PREVIEW: Six Tipperary hurlers involved in this Saturday's Fitzgibbon Cup final

Tipperary will have six players on the University of Limerick panel for this Saturday's Fitzgibbon Cup final in the Connacht GAA Centre.

Gearoid O'Connor, Michael Corcoran, Aaron Morgan, Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Conor Cadell, and Stephen Browne are all on the UL panel for this decider, in what will be UL's fourth final in a row as they look to make amends for their defeat in last year's final to Mary Immaculate College.

They went into the 2024 final on a hot streak of 14 consecutive wins in the competition and as warm favourites to complete a historic three-in-a-row of titles, but came up short on the day.

Speaking before the game, UL manager Brian Ryan spoke about the importance of Tipperary senior hurler Gearoid O'Connor, who - along with Brian O'Sullivan - is playing in his fourth final in a row under Ryan.

“It would be a very significant achievement for the management team and for the players themselves personally,” says Ryan.

“And I suppose even more so for the more senior players who have been involved.

“We've seven or eight new guys this year who didn't start last year. Colleges teams are continuously transitioning. It's not like a club team or inter-county team where you have players for seven or eight years.

“The likes of Gearoid O'Connor and Brian O'Sullivan are rarities where you'd have them for fours years. You'd have to be an exceptional second year to get on a Fitzgibbon Cup team in any college.

“You're usually talking about lads in their third or fourth year so two years would be the max for most players."

The aforementioned Gearoid O’Connor and Brian O’Sullivan will both be playing in their fourth final in a row and are very much two of the leaders of this UL team.

“It's a magnificent achievement for them,” says Ryan. “It's their last year for both of them and they've been very committed.

“They've two excellent players. Brian O'Sullivan is in a rich vein of form at the moment. He's been excellent throughout the League and the Fitzgibbon.

“Gearoid has been excellent as well. He was very good again in the semi-final and his free-taking is excellent. He's just very committed to us too," he finished.