Premier SFC: UCC withdraw from tie with Carbery

UCC’s withdrawal from Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Divisional/Colleges preliminary quarter-final against Carbery was confirmed on Thursday morning.

The tie had been fixed for Ovens at 3pm, but UCC had been battling availability issues in recent days, and those pressures intensified on Thursday morning.

Carbery advance to the championship proper for the first time since 2022.

UCC manager Johnny Clifford outlined the full range of challenges that left the college unable to field a team.

“We’re in the exact same position as UCC hurlers were in for their game,” he said to The Echo on Thursday morning.

“The hurlers were able to field. From our point of view, we tried everything.

“We had challenges around club fixtures over the weekend, clashes with Kerry and Tipperary, and also the four man rule limiting who we can name. When you add in club commitments, it left us with no realistic way to field a proper panel. It was something as simple as that.” 

Clifford stressed that UCC exhausted every possible avenue to fulfil the fixture.

“We tried our best. You’re trying every player around UCC to try and play, but the numbers just weren’t there. Every player was contacted, every option explored. It wasn’t for lack of effort.

“Also, there are club U21 fixtures on at the weekend — another issue. On another weekend, with a different set of circumstances, we’d have no problem fulfilling the fixture.

“It’s disappointing for everyone. It’s actually heartbreaking. You never want to pull out of a championship game, but the situation was unavoidable. We had over 40 names on a list and still couldn’t get enough bodies available. It’s a sign of the times.” 

UCC’s withdrawal is a concern and will raise the issue once again of the divisional/colleges section’s long-term future. When bolstered by county-level talent, the college have long been capable of unsettling more established sides.

“UCC have a proud tradition. I still think there’s a future for the college going forward, but we just need a proper window. Hard to say at the moment.” 

For Carbery, the development brings an unexpected free weekend. They had prepared fully for UCC, viewing the students as a dangerous opponent capable of producing a big performance on their day.

Carbery’s focus now shifts to ensuring the break does not disrupt momentum ahead of the quarter-finals. They last appeared at that stage in 2022, when losing to Ballincollig.