THE flagship soccer tournament for Irish universities, the Collingwood Cup, kicks off today, with four quarter-finals down for decision at Jordanstown.
Last year’s beaten finalists Queen’s University get underway against Maynooth at 11am this morning, beginning three days of intense action which will conclude with the competition final at Inver Park in Larne on Wednesday afternoon. Queen’s have impressed in their second division league campaign this year, qualifying for that competition’s semi-finals, but will have to be on top form to get anything against a highly rated Maynooth outfit.
Hosts Ulster University have a tall order when they face defending champions UCD this afternoon, with the League of Ireland Premier Division side fancied to add a 49th Collingwood title to their name come Wednesday evening.
While UU have had a tough time of it in the second division this season, UCD are a side packed with talent, with captain Jack Keaney, goalkeeper Lorcan Healy and Dara Keane providing an imposing back bone. With the Dubliners in league action at Dundalk on Friday night, promising youth forwards Danú Kinsella Bishop and Ciarán Deane may get their chance to shine over the next number of days.
In today’s other quarter-finals, a highly rated University of Limerick team take on DCU while University of Galway face University College Cork.
The winners of QUB/Maynooth will play either UL or DCU at Jordanstown in tomorrow’s semi-finals, while if UU were to spring a surprise against UCD they would play the winners of Galway and Cork universities.
The losers of today’s game will drop into the semi-finals of the Farquhar Cup, which will also be played at Jordanstown tomorrow.
Wednesday’s final, which will kick-off at Inver Park at 4pm, is to be broadcast live on FAI TV and will be available free on YouTube.
