Football

St Mary's will rely on their collective for Sigerson test

UUJ❝s Paddy McClarnon and  St Marys Ryan Coleman during last nights game at Ulster university.  Picture Mark Marlow.
UUJ❝s Paddy McClarnon and St Marys Ryan Coleman during last nights game at Ulster university. Picture Mark Marlow. UUJ❝s Paddy McClarnon and St Marys Ryan Coleman during last nights game at Ulster university. Picture Mark Marlow.

Sigerson Cup round one: TU Dublin City Campus v St Mary’s University College (tonight, Grangegorman, 7pm)

ST MARY’S will travel to face a talent packed Trinity college outfit at Grangegorman with their faith, as always, in the collective power of their panel.

Trinity have a squad which is loaded with cream from the Dublin and Meath senior and U20 panels, including the highly-rated Luke Swan, Ciarán Archer and Cathal Hickey, but the Ranch have some talented prospects of their own and, when this is allied with their renowned togetherness, manager Gavin McGilly is convinced this can make them a match for any side.

“We’ve a got a good balanced squad this year,” McGilly said.

“We got a good crop of emerging county talent as opposed to any real established figures, but that’s always been the way for St Mary’s. We rely on the collective rather than any star individuals.

“Going down to play any Dublin outfit is a tall order but we’ll give it our best shot. It’s great that there is a competition at all for the lads, so we’ve been looking forward to it.”

Down’s Charlie Smyth is among those expected to make an impact for St Mary’s tonight. With his club Mayobridge and the Down U20s, Smyth was pioneering in his role as a sweeper-keeper and often found himself in midfield or supporting the attack.

Moy man Ryan Coleman scored two points for Tyrone in their charity match win over Armagh before Christmas while defender James Diamond and attacker Cormac Murphy are two exciting prospects emerging from Derry.

Elsewhere in attack, Crossmaglen forward Cian McConville should give the Trinity defence one or two headaches, while the confidence of Conor McConville should be sky-high after his club Clann Éireann’s recent county success. Michéal McCarville is a key part of Monaghan champions’ Scotstown’s panel and will bring his winning mentality to the table.

As for Trinity, they can call on the services of a few northerners to help the likes of Archer, Swan and Hickey. Cavan’s Liam Wilson, Patrick O’Reilly, Evan Fortune and Jack McKenna, Monaghan’s Eoin Duffy and Robbie McAllister and Donegal’s Donal Doherty are all involved.