Tyrone based players named on Sigerson Cup panels

THE Sigerson Cup returns this season after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and there’s a strong contingent of Tyrone-based players set to line out in the premier third-level GAA competitions.

Hosted by IT Carlow this year, Ulster University get their campaign underway on January 12 against NUI Galway. Among their ranks are three All-Ireland winners with Tyrone – Darragh Canavan, Michael McKernan and Galbally’s Conor Quinn. Other Tyrone lads on the team are Michael Gallagher and James Garrity (Trillick), Liam Nugent (Rock), Aidan Clarke (Omagh).and Dungannon Clarkes duo Sean Cowan and Ryan Jones.

There are other names that catch the eye as well, including Derry midfielder Conor Glass and Cavan All-Star Thomas Galligan, but it’s worth noting that Ulster University have sometimes struggled to live up to their billing in the competition and are aiming to bridge a 14-year gap since their last success in 2008.

St Mary’s University College also has a smattering of players from Tyrone. Carrickmore’s Michael McCallan, Rory Kennedy and Aodhan McConnell (Glenelly), Ryan Coleman (Moy) and Shea Daly (Rock) have made the extended panel, and it’s worth noting that future All-Ireland winners Conor Meyler, Kieran McGeary and Cathal McShane were all to the fore when they won the Sigerson Cup in memorable circumstances against heavyweights UCD back in 2017.

The current squad start their campaign on January 11 against TU Dublin City Campus.

For Queen’s Universty Belfast, there’s Matthew Murnaghan (Killyclogher), Ryan Conroy (Moy), Oran Mallon (Dungannon) and Brian Conway and Rory Donnelly from Carrickmore (Donnelly recently captained the club to the All County League Division One title).

They start their campaign on the later date of January 18 against the winners of NUI Galway and Ulster University. The final will be played on February 16.