ULSTER BANK FITZGIBBON CUP . The final stage of the 2009 Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup will be hosted by Trinity College Dublin on the 6th and 7th of March . The cup is presented to the team that wins the Higher Education hurling championship. . Last year Waterford IT won the Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup . It is named after Dr. Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin priest from Rochestown, near Cork. He was ordained in 1902, and spent the next few years of his life in Belgium. Upon his return to Cork, he took up the post of rector at Rochestown College, where he embarked on a mission to raise the profile of Gaelic games. From a small class of only 36, Fr. Fitzgibbon, a talented hurler himself, fashioned a side that could live with the best Munster college teams . Then, in 1908, he took up a professor's position in Cork University, and again he set about fostering Gaelic games with the same vigour carried over from his previous job. Despite rugby and other sports enjoying a much higher status in the university, Fitzgibbon gradually made inroads and soon got his beloved hurling on a prominent footing. In 1912, he donated most of his annual salary to finance the purchase of the Fitzgibbon Cup, a magnificent trophy that was played for up until its replacement in 2000 . Like the Sigerson Cup this competition was dominated by UCD, UCC and UCG in its early days. 78 titles have gone to these three sides, out of a total of 86 competitions played. Queen's university bucked the trend in 1953, when they won their first title, and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, won successive Fitzgibbons in the seventies . Also in tandem with the similar football competition, the Fitzgibbon Cup has been significantly expanded in recent years. RTCs/ITs can now compete, as can the teams in Division 1 of the Higher Education League. Limerick and Waterford RTC have been quick to take advantage, recording memorable victories in the late eighties and early nineties. Unsurprisingly, UCC hold the record for consecutive victories. Their eight titles in a row, from 1981-88 inclusive, is an impressive winning sequence ULSTER BANK FITZGIBBON CUP 2009 ALL MATCHES AT 2.00P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary] Round Robin - 12 teams-4 seeded teams (4 division 1 Semi Finalists, U.C.D., U.C.C, U.L, St. Pats )+ 8 non seeded (DIT, Gardai, Tipp.Inst./St.Pats. LIT, NUIG, GMIT, WIT, CIT) 4 groups of 3 teams top two in each group qualify for quarter finals. A Group A - U.C.D., Limerick IT, Tipp Inst/St. Pat's B Group B - UL, Waterford I.T., D.I.T. C Group C - St. Pat's Drumcondra/Mater Dei, NUI Galway, Garda College D Group D - U.C.C., G.M.I.T., C.I.T. Round 1 - Thursday, 5th February 2009 Round 2 - Wednesday, 11th February 2009 Round 3 - Tuesday, 17th February 2009 Quarter - Finals 25.02.09 Group Winners at home K Winner A Vs Runner Up B L Winner C Vs Runner Up D M Winner D Vs Runner Up A N Winner B Vs Runner Up C 06.03.09 - Semi-Finals O _______________ _______________ K Vs L P _______________ _______________ M Vs N Dublin Final - 07.03.09 (Sat) - O Vs P Dublin ULSTER BANK RYAN CUP 2008 ALL MATCHES AT 2.00P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary] Round Robin - 13 teams-4 seeded teams (TCD, TRALEE IT, NUIM, UUJ,) + 8 non seeded (QUB, DCU, TALLAGHT IT, AIT, CARLOW IT, MICL, CCFE, SLIGO I.T., GMIT LETTERFRACK) 3 groups of 3 teams, 1 group of 4 teams (Group A) top two in each group qualify for quarter finals. A Group A - U.U.J., Q.U.B., Athlone I.T., I.T. Carlow B Group B - I.T. Tralee, C.C.F.E., I.T. Tallaght C Group C - T.C.D., GMIT Letterfrack, D.C.U. D Group D - N.U.I. Maynooth, I.T. Sligo, M.I.C.L. Round 1 - Thursday, 5th February 2009 Round 2 - Wednesday, 11th February 2009 Round 3 - Tuesday, 17th February 2009 Quarter - Finals by 25.02.09 Group Winners at home K Winner A Vs Runner Up B L Winner C Vs Runner Up D M Winner D Vs Runner Up A N Winner B Vs Runner Up C 06.03.09 - Semi-Finals O _______________ _______________ K Vs L P _______________ _______________ M Vs N Dublin Final - 07.03.09 (Sat) - O Vs P Dublin Tweet

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