Carlow look to maintain promising start against Garda

WITH this year’s Sigerson Cup being hosted for the first time by Carlow IT they will be desperately keen to be involved in the concluding stages over the weekend of March 7/8.

Carlow got their campaign off to the perfect start with a comprehensive victory over their counterparts from Dundalk last week, but tomorrow is the big test as they play host to Garda College.

Both sides have a liberal sprinkling of inter-county players which should add to the enjoyment of the game. Despite it being Garda’s first outing, they will field a very strong team which will include Aidan O’Mahony, Ambrose O’Donovan (Kerry), Michael Cussen (Cork), Declan Glennon (Westmeath) and Darren Mullahy (Galway), and the home side will have to be at their very best to get the verdict.

However they had the advantage of a first round game, against Dundalk IT which they won with plenty to spare. Their team includes a trio of Laois seniors, Brendan Quigley, Michael Tierney and Zac Tuohy who finished the game with a personal tally of 3-2.

Throw in Wexford’s Andy Doyle and Joe Roche from the home county and this Carlow team will make every effort to stay on the title trail.

Cork IT play hosts to UCD tomorrow and as it’s a first round game for both teams, there is little form to go on.

However the Cork side will include a number of players with inter-county experience in Paul Kerrigan, Daniel Goulding, Kerry senior Brian Sheehan and Paul O’Flynn.

UCD who are coached by current Laois senior Billy Sheehan can call on Louth’s Shane Lennon, John O’Loughlin (Laois), and Dubliners Cian O’Sullivan and Niall Corkery, but don’t have sufficient power to cause an upset.

NUI Maynooth make the long journey to play Tralee IT, confident they can keep their winning run going.

Nigel Dunne (Offaly), Francis McGee (Longford) who scored seven points against BMC, and Brian Kinehan will make it very difficult for the Tralee side who are making their championship debut.

The home side will have former county minor Paul Curran in their side, along with Paul O’Donoghue who is a former Irish U21 soccer international, Declan Griffin, Gerry Coffey and former St Brendan’s colleges star Jamie Doolan.

Former champions Sligo IT face a difficult opponent at home in UUJ and as it’s straight knock out from here on, a lively match should ensure. St Mary’s and UL clash at DCU Grounds where the Belfast trainee teachers are likely to emerge victorious after a lively hour.

The game of the round however is an all-Dublin affair between the holders DCU and DIT at Grangegorman. The latter looked the part in seeing off the challenge of a highly-rated UCC team in round one by five points after extra time.

DIT will include Dublin seniors Paul Brogan and Mark Vaughan along with Aidan Kilcoyne (Mayo) and with home advantage, could cause an upset.

GMIT are at home to Waterford IT and should have little difficulty moving on to the quarter-finals. NUIG are also at home, to Queens which should be worth a few scores to them, particularly as they will include Galway senior Mathew Clancy, Mark Ronaldson (Mayo) and David Conway (Laois) in their side.