Three Key Battles: Well-matched Sigerson Cup final could go either way

Ulster University take on UCD at Austin Stack Park from 7.30pm on Wednesday night.

BATTLE: Ulster’s Conor Cush with Diarmaid Finneran and Darragh Campion of TUD. Pic credit: Nick Elliott, Inpho.

(1) UCD need to deal with Cush and Canavan brothers

We could do an individual battle for each of the three Tyrone hotshots in the Ulster University attack, and who from the UCD class might be charged with cooling their respective jets.

Space, though, is at a premium, and so we’re going to lump them in together. UCD, on the other hand, would probably be wise to adopt a more targeted approach to dealing with Conor Cush and the Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairí.

Their tallies across a five-game campaign where they haven’t always been present are 0-10 (0-7 frees) for Ruairí Canavan, 0-7 (0-2 frees) for Darragh, and 0-11 (0-3 frees, 0-2 45s, and a mark) for Cush.

UCD have Liam Smith, Mayo’s Rory Brickenden, and Monaghan’s Ryan O’Toole as match-up options, but they also need to prioritise a leading man-marker for Niall Loughlin. The Derry forward arrives into this final with 2-8 from play. Food for thought for UCD boss John Divilly.

(2) David Garland is top billing

At the far end: We’re not six and a half weeks into the New Year and already David Garland is having a standout season. The Monaghan corner-forward has top-scored in UCD’s four outings to date. 

His total stands at 1-18 (0-6 frees, 0-2 marks). Mention too for the capable supporting cast of Daire Cregg (0-14, 0-5 frees) and Diarmuid Moriarty (0-10).

Garland, though, is top billing. Might the UU management opt for fellow Farney man, Ronan Boyle, to stand beside UCD’s Monaghan maestro? They have to get this one right.

(3) Something different needed for Dillon's charges

In case you didn’t know, UCD and UU have already run into one another this season. They met in Belfield in Round 2, the hosts convincing winners on a 1-13 to 0-8 scoreline.

Lessons learned from that collision will be so telling in Tralee. UCD, despite having to face the elements in the second half with only 14 men following Kieran Kennedy’s 22nd minute red card, were never panicked or forced to panic by anything the visitors threw at them.

Therein lies the challenge for Barry Dillon’s charges. They have to bring something different on their long journey south.