Hurling & Camogie

Queen's University hoping to make it third time lucky as they bid for Ryan Cup glory

Queen's University will look to Down's Eoghan Sands for inspiration against IT Sligo Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Queen's University will look to Down's Eoghan Sands for inspiration against IT Sligo Picture by Colm O'Reilly Queen's University will look to Down's Eoghan Sands for inspiration against IT Sligo Picture by Colm O'Reilly

Ryan Cup semi-final: Institute of Technology, Sligo v Queen’s University, Belfast (today, 1.30pm, Dangan, Galway)

LESS than a week after St Mary’s University College upset the odds to land the Sigerson Cup way out west, Queen’s University are hoping to repeat the dose by bringing more silverware back to Belfast this weekend.

The QUB hurlers face IT Sligo in the semi-final of the Ryan Cup in Dangan, Galway today as they aim to book their spot in tomorrow’s decider at Pearse Stadium against either Cork ETB or hotly-tipped Garda College, who include Tipperary All-Ireland winner Padraic Maher among their number.

Queen’s have lost out in the final of the competition in the last two years, and boss Sean McGourty admits he would love to go out and finish the job this time around.

He said: “The Guards are in the other semi-final and they’re the out and out favourites for the whole thing, but we’re not looking past Sligo.

“People might not think of Sligo as a traditional hurling hotspot but they have a couple of Westmeath inter-county players and several from Roscommon, who are a team on the up.

“Eoghan Sands has been on fire for us and he’s someone we would have big hopes for, we’ve four or five other county players too, but really we’re a very young team.

“A lot of the guys playing in this team are freshers so we’re just going to give it a go and see what happens.

“We’d love to get into the final and have another crack at it.”

Elsewhere, there is Ulster interest in both sides of the Fergal Maher Cup semi-final pairings too.

Buoyed by the footballers’ Sigerson success last Saturday, the St Mary’s hurlers take on GMIT Letterfrack in Rahoon/Newcastle this afternoon (1pm).

They have already racked up big wins en route to the last four, beating Letterkenny IT 10-24 to 1-11 and easing past Ulster University, Magee 9-19 to 0-15.

Their opponents have had a more unusual path to the semis, advancing thanks to two walkover victories against Blanchardstown IT and Dundalk IT as they narrowly lost their one played game to Marino Institute of Education.

In the other last four clash, Marino face Ulster University, Coleraine at Dangan this afternoon (3pm). Coleraine bagged a one point win over Ulster University rivals Magee before beating Letterkenny IT 5-10 to 1-6 to reach this stage.

The final of the Fergal Maher Cup will take place in Dangan at 10.45am tomorrow morning.