UCC daring to dream of further Sigerson Cup glory

Thirteen months ago as frost was starting to stick on the MTU Campus pitch in Tralee, the great Billy Morgan cut a frustrated figure.

UCC were just after being beaten by MTU Kerry in the Sigerson Cup Round 2B clash. It was the Cork side’s second successive loss in the competition. They lost on a scoreline of 2-15 to 2-8 as the 24-time champions made a swift exit.

It followed a 0-12 to 0-7 loss to UCD in the opening round in what was a season to forget.

Having won the title in 2023, UCC fell at the Round 3 stage in the following campaign.

But going back to that night in Tralee, Morgan, a true Cork football legend, looked in shock as his beloved UCC bowed out of the Sigerson Cup.

In fairness and despite being disappointed, he spoke briefly to The Echo after the game.

“There's a great tradition in UCC. We will bounce back, no doubt about that. I am still enjoying it, but not this evening of course. We will come again because UCC will always come again.” 

And that is what they have done. Tomorrow night in Croke Park, UCC will face University of Limerick in the final with throw-in at 7.35pm.

It’s hard to keep UCC down for long and they have bounced back impressively this year and have fully deserved their spot in the final. Wins over ATU Sligo, Queen’s University Belfast, reigning champions DCU and University of Galway have brought UCC to this stage.

Paul O’Keeffe is the man at the helm and his calming presence has been a huge help. Former Nemo Rangers star Luke Connolly is part of the management ticket and his passion and energy has rubbed off on the players.

There hasn’t been a huge change in the playing squad this year from last year, but at the end of the day, Sigerson Cup football is fine margins. As O’Keeffe said in these pages recently, 'Sigerson is very fickle'.

UCC have been helped by getting in a good pre-season before the Sigerson Cup got underway at the start of January.

It has also benefited them that they haven't many players actively involved in playing inter-county football matches in the Allianz League.

But as Morgan and the UCC management gingerly walked off the pitch in January 2025 after the Sigerson Cup dream for that year came to an end, they were already planting the seed for the following campaign.

The standard-bearers in this competition could well climb the mountain tomorrow and win their 25th Sigerson Cup crown at GAA HQ.

UCC would then be truly back, not that they had ever gone away.