NUIG looked set to complete a famous double on Saturday afternoon, as they took a decisive lead in the closing stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup final against UL. However, a red card for last year's hurler of the year Cian Lynch completely swung the momentum of the game, and UL snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-minute goal from Mikey Kiely.
The Galway college went in at half-time five points up, and weathered a second-half fightback from UL to once again lead by five points in the closing stages.
Controversial Cian Lynch red card
It had been 12 years since NUIG claimed a Fitzgibbon Cup title as they made the journey down to IT Carlow to face 2018 champions UL in this year's decider.
Two brilliant first half goals had NUIG in the ascendancy by a comfortable five points at half-time, and they looked set to cruise to victory
16 nóim #ULvNUIG@ul_gaa 0-03@nuiggaa1 1-04
An bhearna ag oscailt anois
GOAL for NUI Galway!@GAA_BEO @ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA #FirstClassRivals #FitzgibbonCup
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/zTOrtrHoiz— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 19, 2022
25 nóim #ULvNUIG@ul_gaa 0-06@nuiggaa1 2-06
Mark Kennedy le CÚL
A second goal for NUIG!@GAA_BEO @ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA #FirstClassRivals #FitzgibbonCup
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/40evszjUiD— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 19, 2022
The presence of last year's player of the year Cian Lynch was a huge factor for NUIG's attacking play - but he would have his greatest impact on the game in unwanted fashion when he was sent off in the final ten minutes.
The man advantage gave UL a second-wind, and would lead to an extraordinary eight-point turnaround in just five minutes.
The Limerick men fought back from five points down to level up the play with a superb point early in injury-time, before the dramatic winner.
Mikey Kiely was the hero of UL's semi-final victory with his hail Mary goal against IT Carlow earlier this week, and he was once again the hero on Saturday afternoon. Under intense pressure from two NUIG backs, he managed to keep the sliotar in hand and, stumbling, found the back of the net in the final minute of injury time to win the day for UL.
Lán Ama #ULvNUIG@ul_gaa 1-21 (24)@nuiggaa1 2-15 (21)
Déanann Mikey Kiely é arís!!
UL with another late turn around 😵@GAA_BEO @ElectricIreland @HigherEdGAA #FirstClassRivals #FitzgibbonCup
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/e9JPeNwpj8— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 19, 2022
You couldn't have scripted the ending, and NUIG will be left wondering how on Earth they leave Carlow without the Fitzgibbon Cup. For UL, there was an element of vengeance to the game, as their footballers were beaten by NUIG in the Sigerson Cup final on Wednesday night.
Many punters were left unhappy by the decision to send off Lynch. The decisive moment in the game not only took out NUIG's best player, but left them a man light in the closing stages of the final, and plenty of fans saw the decision as unjust.
Cian Lynch sending off in the #fitzgibbon. Play is stopped and he swipes at the UL defender with the hurl. Never allowed do that lads. 100% right call pic.twitter.com/xsezDBQLRy
— niall kennedy (@FiallKNennedy) February 19, 2022
How is that red for Cian Lynch? Joke. Wrong call by Sean Cleere
— Brian Carroll (@BrianCarroll13) February 19, 2022
Cian Lynch getting sent off is as bad a refereeing decision as I’ve seen in a while. Sean Cleere surely has to have been involved in the decision again. Another mistake by him! @HurlerD @hoganstandgaa @officialgaa
— Rody Byrnes (@RodyByrnes) February 19, 2022
Yet another late goal…some couple of weeks for them…but big questions over Cian Lynch’s sending off. Officials saw it very differently than most of us! #fitzgibboncup
— Kieran McSweeney (@SuibhneGeilt1) February 19, 2022
Terrible from Anthony Nash and Sean Cleere on Cian Lynch being sent off. Totally undeserved sendin off. @AnthonyNash6 #fitzgibboncup
— Martin Delaney (@MartinDelaney56) February 19, 2022
That’s a ridiculous red card on Cian Lynch in the Fitzgibbon final. His hurls wrapped up in your mans leg while he’s standing over him? Shocking from the linesman
— Barry Cushen (@barrycushenx) February 19, 2022
After last week's dramatic club final wins for Ballygunner and Kilcoo, the Fitzgibbon Cup final was just another example of the extraordinary drama on offer in the GAA.
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