The Sigerson Cup semi-finals take place in a blockbuster double-header in Netwatch Cullen Park on Wednesday evening.
DCU take on UL in the first semi-final, which throws in at 6.15, while TU Dublin take on UCC in the second, which throws in at 8.00.
The Sigerson Cup has been in the eye of the storm in recent days, with Meath manager Colm O’Rourke critical of its scheduling. He has his reasons of course, having been stung by hamstring injuries to two of his key men Matthew Costello and Shane Walsh.
Paddy Christie has named both players to start although that should be taken with a pinch of salt. As should all of the teamsheets below realistically, given the chaotic nature of fixtures at this time of the year.
UL were last year’s beaten finalists, having lost out to NUIG while DCU will be looking the crown they last won two years ago. TUD, formerly known as DIT, are this year’s wildcards though they do have a strong team and showed good form when beating UCD in the quarter final.
The games are streamed live and you can watch them here.
TUD team
UCC team
DCU and UL teams
Remember to get your match tickets for the clash of @DCUDocEirGAA and @ul_gaa in tonight's @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup Semi-Finals.
Game throws in at 6.15pm in Netwatch Cullen Park
Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be found 👇https://t.co/6ipczEe7Iy pic.twitter.com/m83XFI9D0e
— GAA Higher Education (@HigherEdGAA) February 8, 2023
1 Cathail O’Mahony (UCC, Cork)
The Mitchelstown club-man is a goal machine. And an in-form goal-machine at that.
He came on at half-time and scored 1-1 for the Rebels’ seniors in their dismantling of Kildare at the weekend but he’s also been doing it for UCC, scoring 1-3 in their quarter final win over St Mary’s, before nailing a penalty in the shoot-out.
The goal he scored that day was special. He is a special player.
The footwork. Cork's Cathail O'Mahony is a special player ⚡️pic.twitter.com/X1FQVwPKy0
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 2, 2023
2 Alex Beirne (DCU, Kildare)
The Naas club-man is a very tidy player and showed well last time out, when DCU easily accounted for MTU Cork in the quarter finals. Beirne is a powerful presence around midfield, he has a big engine and he will be fired up too, having been sent off in bizarre circumstances during Kildare’s disappointing loss to Cork.
Beirne scarcely deserved a red card in that game, but he’ll be eager to right that wrong tonight.
3 Dylan Foley (UCC, Cork)
Talk about a man on form.
The UCC keeper was their hero in their last two games, saving three St Mary’s penalties in the quarter final after making a crucial stop against Queen’s in the game previous. Foley, who came on for Cork for the injured Micheal Aodh Martin in last year’s Munster semi-final loss to Kerry, is highly rated within the county.
4 Paraic Hughes (DCU, Wexford)
In a star-studded field that included Dublin, Cork and Donegal seniors, Wexford’s Hughes was DCU’s stand-out player in their quarter final win over MTU Cork. The Kilanerin club-man is a fast, brave presence around midfield and carries the ball with real purpose and menace.
5 Paul Keaney (UL, Leitrim)
The Leitrim midfielder has been a key man for UL in their journey back to the semi-finals. He is their free-taker but, with a basketball background, he is also a prominent fetcher too.
Having helped his club St Mary’s to their first Leitrim title in nine years this year, he comes into this campaign on form and with plenty of confidence. And he’ll be hoping to show off his talents once more this Wednesday night.
6 Emmett McMahon (UL, Clare)
The Kildysart man was one of the Limerick college’s key men last year, and his performances were honoured when he was named on the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup team of the year. It’s been more of the same this time around, with McMahon, the UL captain, scoring a crucial, beautiful point in their quarter final win over the defending champions UCG.
7 Luke Swan (TUD, Dublin)
Swan was the TUD hero when he came onto kick a late point in their one point win over UCD in the quarter finals. The Castleknock club-man is a powerful forward, who represented Dublin at minor and under-20 level, before featuring in the seniors’ O’Byrne Cup campaign this season.
He is a willing target man that knows where the posts are, and it would come as no surprise if he was to make a big impact this Wednesday night.
8 Cian Hanley (TUD, Mayo)
The ex-AFL player lines out at wing back for TUD, who will be underdogs in their clash with UCC. The Ballaghaderreen club-man is a great athlete who likes to join in the attack.
