UCC and MTU Cork begin their Sigerson Cup campaigns tonight 

Third-level education's senior football championship is back. 

The opening round games in the Sigerson Cup are down for decision this week in what is a quick-fire competition with the final down for next month.

The two Cork sides, UCC and MTU Cork, will be looking to improve on the last couple of years as both haven’t made a real impact.

UCC, who claimed a 24th Sigerson Cup title in 2023, lost both of their Sigerson Cup games in 2025.

Cork football’s greatest ever manager Billy Morgan remains involved with the UCC management ticket. Paul O’Keeffe, who guided St Finbarr’s to Premier SFC glory and the Munster title in the 2021/22 season is in charge of UCC.

They make the long journey to Edenderry today to lock horns with ATU Sligo with throw-in at 8pm.

UCC will be favourites to overcome their opposition. In saying that, they do come into this famous competition with very little talk about them.

That could be a good thing in the long run. They were unable to retain their Division 1 football league crown this season, but they will know that they will be judged on what they do in the coming weeks.

Clonakilty pair of Darragh Gough and Conor Daly as well as Carrigaline’s Kevin O’Reilly will be integral up front.

Valley Rovers’ Jacob O’Driscoll and Colin Molloy of Nemo Rangers will look to keep the defence watertight.

Another Cork outfit get their Sigerson Cup season underway. MTU Cork host high-flying UL at their Bishopstown campus tonight with a start time of 7.30pm.

MTU Cork fell at the Round 3 stage in the last campaign for the second year on the trot when they were beaten by a strong MTU Kerry outfit on a scoreline of 4-11 to 2-10.

There has been a change of manager in the off-season with Pat Spratt departing and he was replaced by James McCarthy.

The former Castlehaven county-winning boss brings a huge amount of experience to his new role. It’s a difficult start for his charges with UL fresh from claiming the Division 1 football league title. They should have Cork players David Buckley (Newcestown) and Tommy Walsh (Kanturk) available. 

MTU Cork have no shortage of inter-county talent to pick from. Cork senior footballers Seán Brady and Seán Dore would be the standout names.

Nemo Rangers’ Bryan Hayes, Ed Myers of Naomh Abán and Bantry Blues’ Dara Sheedy are just some of the attacking options.

Whether all those players are available to play remains to be seen with MTU Cork down a number of players. 

Regardless of what happens later on today, both Cork sides will be out next week in either Round 2A or Round 2B.