Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup round one: Queen's University, Belfast v Ulster University (tonight, 7pm, The Dub Arena – live on HE GAA YouTube channel)
"WE'RE aiming to win it," states Ulster University boss Barry Dillon – and he doesn't just mean tonight's Sigerson Cup clash against Queen's.
"Fifteen years is too long for a university like Jordanstown," accepts the Magherafelt native, referring to the drought since UU last lifted the top trophy in third level football.
He knows how tough that will be, starting tonight, and thinking back to last year, when they lost out against eventual champions NUI Galway and were then knocked out by DCU DE, by two points and one point respectively.
They could meet the Dublin outfit again next week, depending on the outcome of their match tonight against ATU Donegal, but full focus first is on their Belfast rivals Queen's.
In this 50th anniversary season of the GAA club founded at the one-time 'Poly', the desire to succeed is stronger than ever, Dillon confirms:
"Make no mistake, we're in it to try to win it. We're going give it a big push this year… Yet in those 15 years, St Mary's had a brilliant achievement winning it, and a lot of those boys then won the All-Ireland with Tyrone.
"Dublin won six All-Irelands in a row, and most of those Sigersons were going to Dublin sides. Galway [NUI] won Sigerson last year and Galway got to the All-Ireland Final. Some of the Dublin universities are three times bigger than ours.
"There's plenty of strength elsewhere and Jordanstown just weren't good enough over the past 15 years. We were very unlucky sometimes – but we've won five since we came into the competition.
"Expectation is the word. We want to push on and you have to take the first step – we'll know more after this first match."
Dillon is optimistic, not least in regard to having his 'county' players available to him: "You always hear these horror stories about county managers but this is my first year managing and I've had good vibes coming from county managers, wishing us all the best and trying to work with us. I haven't a bad word to say about them at all. My experience so far has been good, hopefully that continues."
The Glen Maghera pair of Conor Glass and Ethan Doherty are unlikely to be involved, ahead of their All-Ireland Club SFC Final against Kilmacud Croke's, but UU still have reams of talent.
If they can make their extra quality count, they should proceed with a win under their belt.
UU panel:
Aidan McAleese Portglenone, (Antrim)
Odhran Lynch, Magherafelt (Derry)
Ben McCarron, Steelstown (Derry)
Aodhan Donaghy, Loughmacrory (Tyrone)
Caolan McColgan, Muff (Donegal)
Andrew Gilmore, St John's (Down)
Ciaran Moore, St Eunan's (Donegal)
Darragh Canavan, Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone)
Conall Devlin, Dungannon (Tyrone)
Ryan Jones, Dungannon (Tyrone)
Michael Gallagher, Trillick (Tyrone)
Conall Devlin, Ardboe (Tyrone)
Ruairi Slane, Carrickmore (Tyrone)
Conor Cush, Donaghmore (Tyrone)
Danny Magill, Burren (Down)
Finn McElroy, Longstone (Down)
Conor Glass, Glen (Derry)
Dara Curran, Loughmacrory (Tyrone)
Karl Gallagher, Emyvale (Monaghan)
Ronan Boyle, Truagh (Monaghan)
Eoghan McDonnell, Mullaghbawn (Armagh)
Gareth Donaghy, Loughmacrory (Tyrone)
Josh Largo Ellis, Irvinestown (Fermanagh)
Liam Gray, Trillick (Tyrone)
Odhran Murdock, Burren (Down)
Ryan Cunningham, Burren (Down)
Tom Close, Clonduff (Down)
Niall Loughlin, Greenlough (Derry)
Dominic McEnhill, Rossa (Antrim)
Pol McKervey, Ederney (Fermanagh)
Ronan McCaffrey, Teemore (Fermanagh)
Ryan Convery, Portglenone (Antrim)
Ryan Magill, Burren (Down)
Eoin McConville, St Paul's (Armagh)
Ethan Doherty, Glen (Derry).
