UUJ boss Barney McAleenan wary of St Mary’s challenge

The Sigerson Cup rolls into Jordanstown the weekend after next, and the university’s sole wish is that the home outfit will still be alive in the competition come the deciding two days of action.

Runners-up in 2014, UUJ were dumped out by eventual winners DCU last year and with a supremely talented squad still assembled, the goal this spring is to go all the way.

First on the agenda, though, is securing safe passage to the finals weekend. Blocking their path in this afternoon’s quarter-final at Jordanstown is St Mary’s (throw-in 2pm).

With Donegal pair Paddy McBrearty and Ryan McHugh, Cavan’s Killian Clarke, Tyrone duo Ronan McNamee and Rory Brennan and Mayo’s Evan Regan impressing in UUJ’s opening round win over the Garda College, the home outfit are expected to enjoy the upper hand in today’s local derby. Manager Barney McAleenan, though, is wary of the challenge posed by St Mary’s.

The Belfast outfit brought DCU to extra-time in last year’s quarter-final, the year previous they ran then champions DIT to a point in the opening round, while in 2013 they made life extremely difficult for UCC at the quarter-final hurdle.

“They are a very good side and you get nothing easy off them, we all saw that last year with how they performed against DCU,” said McAleenan.

“There is great work being done up here and of course we would love to be there. But we cannot afford to look past St Mary’s. The game against Garda was a good outing for us because you never know how you’re going to fare in your opener. There were good individual performances, but we were most pleased with how the team performed as a unit.”