Sligo can stake Sigerson claim by halting Garda

WITH three titles in the last six years, Sligo IT start favourites to win the Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup.

And the fact that they defeated Galway in the Connacht FBD League final with a team that included seven inter-county players drawn from Donegal, Mayo and Sligo enhances their chances.

This afternoon Sligo IT make the long journey to Templemore (JK Brackens Club) to take on the Garda College in the quarter-final and, while they will fancy their chances, Garda’s shock victory over UCC in the previous round won’t have gone unnoticed.

In atrocious conditions, Garda were full value for their one point victory over the Cork students. Stephen Kelly, Cormac Bane, Denis Glennon and Shane Hickey did all the scoring and will test the Sligo defence today.

The Connacht college have been impressive in all their games to date, chalking up 4-31, including 1-11 against Galway in last Sunday’s final.

Backboned by a quartet of Donegal inter-county players in Paul Durcan, Karl Lacey, Michael Hegarty and Michael Doherty as well as the free-scoring Andy Moran (Mayo), Garda, even with home advantage, will find it extremely difficult to halt Sligo.

Verdict: Sligo IT win.

NUI Maynooth v Cork IT: Maynooth, 2pm

AFTER crushing WIT by a massive 14 points in their previous outing, CIT travel to Maynooth this afternoon confident they can make it to the last four.

A hat-trick of goals by former Cork minor Paul O’Flynn ensured CITs’ passage into today’s quarter-final.

But he got a lot of support from county senior Daniel Goulding, Paul Kerrigan, Chris Murphy, Kerry senior Bryan Sheehan and Colm O’Neill.

Maynooth were almost totally reliant on Francis McGee for scores in their win over Dundalk IT in the second round and if he is held they could struggle.

Paul Halligan, Neil Jordan and Padraig Colden will ensure the Cork side don’t have matters all their own way, but the visitors still get the vote to make it to Belfast for the concluding stages.

Verdict: Cork IT win.

UCD v QUB: Belfield, 2pm.

QUEENS, hosts to this year’s Sigerson Cup, are keen to be involved in the concluding stages, but go into the lion’s den this afternoon to take on UCD, who have an incredible record of 32 title wins .

The Belfast students are also at a disadvantage in that this is their first game in the championship, having received a bye as hosts.

Gerard O’Kane (Derry), Charlie Bernon (Armagh), Shay Gallagher, Michael O’Rourke and Dan McCartan will spearhead their challenge.

UCD displayed commendable spirit in seeing off St. Mary’s, Belfast by a point in extra-time in their last outing. That should stand them in good stead for today’s encounter.

Shane Lennon, John McCarthy, Paddy Navin, Cathal O’Dwyer and Alan Brogan are vastly experienced inter-county players which should give the home side the edge.

Verdict: UCD win.

NUI Galway v UUJ: Mullahoran, Cavan, 2pm.

JORDANSTOWN are one of the favourites for the title and, if they manage to lift the cup — they last won it in 2001 — they will have done it the hard way.

They have played two games, both away, and have shown excellent form, particularly in the win over champions DCU.

Their team has a liberal sprinkling of inter-county players, including Armagh’s Paddy Keenan, Raymond Mulgrew and Peter Donnelly (Tyrone), Paddy Cunningham and Mark Lynch, and the Galway students, even with home advantage, will have to be at their very best to prevent the Ulster college reaching the last four.

NUIG will be dependent on Laois senior David Conway and David Duffy of Westmeath to see them through. But it would be a huge upset if they were to win.

Verdict: UUJ win.