Forward thinking can propel CIT

THIS afternoon’s McGrath Cup semi-final may not be the competition that consumes the focus of the Cork IT and UCC football camps, but it will still be instructive as to how they are set up for the forthcoming Sigerson Cup.

For UCC, that competition is hovering prominently on the radar as they face DIT next Wednesday afternoon, while CIT have more breathing space as they are not featuring until Wednesday week.

Both teams could take encouragement from last Sunday’s McGrath Cup wins, trekking away to play intercounty sides and departing with the spoils.

Six CIT players had stepped off a plane from Thailand that morning yet they negated the effects of jet-lag to topple Limerick by three points. Manager Keith Ricken can call on 12 of last year’s Sigerson Cup-winning outfit, while the additions of Aidan and Barry John Walsh bolsters their challenge around the pitch.

UCC’s fortunes have nose-dived in recent years with a series of early Sigerson Cup exits, but they achieved a heartening success against Clare on Sunday. They are not blessed with as many glamour senior names as CIT, but Johnny Buckley and David Goold are both illustrating why they are on the cusp of intercounty breakthroughs and the return of Michael Shields will be a considerable help.

It’s a tricky game to forecast with the imperative for both teams being to avoid injuries, and adverse weather conditions are likely to mitigate against flowing fare. But if their Cork senior attacking triumvirate of O’Neill-Goulding-Kerrigan click, then CIT might sneak it.

Verdict: CIT

McGrath Cup SF semi-final: CIT v UCC, CIT’s Grounds, 2:30pm.