When Ulster University soared to Sigerson Cup glory last year it was the talented Canavan brothers from Tyrone Darragh and Ruairi who did much to spur the team’s drive to success.
But when the team take the field for their opening game in this year’s competition in Sligo on Tuesday night (7.00pm), the duo will be conspicuous by their absence.
Yet coach Barry Dillon remains upbeat as he ponders what he feels will be a big challenge from an ATU Sligo side that includes several players with considerable experience.
“There is no doubt that university sides in general can bring a lot to the table just now and that’s why we will be on our guard for Tuesday’s game,” points out Dillon.
“While it was great to win the Sigerson Cup last year we know that repeating that feat will be difficult no matter how you look at things.”
Yet an in depth assessment of the Ulster University line-up will uncover a wealth of talent that incorporates players such as Down trio Ryan Magill, Odhran Murdock and Danny Magill, Tyrone representatives Eoin McElholm and Ben Cullen and Fermanagh’s Josh Largo Elis and Derry’s Eoghan McEvoy.
“There are a lot of players who will be turning out for the Ulster teams in the competition who can boast inter-county experience and that bolsters their prospects of doing well. Conor Deegan will have Queen’s University well fired up while St Mary’s University College will also be very keen to make an impact.”
The Sigerson Cup competition will be staged under the existing GAA playing rules which means that county players will find themselves immersed in the new rules for the next couple of weeks before applying themselves to the new rules when the Allianz League swings into action at the end of this month.
It is perhaps double Down All-Ireland winning defender Conor Deegan who puts the rules element in perspective.
“I would have voted for officials to stay with the older rules purely because I just thought the time-scale to bring in the new rules was penal,” insists Deegan.