Preview: Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals

Wednesday, February 8

Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final

DCU D v SETU Waterford, DCU Sportsgrounds, 6.15pm Electric Ireland YouTube and GAA.ie

DCU D topped a very tough group that also included SETU Carlow and Mary Immaculate College so theyre battle-hardened by now.

Free-taker Ross Banville has been in good scoring form and is ably assisted in the DCU attack by the likes of Martin OConnell and Richie Lawlor, while Kildare midfielder Rian Boran has also chipped in.

SETU Waterford will be without Shane Bennett who has moved to Australia, but if his fellow Waterford county panellist, Reuben Halloran, gets enough ball, they can be competitive.

Thursday, February 9

Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals

University of Galway v SETU Carlow, Dangan, 6pm Electric Ireland YouTube and GAA.ie

University of Galway come into this match on a good run of form after winning both of their group games by an average margin of nine points.

Evan Niland has been a scoring machine for the Westerners, hitting a total of 1-23 in those games 1-13 from play and will their go-to man in attack again for this clash.

SETU Carlow didnt win a group match, but their draw with Mary Immaculate College was sufficient to see them progress.

They only lost to DCU Dchas ireann by a single point and are arguably better tested than University of Galway at this stage.

With forwards like Kilkennys Eoin Cody, Laois Thomas Keyes, and Carlows Chris Nolan, they have serious firepower.

University College Cork v ATU Galway, The Mardyke, 7pm

UCC steadily improved in the group phase. They had a tougher time than expected before beating Maynooth, but were a lot better in their subsequent victory over UCD.

Their defence was superb that day, conceding just six points from play, with Niall OLeary and Eoin Roche particularly impressive at the back.

They boast a range of attacking threats too in the shape of forwards like Shane Barrett, Darragh Flynn, Brian Hayes, and Robbie Cotter, so theyre a nicely balanced team.

ATU Galway wont be pushovers, though. They gave reigning champions UL a run for their money in the group phase before falling away in the second half and in players like Kevin Cooney, Ronan Murphy, and Cian Folan have forwards of a high calibre.

UL v UCD, UL Grounds, 7.45pm Electric Ireland YouTube and GAA.ie

Reigning champions UL have looked very impressive on the way to this quarter-final, defeating ATU Galway and TUS Midwest by an average of 14 points each.

Tipperary star Gearid OConnor has been the main man in attack so far, but hes ably assisted by Clares Mark Rogers and Corks Sean Twomey.

And with defenders like Tipperarys Bryan OMara, Limericks Colin Coughlan, and Galways TJ Brennan also in their ranks, this is a very strong all over UL team.

UCD shouldnt be written off, though. They were well-beaten by UCC in the group phase but if they can get a good supply of ball into in-form pair Donal OShea and Cian OSullivan, theyll have a potent attacking threat.