Reigning champions Mary Immaculate and SETU Waterford played out a thriller in round two of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup on Wednesday evening.
It had been billed as a one-sided game, maybe even a forgone conclusion in the build-up, but the reality was far from it. The home side SETU Waterford gave the clash everything they had, holding Mary I to a single point as the clock ticked deep into the red before the reigning champions eventually secured a two-point, 1-16 to 0-17 win.
In what was a nip-and-tuck game, SETU Waterford's Sean Walsh was outstanding in taking advantage of Mary I's ill-discipline - his double digits of points on the scoreboard keeping Mary I's lead to the bare minimum in the final stretch.
Ultimately though, Mary I proved why they were the champions, ferociously defending everything from their own goal line to the opposition's, before finding an unlikely long-range missile to make it a two-point buffer and claim victory over the home side.
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Shane 'Bull' O'Brien's goal the difference in Fitzgibbon thriller
While they may have been fighting to the death, ultimately it was Mary I's first-half goal that proved the defining moment in their second win on the bounce.
Unsurprisingly, on the big days, it's the big players that show up, and that's exactly what Limerick star Shane 'The Bull' O'Brien did for Mary I on Wednesday evening, employing his best tennis serve to plant the ball in the back of the net, and past none other than his own Killmallock teammate Barry Hennessy.
'You're just happy to get out of here tonight..'
See @LimerickCLG star Shane O'Brien score a superb goal against his @KilmallockGAA clubmate in @MICLimerick's narrow @ElectricIreland Fitzgibbon Cup victory at @SETUGAAWD
Video from our Live Stream coverage. #firstclassrivals pic.twitter.com/oz7hN5iIQ6— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) January 22, 2025
Speaking after the result, O'Brien was under no illusions about how difficult the win had been, but wasn't going to let his teammate get away with anything, making sure he'd remind him soon enough.
Yeah I didn't actually meet Barry there but he saved a nice few there from me down through the years in club training and stuff, so I'll have to say it to him next time I meet him.
We needed that bit of class (tonight), I suppose when it's such a hard fought game and scores are so hard to come by from play, a lot of frees from both sides.
There tough games, we knew it was gonna be tough so delighted to get out of here.
The Bull O'Brien's goal and Mary I's win means they'll now head into the third round having claimed two wins, while for SETU Waterford who have now lost both of their opening games, the tournament is all but over heading into next week's clash with ATU Galway.
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