THE 10-team Conor McGurk Cup gets underway when two familiar foes face off at Kingspan Breffni and another well-known face returns to one of his old stomping grounds.
The Queen’s-hosted tournament begins this evening with two first round ties involving the host team against 2022 Lory Meagher Cup winners Louth. The Wee county are managed by former Armagh dual star Paul McCormack, who spent his student days hurling for the south Belfast university.
Their game throws in at 8pm at the Dub with the winners advancing to a quarter-final against last year’s winners Down on Saturday.
Tonight’s other semi-final sees neighbours Fermanagh and Cavan takes each other on on the 3G surface at Kingspan Breffni.
The Ernemen were winners of Division 3B last year, which means that for the first time since they returned to senior league hurling in 2018, Cavan won’t be competing in the same division as Fermanagh.
During that time there has been little to separate them in terms of head-to-head encounters, even through Fermanagh managed to finally secure promotion last year
The National League record between them since 2018 is two wins apiece with one draw.
They have also locked horns in the Lory Meagher Cup each years since 2017, with a similar pattern.
Cavan have actually won three of their encounters, with one drawn and two going the way of Fermanagh.
However, the Ernemen claimed the one that mattered in 2021 when, after a draw between the sides in the group, Fermanagh beat Cavan in the final at Croke Park.
That meant a move up to Nicky Rackard for Fermanagh in 2022, where they managed to avoid relegation. They will also compete alongside Armagh and Monaghan in Division 3A of the Allianz Hurling League.
So, despite a few new faces on either side, there will be few surprises as these two well acquainted foes face each other for a place in Saturday’s quarter-final against Ulster University.
Conor McGurk Cup fixtures
Round One
Cavan v Fermanagh (Kingspan Breffni, 7.30pm)
Queen's University v Louth (The Dub, 7.30pm)
Friday January 6
Quarter-final
Antrim v Armagh (Dunsilly, 7.30pm)
Saturday January 7
Quarter-finals
Donegal v Monaghan (Convoy, 1pm)
UU v Cavan/Fermanagh (Ulster University, 1pm)
Down v QUB/Louth (The Dub, 1pm)
Saturday January 14
Semi-finals
Wednesday January 18
Final
