NUI Galway blew the race for the 2019 Fitzgibbon Cup wide open this afternoon by handing defending champions UL a 1-19 to 0-17 defeat in Dangan.

The loss means UL are now out of the race to retain their title just two rounds in, with Michael Lynch’s first half-goal proving a hammer blow for the champions whom finished with 14 men following the dismissal of Conor Cleary.

NUIG had led by 1-12 to 0-8 at the half, with the points of Evan Niland (scorer of 0-11 overall) and Conor Whelan putting them in command before Lynch’s strike helped widen the interval cushion to seven.

Ian Galvin and Tom Morrissey were the most threatening for the trailers going forward as they looked to cut the difference down, but a red card for centre-back Cleary after a late hit on Liam Forde was another major set-back and the hosts were comfortable in the end as they edged a step closer to the quarter-finals.

The afternoon’s other meeting saw Limerick IT coast to a whopping 4-24 to 0-12 victory over Garda College at the LIT grounds to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Limerick pair Peter Casey and Brian Fanning were amongst the goal scorers for the home side, whom had led by an unassailable 3-10 to 0-8 at the halfway stage.

Later this evening, DCU will welcome Cork IT (throw-in 5pm) while Trinity College will look to back up last week’s historic success with their first ever win in the competition against IT Carlow at Santry Avenue (throw-in 7pm).

NUIG - S Hennessy; M Lynch (1-2), J Fitzpatrick, D Connolly; C Caulfield, P Hoban, A Greaney; S Loftus (0-1), I Fox; D Burke (0-1), C Whelan (0-2), L Forde; C Sheedy (0-1), E Niland (0-11, 9f), B Concannon. Subs: S McArdle for A Greaney, E Fahy for L Forde, B Corry (0-1) for C Sheedy.

UL - B Hogan; A McGuane, E Cody, J Henley; M Carey (0-1), C Cleary, B Cody; R Lynch, J Shelly (0-1); I Galvin, K O’Brien (0-1), T Morrissey (0-1); J Morris (0-1), M Keoghan, B Murphy (0-11, 10f). Subs: B Nash for R Lynch, J Goulding (0-1) for J Morris, S Veale for M Keoghan, JP Lucey for S Veale.

Referee - F Horgan.

**

Limerick IT - K Nugent; J McCarthy, D Moran, P Delaney; D Byrnes, S Ryan, R Byrnes (0-2); E Boyce, D Dempsey (0-1); P Duggan (1-11, 0-8f), B Fanning (1-0), R Doody (0-3); P Casey (1-1), O Kelly (0-2), D Reidy (0-1). Subs: R Murphy (0-1) for D Byrnes, J Conway (0-1) for P Casey, C Cooney for J McCarthy, O O’Reilly (1-1) for B Fanning.

Garda College - S Murphy; J Finnerty, A Ryan, J O’Keeffe; D Sheahan, B Murphy (0-1), R Doyle; M Heffernan (0-2), J Corry; S Keane, R Barry (0-3f), A Harnett; E Sheahan (0-2), K Slattery (0-2, 1f), C Russell (0-1). Subs: M Brislane for S Keane, C O’Connor (0-1) for K Slattery.

Referee - D Kirwan.

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