The Sigerson Cup weekend is upon us, and this year we have the honour of hosting both it and the Trench Cup (played between second tier higher education Institutes, Colleges and Universities) here at the Connacht GAA centre for the first time. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the magnificent centre we have here to the wider GAA community. The Sigerson weekend is one of the highlights of the GAA calendar, with football fans from all over Ireland flocking to watch some of the best young players in the country in action.
Sigerson Cup 2017
The Sigerson Cup is the pinnacle of higher education football and every year since 1911 it is hotly contested between Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology throughout Ireland. This year’s semi finalists are holders University College Dublin, St. Mary’s University College (Belfast), University of Limerick and University College Cork. UCD are striving to be the first team to win back to back Sigersons since Institute of Technology Sligo in 2004 and 2005.
The full programme of fixtures for the Sigerson Cup, 2017 see below:
Here is a small bit of background on each competing team:
University College Dublin
Sigerson Cup titles: 33
Most recent title: 2016
Manager: John Divilly
Quarter Final Result: UCD 1-18 UUJ 0-8
Quarter final line-up: C Honan; E Murchin, M Fitzsimons, N McInerney; C Mullaly, S Coen, J McCaffrey; B O’Sullivan; J Barry; A McDonnell, C McCarthy, E Wallace; P Mannion, C Basquel, L Moran. Subs: J Rossiter for McInerney (HT), B McGinn for Moran (HT), T Hayes for McDonnell (56), S O’Dea for Wallace (55), E Lowry for McCarthy (58).
St. Mary’s University College (Belfast)
Sigerson Cup Titles: 1
Most recent title: 1989
Manager: Paddy Tally
Quarter Final Result: DCU 2-13 ST Mary’s 2-14 (aet)
Quarter Final Line-up: M Reid; K Mallon, A McKay, R Mooney; C Byrne, C Meyler, C Mac Íomhar; O O’Neill, B Óg McGilligan; K McKernan, C McCann, C McShane; S McConville, M Fitzpatrick, C Corrigan. Subs: P Og McCrickard for C Byrne (52), J Hannigan for Mac Íomhar (52), C Convery for Fitzpatrick (56), C Quinn for B Óg McGilligan (58). ET: B Óg McGilligan for C Corrigan (61), C Byrne for R Mooney (61), S McConville for K Mallon (63), A Nugent for C McCann (75).
University College Cork
Sigerson Cup Titles: 21
Most Recent Title: 2014
Manager: Billy Morgan
Quarter Final Result: IT Carlow 1-06 UCC 0-10 (aet)
Quarter Final Line-up: M Martin; L Bastible, J McGuire, J Foley; K Crowley, M Flood, T O’Sullivan; I Maguire, R O’Toole; R Buckley, A Spillane,J Kennedy; C Dorgan; K Spillane, C Bambury. Subs: M O’Donnell O’Toole (BC 25), A O’Donovan for Dorgan (44), B O’Driscoll for Buckley (55), K Flahive for McGuire (60), F Clifford for Bastible (60), C Kiely for Flood (60), I Galvin for A Spillane (70).
University of Limerick
Sigerson Cup Titles: None
Most Recent Titles: None
Manager: Brian Carson
Quarter Final Result: UL 0-10 DIT 0-7
Quarter Final Line-up: C O’Driscoll; C Long, J Mullins, D Brosnan; P White, L Boland, P Lillis; G Hegarty, C Sheehan; F Boland, M Geaney, B O’Keefe; S Ryan, D Daly, N McDermott. Subs: S Courtney for Brosnan (27), C O’Dea for Ryan (57), J Naughton for McDermott (60).
Trench Cup, 2017
The Trench Cup is played between second tier higher education Institutes, Colleges and Universities. It has been in existence since 1975. Throughout the years some of the great names of Gaelic football have competed in the Trench Cup, the first two players to be named man of the match in the first two finals were Brian Mullins and Pat Spillane, in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Institute of Technology Sligo and St Patricks, Drumcondra have won the most amount of Trench Cups, with both having won the competition five times each.
This year’s semi finalists are holders Dundalk Institute of Technology who won their first Trench Cup in 2016, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Marino Institute of Education and Waterford Institute of Technology.
The full programme of fixtures for the Trench Cup, 2017(see below):
Independent.ie HE GAA Sigerson Championship Weekend
Match Times
Friday 17th February 2017
12noon: Semi Finals of the Corn na Mac Léinn
RCSI v GMIT Letterfrack
UU Magee v Liverpool Hope
1.30pm: Semi Final 1 Trench Cup
DkIT v IT Blanchardstown
2pm: Semi Final 1 of Sigerson Cup
St. Mary’s University College v UCC
3.30pm: Semi Final 2 of Trench Cup
Marino Inst v Waterford IT
4pm: Semi-Final 2 of Sigerson Cup
UL v UCD
Saturday 18th February 2017
12noon: Final of Corn Comhairle Ardoideachais
Carlow Inst v Galway T.I.
12.30pm: Corn na Mac Léinn Final
1.00pm: Trench Cup Final
3pm: Sigerson Cup Final
By briangaa Thu 16th Feb
