The moment LIT truly landed as a new third level hurling force was celebrated on Friday night as it turned the clock back ten years to the first of its two Fitzgibbon Cup successes.
On the same weekend that LIT hosted the 2015 Fitzgibbon Cup finals, 100 guests gathered at the Savoy Hotel in Limerick city centre for a trip down a medal laden memory lane to the institute’s first win in the blue ribband competition.
Guests on the night, which doubled as the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend banquet, included many drawn from the victorious LIT side who went on to star at intercounty level, among them Eoin Kelly, Shane McGrath and Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary), Aonghus Callinan and Niall Healy (Galway), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny), Kieran Murphy (Cork) and Barry Nugent, Jonathan Clancy and John Reddan (Clare).
The rise to the top of the third level hurling tree was a meteoric one for LIT – 2005 saw them become only the second Institute of Technology to reach that summit and this is still the case today – and no coincidence that it happened just two years following the arrival as manager of the side Davy Ftizgerald, who came on board at the persuasion of his fellow county-man, selector and LIT Vice president of Corporate Services and Capital Development Jimmy Browne.
Within just two years of Fitzgerald taking over for the 2003 season, LIT had landed the Holy Grail for the institute thanks to a glorious six point victory in the 2005 final over UL. The distance LIT had travelled was underscored by a hammering they had received just two years earlier in Fitzgerald’s debut year from UL.
Looking back on Friday night on the breakthrough year, there was a consensus that a magical point in injury time from Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly in a rain soaked quarter-final clash against Cork Institute of Technology was the key moment.
Said selector Jimmy Browne, “Without a doubt that was the single most important moment that year. It was a free in injury time, against the wind and rain, out on the side-line. It was exactly the type of free coaches would say you shouldn’t take on but Eoin did as only Eoin could and he landed it.
“We went onto the semi-final and then the final against UL, which we won by six points. It really was a remarkable team, with so many guys that went on to star for their counties over the years and some are still there at the top.”
While LIT may have just fallen short in this year’s semi-final against UL on Friday, looking back on his 13 years of continued involvement, Davy Fitzgerald had no doubt as to what his best moment has been over the years. “My favourite Fitzgibbon memory is the 2005 final against UL in Limerick. It was massive. It was against UL, probably our biggest rivals, and was on in Limerick. It was on our home and our first Fitzgibbon Cup, I will never forget it.
“Fitzgibbon Cup is massive. It’s where I cut my teeth as a manager and it is something I hold dear to my heart. I wouldn’t be here 13 years later if I didn’t enjoy it. It is something that is very special and will always be special.”
For LIT President Dr Maria Hinfelaar there was extra reason for nostalgia as the 2005 season was also her first year at the institute. “I learned quickly from the Fitzgibbon Cup the great game that hurling is and the remarkable competition that Fitzgibbon is. There are so many great memories from 2005 and tonight it’s as if some of those games are being replayed here. A huge thing too is the friendships that were forged. You can see it here tonight with the guys from the moment they gathered. It’s a special competition for sure and we’re very proud of what we have achieved in the past ten years. To be only the second Institute of Technology to win the competition and to be so competitive in every other year since our last win is a great achievement. ”
