UCC boss Paul O'Keeffe: There's just fierce belief and heart in this team

UCC manager Paul O’Keeffe was nearly lost for words after seeing his team win a classic against DCU at the DCU Sportsground on Wednesday night.

It was one of the best football games played in a long time with the quality at the highest level. In the end, it was the Cork side who won this Sigerson Cup quarter-final and in the process knocked out the holders on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-20.

UCC will face University of Galway in the last four next week after the draw was made on Thursday morning.

UCC certainly had to dig very deep in this game in Dublin. They trailed by five points early on and were four points behind at the break.

They were the better side in the second half and kicked the last two points to get over the line.

“The game had everything, it was absolutely brilliant,” the UCC boss said to The Echo post-match.

“I was confident coming up to be honest, but I didn’t think it would be the kind of game that we just had. There’s just fierce belief and heart in this team. They are a real Sigerson Cup team. I have been involved with UCC for a long time and there’s just a huge drive in this group of players. That takes you a long way.

“It was a great team performance from every single player, well done to them all for the effort and belief they brought to the game. It was awesome. As Sigerson Cup games go, this was phenomenal. It was an arm-wrestle right up to the very end. It was all about the fight in the dog and we certainly had plenty of it tonight.

“I do think we would be kicking ourselves if we came away with a defeat. We gave away a few silly frees and that kept DCU in it. But the team has shown huge fight all season. We looked in trouble the last day against Queen’s and again tonight, but the players just don't give up. You can’t buy that.

“I am kind of stunned really, I don’t know what else to say. I am still processing what we saw out there. It was 100 percent heart and a good measure of skill as well. We had the composure in the final few minutes to win the game.” 

UCC were underdogs going into the game against the holders in DCU’s own backyard. It was a massive challenge, but one the Cork side have passed.

They are in the semi-final for the first time since they last won the Sigerson Cup back in 2023.

“I know the quality that we have in our own dressing room and the bookies got it badly wrong, we are smiling at that end too,” O’Keeffe says.

“You look at the other results in the Sigerson Cup tonight, most of the fancied teams were beaten. That says it all about this competition. Sigerson Cup is 90 percent desire and 10 percent ability. All of the teams are very even. It’s such a brilliant competition.

“We have great momentum now and have confidence. We probably have had more time with the lads pre-Christmas, that has made a huge difference this season and we don’t have too many lads actively playing inter-county football.

“We have been able to work with the group on a consistent basis. There’s also determination to do better than we did the last couple of years. They are a brilliant bunch and they train hard. We are delighted to be in the semi-final. It’s all about rest and recovery now.”