Tipperary players aplenty in action as Fitzgibbon Cup gets underway
Tipperary are well represented in Round 1 of the competition
The 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup gets underway this evening with plenty of Tipperary interest for Premier supporters to sink their teeth into ahead of the intercounty season proper.
Eight of the 12 Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup teams will be in action this week with high-stakes matches set to arrive thick and fast with several outfits believing that silverware can be attained.
Holders UL are away to ATU Galway in Duggan Park on Wednesday and Tipperary players Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers), Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne Templetuohy), Max Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), and Michael Corcoran (Silvermines) line out for the Limerick college.
That Ballinasloe fixture should be interesting with UL's panel also including the likes of Colin Coughlan (Limerick), Cian Galvin (Clare), Killian Sampson (Offaly), TJ Brennan (Galway), and Mark Rodgers (Clare).
The other game on Wednesday is Maynooth University's clash against Mary Immaculate College, the Limerick college containing no less than 12 Tipperary representatives.
The likes of Cathal Quinn, Devon Ryan (Cashel KC), and Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill) the pick of those, while Maynooth University has a cluster of Tipp men themselves in the form of Kevin Bracken (Thurles Sarsfields), Jack Cleere (St Patricks), Colm Fogarty (Lorrha), David Fogarty (Holycross Ballycahill), and Sean Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore).
Elsewhere, Shane Meehan, Diarmuid Ryan, and Adam Hogan (all Clare) are all included in the Mary I panel. Billy Drennan (Kilkenny) is Maynooth University's star turn.
On Thursday DCU Dóchas Éireann faces SETU Waterford with no Tipp players on either side this year.
Jack Screeney (Offaly) and Richie Lawlor (Wexford) are named in the DCU panel, while SETU Waterford includes the exciting Patrick Fitzgerald (Waterford), Padraig Fitzgerald (Waterford), and Timmy Clifford (Kilkenny).
SETU Carlow's clash against the University of Galway will be streamed live on Thursday, with Kenny Ryan (Toomevara) the only Tipp player set to feature in this game. Eoin Cody (Kilkenny) and Chris Nolan (Carlow) bring plenty of inter-county experience to the SETU Carlow panel.
Fitzgibbon Cup Fixtures
Round 1 – Wednesday, 17 January
Maynooth University v Mary Immaculate College Limerick – Maynooth University North Campus, 7.30 pm (Group A)
ATU Galway v UL – GMIT, 7 pm (Group B)
Round 1 – Thursday, 18 January
DCU v SETU Waterford – Dublin City University Sportsgrounds, 7 pm (Group C)
SETU Carlow v University of Galway – Carlow IT, 7 pm (Group D)