NUI Galway 1-17
Waterford IT 1-16

(After extra-time)

Stephen Glennon

Unbelievable. That’s the only word to describe NUI Galway’s rollercoaster Fitzgibbon Cup journey, which climaxed with a surreal extra-time victory over Waterford IT in the Fitzgibbon Cup final at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

No doubt, NUIG claimed their first Fitzgibbon title in 30 years the hard way. So many times in this competition, they had trailed opponents by varying margins, but, with all the courage of soldiers on the battlefield, they bounced back to inflict the most succinct of cuts before securing a deserved result.

Consequently, they were the only team to go through the 2010 Fitzgibbon Cup unbeaten. As it should be for any champions.
Against WIT, though, the Galway students lived precariously, taunting defeat. With 38 minutes gone, they chased a nine-point deficit, 1-11 to 0-5, and to everyone, bar the NUIG collective, it appeared yet another Fitzgibbon heartbreak was well and truly to be their lot.

Then something godly happened. A transformation of sorts. Chances that previously wilted and died suddenly blossomed in the bright surrounds of a sun-drenched Pearse Stadium. Captain Finian Coone led the way by converting a free on 41 minutes, before less than 60 seconds later, Tipperary’s Shane Quinlan seized possession and offloaded to Clare’s Caimin Morey, who netted a life-resuscitating goal.

All of a sudden, the mother and father of all comebacks was underway. On the resulting puck-out, NUIG countered again with Coone clipping over a fine score. Further points from the outstanding Seamus Hennessy and Clare’s John Conlon cut the deficit further, before a sweeping move involving Tommie Larkins Gerry Kelly and Quinlan set up Coone for a point on the stroke of full-time.

With the margin down to just one, 1-11 to 1-10, the clock was now NUIG’s enemy. However, they didn’t panic and in the second minute of time added on, Hennessy – pushed forward for such a purpose – swivelled expertly to land the equalising score, just as he had done against LIT in the semi-final the day previous. Now it was up for grabs.

Although NUIG were facing into their second helping of extra-time in as many days, the Galway students were reinvigorated. Just 30 seconds into the first period, Clarinbridge’s Barry Daly shot NUIG into the lead for the first time in the afternoon, before Coone and Hennessy, both frees, added further efforts.

For WIT’s part, their lead marksman Timmy Hammersley kept their fires burning brightly with fine points on 62 and 67 minutes.

Amazingly, his 62nd minute effort was WIT’s first score in 26 minutes of open play. Still, unperturbed, the Munster college pushed on and in the early stages of the second period of extra-time they regained the lead once again with points from Hammersley and substitute Henry Vaughan.

Coone equalised with a free, before Hammersley and NUIG substitute James O’Gorman traded scores on 67 and 70 minutes.
It looked as if the only thing that would separate these two battling outfits at this stage would be the crossbar challenge.

As noted, though, courage was not lacking in Vincent Mullins’ charges. One minute into time added on, Coone and substitutes JP O’Connell and Quinlan combined to furnish Conlon with possession. The Clare man’s effort was clinical and for the first time in 30 years, the Fitzgibbon Cup was coming back to Galway.

The unbridled, jubilant scenes that followed were simply glorious.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.