HISTORY will be made this weekend in Coleraine. For the first time since 1989, there will be a new name on the Sigerson Cup. This year also sees the first appearance of Regional Technical Colleges in the final weekend, and the fact that Sligo and Tralee have been drawn against each other in the semi-finals means that one of them will definitely be in the final.
The other side of the draw sees two surprise semi-finalists hosts University of Ulster, Coleraine and the University of Limerick. Coleraine's progress has been remarkable for a side that won its first Sigerson match this decade only last year. The two victories to date have been achieved with a maximum of hard work, both being decided by injury-time points in extra-time, scored by Brendan Powell and Plunkett McConville.
Limerick have been quiet but effective, beating Cork RTC before chalking up their first win over UCC and eliminating the Garda College alter extra-time in their postponed quarter-final.
Today's first semi-final involves Tralee and Sligo RTCs. Sligo are the dark horses of the competition and if that is largely because Tralee are most people's favourites, it also involves underestimating Sligo who have been regular performers at the top level even if they haven't qualified for the Sigerson semi-finals before.
Their quarter-final win over Waterford RTC was a close-run thing, but one which demonstrated their nerve. Connacht and Sligo player Eamonn O'Hara, who operates at midfield for the team, scored the winner in that game and is an important cog in what is essentially a short game. He is partnered by Dessie McNamara. In the attack, the team field one of only two Sigerson medallists to have reached the semi-finals, Lorcan Dowd of Roscommon.
The reasons for favouring Tralee both in today's semi-final (12.30) and in the final are thrown slightly into disarray by the injury scare concerning Seamus Moynihan, a former winner with UCC. Whereas the Kerry college has shown impressive balance and nerve to date, it is impossible to over-emphasise Moynihan's influence.
In the quarter-final destruction of holders UCD, Moynihan not alone drove the team from centre back but also negated Tralee's most influential opponent, Trevor Giles. Moynihan is the orchestra for of the team's strongest area, the centre, and leads by example.
William Kirby and Michael Cloherty have been a solid midfield and Meath's All-Ireland corner back Mark O'Reilly was effective against UCD at centre forward but less so against Queens on the wing. Up front, Tralee have plenty of quality, with Padraig Joyce their most assured striker of the ball. His unerring displays with the placed ball have been features of the progress to date.
He is complemented by Genie Farrell, who threatened more than he delivered against UCD but still created havoc, and John Casey, whose injury-flee performance against Queen's was his best.
Given their overall strength and that Moynihan's availability for any Sigerson match shouldn't be taken as 50-50 unless he is dead, Tralee are fancied to make tomorrow's final.
The second semi-final (2.00) is harder to call. Captained by, Derry's Johnny McBride and definitely more of a team than a collection of individuals, Coleraine will benefit from enthusiastic home support and a grounding in tight finishes.
Limerick, however, have also been through the wringer in their last two matches. They also possess a sprightly attack in which the returned Dara O Cinneide was very good against UCC. Michael F Russell, Rory O'Rahilly and Jonathan McCarthy add to the effect.
On the basis that productive forwards are the best asset a team, can have in any sort of competition, UL are narrowly favoured to advance and to push Tralee hard in a final which would involve 14 Kerrymen, including competing brothers - Tralee's Barry and Limerick's Morgan O'Shea.
