutes each half was required to separate these evenly matched sides following a pulsating encounter.

Eamon Cregan's Mary I charges looked to have done enough to get their hands on the silverware in both normal time and extra-time only to have their hopes dashed at the last minute by the Brian Lohan coached UL who refused to throw in the towel.

But, to their credit, Mary I's players kept plugging away and were rewarded with a two-point victory thanks to points from Cian Lynch and Darragh O'Donovan (free).

Earlier in the day, substitute Tommy Heffernan's point had thrown UL a lifeline and forward extra-time after the teams finished level - Mary I 1-18, UL 3-12.

John McGrath (2) and Tom Morrissey raised green flags for Lohan's charges while Declan Hannon found the back of the UL net at the start of the second-half.

Extra-time followed a similar pattern but this time it was McGrath who kept UL in the hunt with a last gasp pointed free.

The scoreboard read Mary 1-27, UL 3-21 at the end of the first instalment of extra-time.

A replay appeared a distinct possibility when the sides remained deadlocked after 85 minutes of play but Mary I found that little bit extra to fall over the finishing line with their noses in front.

Mary Immaculate - M O Conghaile; E Quirke, R English, A Ryan; R Maher, T Stapleton, J Meagher (0-1); C Galvin, D O'Donovan (0-3, 1f); S Linnane (0-3), C Lynch (0-5), D Corry (0-1); D Reidy (0-3), D Hannon (1-12, 0-9f), N O'Meara. Subs: M O'Neill for C Galvin, T Gallagher (0-1) for D Corry, S Cahill (0-1) for D O'Donovan, D Corry for E Quirke, S Kennedy for S Linnane, D O'Donovan for N O'Meara, S Linnane for T Gallagher, T Gallagher for D Hannon.

UL - P Maher; S Roche, J Browne, G Ryan; B Heffernan, J Forde (0-1), B Stapleton; A McGuane (0-2), K Hehir (0-2); D Fitzgerald, J McGrath (2-7, 0-5f, 0-1'65), C Martin (0-2); K O'Brien, T Morrissey (1-1), C McInerney (0-1). Subs: T Heffernan (0-6) for D Fitzgerald, G Hegarty for B Stapleton, A Murphy for K O'Brien, M Casey for K Hehir, P Ryan for J Forde, B Maher for A McGuane, PJ Scully for A Murphy.

Referee - J Owens.

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