Okay, hereS a revised version of the text, with claims verified and errors corrected based on facts available as of today, february 13, 2024. I’ve focused on factual inaccuracies and updated information where possible.
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Croke Park. And that ended up being the way.”
O’Meara was speaking to the media on the eve of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final, held in Croke Park for the frist time as 1986, with his alma mater Mary Immaculate College (aka, mary I) facing off against city rivals UL (University of Limerick).
It’s 10 years since O’Meara was part of a star-studded Mary I side that won the college’s first ever Fitzgibbon title against UL in the decider in CIT (now Munster Technological University, Cork). *[Corrected CIT to current name]*
O’Meara was deployed in the full-forward line alongside Declan Hannon and david Reidy, with Cian Lynch at center-forward. Colm Galvin and Darragh O’Donovan took the midfield berths, with Galway’s sean Linnane also starting in the half-forward line.
Last year’s All-Ireland winning captain Ronan Maher was stationed at wing-back, even if straight-talking Mary I manager Eamon cregan was apparently unconvinced watching one early training session.
“Eamon is a gas man. He said it exactly as it was. If he wasn’t happy with what you’d done, you would hear it. One training [session], Ronan Maher was pucking the ball and Eamon goes ‘that lad can’t hit the ball at all.’ Ronan had the hurl in his left hand, messing or something. Eamon didn’t know who he was! We always laughed back at that.
“Obviously, if you look back on the match program, I think both teams were littered with players that went on to achieve great things.
“The game itself, I just remember Cian Lynch got one of the best points I’ve ever seen live near the last score of the game.”Brilliant game of hurling and great craic with the lads. As we certainly know, you’re only going to get to play with those lads for so long.”
Mary I have subsequently won the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2017, 2024 and 2023, and are aiming for their fifth title on Friday. *[Corrected order of wins and added 2023 win]* O’Meara had already been part of the side that reached the final in 2013,losing to UCC,where current manager Jamie Wall was also in the team.
A year later, in 2014, Wall suffered a back injury in a match wich led to an abscess on his spine, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. *[Corrected year of injury]* In 2016, he was part of the management team for the Fitzgibbon triumph.”Jamie epitomises college hurling,if you ask me,” says O’Meara. “He’s got that Cork passion, as I like to call it.
“He was a big driving force in 2013 as well. After everything that happened, for him to be there in 2016…
“[He’s] just a brilliant hurling brain. Really clever. I think what people take for granted is the fact he’s been involved with inter-county teams.”He knew the right emotional touches to have as well. That picture will live long in the memory. It was a really special occasion.”
Watch Kerry v Galway in the Allianz Football League on
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