Six Clare Hurlers Claim Fitzgibbon Cup Medals as UL Demolish Mary I at Croke Park

Six Clare hurlers added Fitzgibbon Cup medals to their collection on February 13 as UL and Mary Immaculate College went head-to-head in a thrilling all-Limerick final at Croke Park. UL won 4-31 to 3-21, completing a historic Fitzgibbon-Sigerson double — only the fourth college ever to achieve the feat.

For Clare fans, the Fitzgibbon Cup 2026 final was fascinating viewing. Four Banner men featured for UL and two for Mary Immaculate. Between them, they scored 1-2 on the night. More importantly, three of these players — Jack O’Neill, Diarmuid Stritch, and Adam Hogan — are front-line members of Clare’s senior hurling panel and will carry this winning momentum into the league and championship.

Clare Players in the Fitzgibbon Cup 2026 Final

UL Winners (4-31)

Jack O’Neill (Clooney-Quin) — Started at midfield, scored 1-0

O’Neill was one of UL’s best performers, scoring a first-half goal that helped establish their early dominance. The Clooney-Quin man has been on Clare’s senior panel since 2024 and is pushing for more game time under Brian Lohan. His Fitzgibbon form — 0-9 across the group stages plus 1-0 in the final — marks him as a serious scoring threat from midfield.

O’Neill was replaced by substitute Fintan Fitzgerald in the 56th minute after an excellent shift.

Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara) — Sub, scored 0-1

Stritch came off the UL bench in the 45th minute and immediately made an impact, scoring a point. It capped a remarkable fortnight for the Clonlara man who had also started at midfield for Clare against Down just five days earlier, scoring 0-3 in that game.

Stritch is one of the most exciting young hurlers in Clare. A Fitzgibbon Cup winner’s medal at 21 adds to what is becoming an impressive CV. He’s a genuine contender for a championship starting spot with Clare in 2026.

Keith Smyth (Killanena) — Panel member

Smyth was part of the wider UL panel throughout the Fitzgibbon campaign. The Killanena man was part of Clare’s 2024 All-Ireland winning squad but was released from the senior panel ahead of 2026. His college form will keep him in contention for a recall if injuries hit Clare’s squad.

Cian Broderick (Clarecastle) — Panel member

The Clarecastle goalkeeper was part of UL’s extended squad and was on the bench for the 2024 All-Ireland final with Clare. Another young Clare player gaining valuable experience in the highest level of college hurling.

Mary Immaculate College (3-21)

Adam Hogan (Feakle) — Sub, came on at 37 minutes

The 2024 Young Hurler of the Year returned from a calf injury to feature in the second half for Mary Immaculate. Hogan replaced Eoin Lawless in the 37th minute and slotted into defence for the remainder of the game. While Mary I lost, the key takeaway for Clare fans is that Hogan is back on the pitch. His fitness has been a concern throughout the early league — he missed all three of Clare’s Division 1B games. Getting 33 minutes of competitive hurling at Croke Park is a significant boost ahead of the championship.

Ronan O’Connor (Feakle) — Started at midfield, scored 0-1

O’Connor started for Mary Immaculate and scored a point. The Feakle man is a talented midfielder who has been on the fringes of Clare’s senior panel. His performance in a Croke Park final will have been noted by the Clare management.

What the Fitzgibbon Cup Means for Clare’s 2026 Championship Campaign

The Fitzgibbon Cup isn’t just a college competition. It’s a proving ground for the next generation of inter-county hurlers, and for Clare, the 2026 final delivered three crucial takeaways.

1. Jack O’Neill is ready for more senior minutes. His goal-scoring ability from midfield is a weapon Clare can use. With Ryan Taylor and Darragh Lohan established as the first-choice pairing, O’Neill offers a potent alternative — especially as an impact sub in the final quarter of tight championship games.

2. Diarmuid Stritch’s confidence is sky-high. A Fitzgibbon Cup medal with UL, a match-winning point on his Clare debut against Dublin, and 0-3 from play against Down — all within three weeks. Stritch is riding a wave. Lohan will want to harness that energy for championship.

3. Adam Hogan is on the way back. This is the biggest news for Clare. Hogan was one of their best defenders in the 2024 All-Ireland campaign — his absence from the first three league rounds was felt. Getting Fitzgibbon minutes means he’s progressing towards full fitness. If Hogan is available for the Munster Championship, Clare’s defensive options improve dramatically.

UL’s Fitzgibbon Cup 2026 Final: How It Unfolded

The final at Croke Park was a spectacular affair. UL scored 4-31, with four different goalscorers — Jack Leahy (1-5), Adam English (1-1), Jack O’Neill (1-0), and substitute Fintan Fitzgerald (1-1). Cathal O’Neill was outstanding with 0-7 from play, while Darragh McCarthy hit 0-8 (seven frees).

Mary Immaculate were led superbly by Shane O’Brien, who scored 1-12 (including a penalty). Joe Caesar added 1-3 and Ben Currivan grabbed a goal off the bench. But 3-21 was never going to be enough against a UL side playing at full throttle.

UL’s victory was their 10th Fitzgibbon Cup title overall and their fourth in five seasons. Combined with the Sigerson Cup win two days earlier, they became the first college since UCC in 2019 to complete the prestigious double.

The Clare connection runs deep through UL’s success. O’Neill, Stritch, Smyth, and Broderick all played their parts. And with Hogan and O’Connor on the opposite side, it was a night when Clare hurling was well represented on the biggest stage in college sport.

Fitzgibbon Cup Winners From Clare: A Proud History

Clare hurlers have a strong tradition in the Fitzgibbon Cup. St Flannan’s College in Ennis has produced generations of players who went on to star at college level, and UL’s location in Limerick — just 40 minutes from Ennis — makes it a natural destination for Clare’s best young hurlers.

The 2026 medal winners join a long list of Clare men who have tasted Fitzgibbon success. Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell, John Conlon, and many others all honed their skills in college hurling before becoming senior inter-county stars.

For O’Neill, Stritch, Hogan, and the rest, this is just the beginning. The Fitzgibbon Cup medal is in the pocket. Now the real work starts — pushing for championship places with Clare.