THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS DCU are bidding for their third title in seven years.
The 2011 champions UCC are bidding to get back to the winners podium.
Dublin IT are aiming to reach their second ever final after losing out in 2009 against Cork IT.
While the competition hosts Athlone IT are bidding to reach their first ever decider.
The semi-final stage of the 2013 Sigerson Cup has been reached with just four teams left in the running to claim honours.
Tomorrow
Sigerson Cup semi-final
DCU v Dublin IT, Athlone IT GAA pitch, 12.45pm, (Referee: Michael Duffy, Sligo)
- If the Ballymun Kickhams duo of Dean Rock and James McCarthy are able to line out tomorrow, they will join Jonathan Cooper, Antoin McFadden, Jack Brady and Paul Flynn as the survivors from the side that started last year’s final win over NUI Maynooth. Michael Murphy and Fiontain Ó Curraoin were both hampered by injuries at that time and came on as substitutes.
- DCU captain Paul Flynn is bidding to reach his fourth Sigerson Cup final in five years tomorrow. Flynn featured in the 2009 final with Dublin IT while playing in the 2010 and 2012 deciders with DCU. Cavan’s Martin Reilly also played for Dublin IT in that 2009 final.
- DCU vice-captain Michael Murphy has excelled to date in this competition as he has chalked up 1-14 in their three victories to date over UL, Queen’s University and UCD.
- Dublin IT attacker Mark Collins has good Sigerson Cup experience against DCU. He was part of the UCC team who lost to DCU in the 2010 final but lined out for UCC when they beat DCU in the 2011 quarter-final and went onto lift the title.
- There’ll be plenty counties with a footing in this clash given that 14 counties had representatives that featured at some stage during DCU and Dublin IT’s quarter-final victories.
Tomorrow
Sigerson Cup semi-final
Athlone IT v UCC, Athlone IT GAA pitch, 2.30pm, (Referee: Martin McNally, Monaghan)
- Athlone IT will be hoping home advantage continues to favour them this weekend after they won their two home games to date against Carlow IT and Cork IT. It was Cork IT who were the last hosts to win the Sigerson Cup in 2009.
- UCC have been extremely competitive under the stewardship of former Cork boss Billy Morgan. The Nemo Rangers man has guided UCC to their fourth consecutive finals weekend since he took the reins and reached the final in 2010, lifted the title in 2011 and contested the semi-finals last year.
- There’s a strong local influence to the Athlone IT team with the Westmeath sextet of Gary Connaughton, James Dolan, Ger Egan, Kieran Martin, Alan Coffey and Alan Stone all starting in the quarter-final success against Cork IT.
- UCC have an injury concern over Paul Geaney (hamstring) but it is hoped he will be fit to play. Tipperary senior Conor Sweeney and Eoghan Buckley and Gavin O’Grady, who have U21 experience with Cork and Kerry respectively, are in the frame to start in the corner-forward positions.
- Cork’s Jamie O’Sullivan, Roscommon’s Niall Daly, Kerry’s Peter Crowley and Tipperary’s Peter Acheson form the backbone of the UCC challenge.
