Attention switches to Sigerson
February 17, 2011There are seven games in all, with the defending champions and title favourite DCU taking on St Mary's University College, Belfast on home turf in Glasnevin.
DCU's star men are undoubtedly Donie Shine and Michael Murphy, the Roscommon and Donegal sharpshooters, although Shine has been out of action with a broken thumb in recent weeks and may not feature.
St Mary's go into the tournament in upbeat mood following victory over Armagh in their final game of the Dr McKenna Cup last month.
Last year's beaten finalists UCC will be expected to make home advantage count against GMIT at the Mardyke, while heavily fancied DIT open their campaign against a University of Limerick side which is likely to include Kerry midfielder David Moran.
DIT can call on Galway midfielder Gareth Bradshaw and Dublin forward Diarmuid Connolly, amongst other inter-county regulars, although former Footballer of the Year Paul Galvin is not expected to play any part.
NUI Galway, who rounded off their Sigerson preparations with a solid performance in defeat to Mayo in the FBD League final last weekend, meet Connacht rivals IT Sligo in Sligo.
The Galway college have some top performers in their ranks, including Mayo wing back and Twitter favourite Peadar Gardiner and Sligo midfielder Stephen Gilmartin.
Today's other games see Cork IT take on the Ulster University of Jordanstown on neutral turf at the St Finian's GAA Grounds in Newcastle, Co Dublin, Carlow IT host Athlone IT and Queen's University Belfast travel south to meet NUI Maynooth.
Sigerson Cup first round fixtures:
Carlow IT v Athlone IT, Carlow
Cork IT v UUJ, St Finian's GAA, Newcastle, Co Dublin
DCU v St Mary's Belfast, DCU Grounds
DIT v UL, Grangegorman
IT Sligo v NUI Galway, Sligo
NUI Maynooth v Queen's University Belfast, Maynooth
UCC v GMIT, The Mardyke
All games start at 2pm. Tweet
