The countdown to the 2023 Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup final is nearly over. Both University of Galway and University of Limerick are set to compete for the cup on Saturday afternoon. These two teams have been dominant forces in the competition of late and have built up a huge rivalry. The two sides take to the field in a direct repeat of last year's final. Your defending champions University of Limerick overcame NUIG by just three points this time last year. There is no doubt that both teams will be raring to go this Saturday, in what is becoming one of the biggest, most competitive rivalries in college GAA. We have all the info on how to watch the Fitzgibbon Cup Final, as well as what to expect from both sides right here.
When is the Fitzgibbon Cup Final?
Throw-in has been set for 13:00 on Saturday the 18th of February at the SETU Waterford Sports Campus.
How to watch the Fitzgibbon Cup Final?
Tg4 will broadcast the Fitzgibbon Cup Final live from Waterford. Their coverage starts fifteen minutes before throw-in at 12:45 and the referee should get the game underway at 13:00
Form Guide
This is one of the most exciting matchups of the GAA season as both sides compete in the final for a second consecutive year. Last year UL scraped by, winning by three points to claim their first title since 2018. Undoubtedly this will leave Galway with a serious bone to pick come Saturday. Both teams topped their respective groups with two wins and no losses or draws, these are two phenomenal hurling teams who are very much playing at a similar level. Both sides faced tough encounters in their semi-finals, with respective wins of just three points.
University of Limerick took on SETU Waterford where they overcame the hosts by just three points, while University of Galway fought back from a five-point deficit with just eight minutes left on the clock to force extra time, where they kicked on and won by three. The two universities come into the final as the only two unbeaten sides in the competition in what should be a seriously competitive game.
19 February 2022; University of Limerick captain Bryan O'Mara lifts the Fitzgibbon Cup as his teammates celebrate after the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Final match between NUI Galway and University of Limerick at IT Carlow in Carlow. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Team News
While exact teams will be released on the day, we have both sides' players you should be keeping an eye on.
University of Limerick
They have a real prospect in net keeper Dean Mason, when the pressure was piled on during the semi-final he showed up keeping UL fighting on more than one occasion. The Ballyhale Shamrocks keeper pulled out a glorious double save in the final, before again coming to the rescue with a save as SETU Waterford made a late push on UL. It'll also be well worth keeping an eye on inter-county break through Cathal O'Neill, the Limerick man who filled in for Cian Lynch last season, going on to grab a score in the All Ireland Final. He won't be the only danger to Galway either, with Mike Kiely the big strong forward expected to cause problems and score goals just like he did against SETU and UCD
@ElectricIreland Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter Final
Michael Kiely completes his hat-trick with another well-taken goal for UL! @ul_gaa 4-16 @UCDGAA 0-10
Watch live here: https://t.co/zQiqxOCTgs #FirstClassRivals @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/FXTM8kQLWp— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) February 9, 2023
University of Galway
While UL are flush with talent, it's equally matched in Galway. Danger man Tiernan Killeen will be very hard to contain for UL. The Loughrea man has two Minor All-Irelands and proved himself as an able attacker in last year's Galway Senior Championship. He's joined by Evan Niland who shot 0-8 in normal time during the Galway side's semi-final and drove his side back from the brink against UCC. Alex Connaire also stood up when it mattered, putting 0-4 on the board for his side as they marched on to the final.
@ElectricIreland Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter Final
Alex Connaire with another point for University of Galway - his side now lead by six! @nuiggaa1 0-20 @SETUCarlowGAA_ 2-08
Watch live here: https://t.co/PtnaTziaK8 #FirstClassRivals @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/NGuZ2eCMDR— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) February 9, 2023
It's all set for a brilliant Fitzgibbon Cup final rematch.
