It's not been a bad start to 2018 for Clare hurling.
Despite the Championship being some three or four months away yet, it is an incredibly busy time of the year for some of our inter-county GAA players.
After playing an instrumental role in Clare's five-point victory over Tipperary in last weekend's National League opener, David Reidy was back in action this evening for Davy Fitzgerald's LIT.
With the hectic schedule of playing for both college and county, it is incredible the performances that some players are capable of turning on after what may only be a few days in which to recover between one game and the next.
Facing up to the Garda College, it would be another Clare player however that would leave the most visible mark on this tie - Peter Duggan scoring 2-10 as LIT went on a scoring rampage.
Securing their place in the The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final, the Clare man hit 2-03 of hit total from play.
Not that Reidy was lacking in terms of impact either; the other Clare man putting some extra emphasis on LIT's win with the 1-01 he contributed.
Overall, Fitzgerald's side would rack up 3-18 to the Garda College's 1-07.
The prize for this success is a quarter-final tie against DJ Carey's IT Carlow in a week's time. Last year's beaten finalists, Carlow have already avenged last year's victors; narrowly overcoming Mary I in the first round of matches.
Also in contention during next week's quarter-finals of The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup are UCD and DIT who will play on Thursday evening, UL and UCC filling the afternoon slot.
The holders Mary I also remain in contention, set to play their quarter-final away to DCU next Wednesday evening.
Interspersed as these sides are with inter-county hurlers, it will be a busy few weeks for those who make it beyond this point into the semi-finals and further still.
The Electric Ireland Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Championships. Taking rivalries to the next level. #FirstClassRivals
