Sigerson Cup quarter-final: University of Limerick v Queen’s University, Belfast (Thursday, UL Grounds, 2pm)
CIARON O’HANLON says the controversy surrounding Queen’s this week was a deliberate ploy to throw his team off the scent in the Sigerson Cup.
Like fellow Stranmillis University College students Marty Clarke and Gregory McCabe, O’Hanlon is expected to be cleared to play against University of Limerick at the UL Grounds on Thursday afternoon following allegations that the trio had featured illegally against Maynooth in round one.
Team manager James McCartan was also expected to have a proposed 12-week suspension thrown out and should be available to pull the strings from the line against a UL team that beat IT Tralee 2-15 to 2-8 in round one.
“I think it’s more of a throw-in to try and distract us and take us off course more than anything,” said Armagh star O’Hanlon after the eligibility saga resurfaced.
“That appeal has been going on two years now and its been thrown out every year so it’s more of a distraction.”
O’Hanlon scored a point in an absorbing round one showdown against Maynooth last week. Meanwhile, Down’s Clarke registered five points and Antrim’s Ryan Murray scored three and that trio will hope to provide the firepower to propel Queen’s to the finals weekend this year on February 19 and 20. QUB haven’t appeared in a final since 2007 when they beat rivals Jordanstown 0-15 to 0-14 at Malone.
“We haven’t got over our first game in a couple of years so it’s good to get into this quarter-final. If everything goes well on Thursday then who knows what could happen?” said O’Hanlon and it’s no surprise that he hasn’t seen much of University of Limerick.
“We concentrate on ourselves and how we’re going to play,” said the Killeavy St Monnina’s clubman.
"Obviously you have to mark their dangermen to a certain extent so we know that sort of stuff about them. But we’ll just worry about ourselves and what we’re going to bring to the table.”
Among the dangermen Queen’s will need to keep tabs on today are Shane Killoran and Bryan O’Shea both of whom registered 1-2 in the win against IT Tralee. Meanwhile, Fergal Boland - who kicked three points from play - is a potent threat from wing-back.
Former St Paul’s Bessbrook MacRory Cup star O’Hanlon has started both of Armagh’s games in Division Two this season. He played an unfamiliar sweeper role in the one-point loss to Laois last Saturday night and said Sigerson Cup competition was a change of pace from the intensity of the inter-county scene.
“It’s different compared to county football or even MacRory Cup football,” he said.
“You’re trying to build a bond with guys from all over the country and it’s good to meet new people through football. You have good friendships out of it and it’s maybe not taken as serious as county football, the standard is still phenomenal but personally I think it’s a wee bit laid back – you can throw off the shackles and play without pressure.
“It opens up to trying different things on the field that you’d nearly be afraid to do on a bigger stage. You’re going into the game laid back and if you’re winning you’re enjoying it as well.”
