Last throw of dice as Lucey hunts coveted Sigerson medal

STEPHEN LUCEY gets his last chance this weekend to win a coveted Sigerson Cup medal.

Having drawn a blank in three finals, the UCD student would love to add to the Fitzgibbon medal he won two years ago.

Standing in Lucey’s way are Queens University who UCD play this afternoon in the semi-final in Belfast, a game the Limerickman is looking forward to.

“It’s make or break as it’s my last year, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than a Sigerson Cup medal in my pocket,” said Lucey.

“You have to be involved in Sigerson to appreciate what it means. They are the best years of a player’s career. The friendships you make stand the test of time.

“When you are living, socialising and playing with guys for at least four years, a bond develops which stays for the rest of their lives.”

Lucey has joined some of the greatest exponents of Gaelic football to have played in the Sigerson. It’s a competition with an appeal all of its own, and any team that wins deserves it.

“You can have all the star players you want for Sigerson, but it’s the team with the greatest commitment that eventually wins out,” said Lucey.

Even though it’s his last year at UCD, there is no rest for Lucey. On Wednesday he figured in the Fitzgibbon Cup side that defeated Garda College and is on course to win his second medal.

However, it’s a Sigerson medal he craves most. Having lost three previous finals, Lucey and his team-mates face an enormous challenge to their title ambitions from Queens.

“We have worked extremely hard to get to Belfast, but it’s going to be very difficult to get a result up there. QUB have an excellent team, but we are not a bad team ourselves, and have great confidence in our own ability.”

The break in the National Football League has allowed the four teams left to concentrate on the job in hand. UCD looked a competent side against Garda and only some outstanding Alan Keane goal-keeping prevented them from winning more convincingly than the 0-9 to 0-3 scoreline suggested.

Their team includes Meath’s Joe Sheridan and Dublin’s Darren Magee and it should be a battle royal today. Home advantage should be worth a score or two to QUB, backboned by BJ Padden (Mayo), John Clarke (Down), Aidan Fagan (Down) and Dick Clerkin (Monaghan).

Queens denied Sigerson hosts St Mary’s by a point in their previous outing and the James McCartan- coached side won’t have any fears of UCD.

The second semi-final is between 2002 champions Sligo IT and Cork IT, who are competing at this stage of the championship for the first time.

CIT have made strides under coach Tony Leahy but according to selector Keith Ricken, are up against a star-studded Sligo outfit.

“It’s a huge occasion for our college,” said Ricken. “There is a big effort put into Gaelic games and when you reach this stage it makes it all worthwhile.

“Alan Morgan is our only worry from the team which defeated DCU in the previous round. He has a calf muscle injury. I would be reasonably confident if we had Waterford senior Shane Walsh and Barry Hegarty available but they have been ruled out with long term injuries.”

Sligo have an embarrassment of riches and team boss Michael Breslin said a number of inter-county players didn’t even make the panel.

“On paper we have a very strong panel but it’s how they perform on the field of play that matters,” said the Sligo boss. “We have our sights set on repeating the 2002 success, and we’ll give Cork the respect they deserve.”

It’s easy to understand why Sligo IT are favourites to win the Sigerson.

Their squad is packed with inter- county players, among them Kevin Cassidy, Brendan Boyle, Christy Toye (Donegal), Michael Moyles, Austin O’Malley, Pat Kelly (Mayo), Paul Finley (Monaghan) and Nicky Joyce (Galway).

DESPITE snow falls in Belfast, today’s Datapac Sigeson Cup semi- finals will go ahead. Cork IT play Sligo IT at Rossa Park, Belfast at 12.30pm while UCD and QUB clash at Sarsfields Park at 2.30pm.

In the event of a deterioration in the weather, the semi-finals will be switched to the college grounds at The Dub. The final is fixed for Corrigan Park, Belfast, tomorrow at 2.30pm.