WITH the Fitzgibbon Cup final tournament due in less than a fortnight, this week will see the Sigerson Cup complete its semifinal line up. Already, the final weekend is shaping up promisingly with last Saturday's surprise qualification of the University of Ulster at Coleraine who will host this year's Sigerson on March 8th/ 9th.
Tension and anxiety will clearly hold no fears for Coleraine who have won their two matches to date with points in the dying seconds of extra time. Three days ago Plunkett McConville emulated full forward Brendan Powell - whose winner eliminated DCU in the first round - when his 35 yard kick cleared the bar and shocked perennial semi finalists UUJ.
With home support and the confidence generated by their unexpected run, UUC will look forward to the weekend which otherwise might have entailed only administrative hassle.
They will face the winners of the Garda College UL match which takes place tomorrow (Plassey, 2.30). Limerick's narrow but deserved victory over UCC gives them a glimpse of the semi finals for the first time since 1994. Garda are well supplied with talent and experience with James O'Shea returning to his old establishment and John Crowley, a double winner with UCC recently, both in the side.
UL will have the option of springing Dara O Cinneide whose suspension was lifted by Central Council at the weekend but doubts hover over another Kerry player M F Russell who will be under pressure not to risk himself with Laune Rangers' All Ireland semi final against Crossmaglen in the offing. Garda College get a slim preference in this.
Match of the round promises to be holders UCD's clash with Tralee RTC at Belfield on Thursday at 2.30. The home side registered a cracking victory against UCG a fortnight ago and will have benefited from nearly being beaten.
Trevor Giles is fighting an injury which has slowed down his comeback after suspension but Ciaran McManus is firing nicely and with David Nestor and Derek Savage bringing cut to the attack, the home side will be hopeful. Joe Coyle is another whose suspension was lifted at the weekend and he may well come into the reckoning.
Tralee have no shortage of big names with Seamus Moynihan, Genie Farrell and John Casey available as well as Mark O'Reilly whose strange deployment at wing forward didn't do much to disturb Queen's in the last round.
Although a smooth running out fit, Tralee lack something of the holders' explosiveness when matters get hectic and accordingly UCD are fancied.
If Tralee are beaten, there will still be an RTC present at the semi finals stage for the first time as Waterford and Sligo meet this afternoon at Ballybeg (2.30).
Drawn from a variety of counties with Dublin senior Ray Cosgrove and Wexford's Jason Lawlor the most familiar inter county names, Waterford's home advantage this afternoon lifts their chances to around 50-50 but injuries are casting a shadow.
Sligo look better on paper with an inter county midfield of Sligo's Eamonn O'Hara and Dessie McNamara from Donegal powering the effort. It should be a low scoring match with Padraig Fanning of the home college saying that if the wind keeps up he can envisage one of the teams failing to score in an entire half. The visitors perhaps to get the better of it.
