Sigerson Cup mess could drag on

The mess surrounding the completion of the Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup could take a new twist next Tuesday if the Garda College duo of Michael Cussen of Cork and Kerry's Aidan O'Mahony line out for the Templemore outfit in their rescheduled semi-final against GMIT.

It is understood that the eligibility of these players along with Galway defender Darren Mullahy, a former GMIT student, Westmeath corner forward Denis Glennon and former UCD student Cormac McGill may be brought into question also.

UUJ Gaelic Football club chairman John Farrell, who is also the Ulster delegate to the GAA's Higher Education Council (Comhairle Ardoideachais), has voiced his concerns over the issue.

Jordanstown will face either GMIT or Garda College in the delayed final.

"It's all right the guards knowing but do the county managers and the individual players know that they could get three-month suspensions," Farrell said.

"Of all of those guards and all of those rules, you only have to prove one."

Three-month suspensions could be dished out if any of the above players line out for the Garda College and are subsequently deemed to be ineligible under Higher Education GAA bye-laws.

However, any possible suspension would also preclude them from inter-county action, which would stretch into the provincial and All-Ireland Championships.

Last night's Connacht U-21 final win for Mayo over Roscommon has also raised concerns over the staging of the semi-final next Tuesday, with five of the victorious side also on the GMIT panel.

The Connacht champions are due to face Kerry in the All-Ireland U-21 semi-final on Saturday week.

It is also understood that Mayo management are keen to have the delayed Sigerson Cup semi-final brought forward to Monday evening.

However, Higher Education officials this week were adamant that the semi-final will take place on the newly arranged date of Tuesday, April 15 in Athlone with a 6.30pm start.

Meanwhile, Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh, who previously played Sigerson Cup football with UUJ, has voiced his concerns over the effect the delayed final is having on Tyrone's league campaign and championship preparations.

Cavanagh's younger brother Colm is a key member of the UUJ side who are striving to win their first Sigerson title since 2001.

"One of the players involved is my younger brother and he has been distracted," said Cavanagh.

"He has missed a lot of training sessions with the (Tyrone) senior squad and for young guys that are breaking on to the panel it's not good and it is a distraction and a disruption for both the players themselves and for the team."

The midfielder added that the delay and chaos generated by this year's Sigerson Cup competition has devalued its status this time around.

"To be honest, I think the way things are going, it (the Sigerson) has been a bit of a farce this year and I think the Higher Education Council are going to have to learn to deal with this next year and hopefully it won't drag on as long as this.

"At the same time if Jordanstown go on and win it I don't think we can complain."