Football

UU face NUI Galway with Queen's meeting the reward

Down's Tom Close and Roscommon's Tomás Crean In action during the 2021 EirGrid GAA Football  All-Ireland  U20 Championship semi final between Down and Roscommon at the Kingspan Breffni Park Cavan. 08-07-2021 Pic Philip Walsh.
Down's Tom Close and Roscommon's Tomás Crean In action during the 2021 EirGrid GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship semi final between Down and Roscommon at the Kingspan Breffni Park Cavan. 08-07-2021 Pic Philip Walsh. Down's Tom Close and Roscommon's Tomás Crean In action during the 2021 EirGrid GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship semi final between Down and Roscommon at the Kingspan Breffni Park Cavan. 08-07-2021 Pic Philip Walsh.

Sigerson Cup round one: NUI Galway v Ulster University (tonight, Whitehall Colmcille Collins Avenue, 7pm)

WIN tonight and the ‘reward’ for Ulster University will be a second round meeting with Queen’s, but that will be a feat easier said than done against an NUI Galway side bristling with talent.

That said, Jordanstown aren’t short on reserves of talent themselves, with nearly all of their county players available despite the clash with the Dr McKenna Cup.

Jordanstown have a raft of players on the Down panel who will be available to play against NUI tonight. Tom Close, Andrew Gilmore and Finn McElroy were among those who impressed for the Mourne men against Donegal and it was agreed they would skip last night’s McKenna Cup game against Antrim to be available for their university tonight. Likewise for the Saffrons, Dominic McElhill was given the night off so he could focus on his Sigerson duties.

Conor Glass, Darragh Canavan and goalkeeper Jack Hazard, however, are among those who will miss out through injury.

Tommy Joe Farrell, a veteran member of the UU coaching staff, had nothing but praise for the county set-ups and their understanding when it comes to further education competition.

“I spoke to James McCartan and there was no problem. James is a very good supporter of third level competition and there was never going to be an issue with Down,” Farrell said.

“But we had good conversations with all the counties in fairness and they were very understanding. They understand that we have a very small window of opportunity in which to play the further education competitions and that the players are being pulled in all directions.

“The days of physical training are long gone for us, for example. We get together to talk through tactics but that’s nearly it considering all the training the boys are doing elsewhere. We had an indoor session on Monday night but, like I say, it was more about discussing tactics than anything else.

“The Tyrone lads were only back on Sunday, so match fitness is going to be an issue there. A lot of boys were with their clubs right through, with the club championships running so late that creates an issue in itself for everybody.

“But we have everybody on board, there is nobody missing bar injuries and we’re ready to give the competition a good rattle, especially considering we didn’t get playing it last year.”

Although the losers of tonight’s contest will get a second bite at the cherry, Farrell says UU will have nothing but victory on their mind tonight, even if it does present them with the mighty challenge of neighbours Queen’s in the second round.

“I’m a knock-out championship man myself, even if the Sigerson Cup does give you that second chance,” Farrell added.

“But we intend to use the backdoor as a safety net rather than an escape hatch. Getting your old rivals in the next round is certainly an incentive, although I’m not sure it is a reward getting to play Queen’s. But you have to beat everybody if you want to win the competition.”

NUI Galway acquitted themselves well in their Ryan Cup final loss to DCU and UU will be wary of the likes of Mayo star Tommy Conroy and exciting Galway prospect Tomo Culhane, whose sheer power will be a big asset at this level. For many on both sides, however, it will be a leap into the unkown.

“For so many boys, this will be their first ever Sigerson Cup match because of the impact of the pandemic,” said Farrell.

“Although Galway always put up a show, there’s never much in it when it comes to games between the two of us. In saying that though, nobody knows much about anybody else because of the length of time we’ve been out, so it should be an eye opener.”

Tonight’s game will be streamed live at 7pm via www.facebook.com/HigherEdGAA/live.