Sigerson Cup Previews

Eoghan Cormican looks at the upcoming games and gives his verdict.

IT Tralee v IT Carlow, IT Tralee GAA grounds (M Collins), 2.45pm

Noel Kennelly’s charges impressed defeating a makeshift Kerry outfit in the McGrath Cup last month. Jack Savage and Conor Keane were the side’s only scorers in the subsequent semi-final against UCC, and the two men who must fire on all cylinders if the home outfit are to advance to the quarter-finals.

Brendan Murphy’s return to college football is a major fillip for IT Carlow and though failing to secure a single O’Byrne Cup victory, all three games were close run affairs — Ray O’Ceallaigh, Barry McHugh, Anthony Forde and Kevin Ryan spearhead their challenge.

Verdict: IT Carlow

UCD v Athlone IT, Belfield (J Hickey), 3pm

Kieran Kilcline, Killian Fitzgerald and Kieran Martin all found the net in Athlone’s preliminary round win over Trinity last week. That challenge will be far removed from what UCD are to likely to serve up on home turf.

The attacking flair brought to the table by Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey and Westmeath’s John Heslin, with Monaghan’s Drew Wylie anchoring their defence, should see John Divilly’s charges through.

Verdict: UCD

Maynooth v UL, Maynooth University North Campus (D Maher), 6pm.

Maynooth’s maiden O’Byrne Cup campaign yielded a solitary victory, with a win over Laois sandwiched by heavy defeats to Offaly and Dublin.

David Hyland and Dublin’s Eric Lowndes are their key figures in defence, while Paul Lynch, Meath’s Barry Dardis Dardis and Tipperary’s George Hannigan are the main men up front.

UL’s Antoin McFadden, Daniel McLaughlin (both Donegal) and Cathal McInerney (Clare) will cause problems for the host but questions remain about the UL rearguard

Verdict: Maynooth