Injury Time . . . with Jerome O'Connell

FUNNILY enough UCC’s defeat of University of Limerick in last weekend’s Fitzgibbon Cup final was actually the best result for Limerick hurling.
The Cork side had five Limerick hurlers in their squad, while UL had just one.
An impressive 2-17 to 0-14 final win helped UCC claim their 40th Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup title and a first since 1998.
The proud holders of new Fitzgibbon Cup medals are Kilmallock trio; Bryan O’Sullivan, Graeme Mulcahy and Philip O’Loughlin, Don Hanley of Knockaderry and Michael Wilkinson of Ballybricken-Bohermore.
O’Sullivan and Hanley started the final, with O’Sullivan contributing two points and Hanley registering one point.
The sole Limerick representative in the UL team was Seamus Hickey of Murroe-Boher.
Also over the weekend, Mary Immaculate College claimed the Third Level Colleges second tier championship title - Ryan Cup.
Eamon Cregan’s side defeated a Limerick backboned IT Tralee in the semi final and then overcame UUJ 1-12 to 1-5 in the final.
The south circular road side were captained by South Liberties’ Shane O’Neill with Kilmallock’s Bobby O’Connor as vice-captain. Also in their panel was Blackrock’s David Moloney.

Controversial under-21 final
MUNSTER Council secretary Pat Fizgerald spoke of the incidents of the 2008 provincial under-21 hurling final in his address to the council’s annual convention last Friday night in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.
Last July Limerick referee Jason O’Mahony from Kildimo and his team of match officials found themselves in the midst of controversy.
All officials on duty at the decider in Cusack Park, Ennis for the final between Clare and Tipperary were from Limerick - the linesmen were Declan O’Driscoll from Ballinacurra Gaels and Derek Mackessy from Patrickswell, while Na Piarsaigh’s Michael O’Connor was the fourth official. The four umpires were provided by the referee.
At the full time whistle, all match officials required escorts from the field from gardai.
The final was level in the fourth minute of injury time and Clare had been awarded a ‘scorable’ free when the referee’s attention was drawn to a raised hand by an umpire at the opposite end of the field.
After consultation with the umpire, O’Mahony cancelled the free and awarded a ‘65 to Tipperary for an infringement by the Clare goalkeeper during his puckout.
Pa Bourke pointed the ‘65 and Tipperary won by a single point.
“In commenting on this decision I must take cognisance of the fact that we have in our rule book a rule which states that the penalty for stepping outside the square for a puck out in hurling is a ‘65 metre free to the opposition and that despite warnings to the Clare goalkeeper he was clearly shown to have put one foot outside the square on this occasion,” said the Munster Council secretary last Friday.
“However, the problem arises in the application or should I say the non application of this rule on occasions by some senior experienced referees,” said Fitzgerald, a former Limerick GAA chairman.
“Maybe a different punishment for this infringement should be considered,” suggested the full-time provincial secretary.
“In the aftermath of this game a sub-committee of our CCC was set up to investigate incidents which occurred after the final whistle.
“Notwithstanding any grievance felt, justified or perceived, by genuine Clare supporters the disgraceful and dangerous incidents which took place following the game by a tiny minority of young and unruly spectators must be condemned and deplored,” said Fitzgerald.
“I also thank those reporters who following this incident gave a balanced and honest report of the situation, however one commentator who gave his version on a radio show the following morning did not reflect the true nature of the incident as seen by the other reporters, Council and County Officials, the Gardai, or stewards, who were present from early that evening.”