UL seek maiden Sigerson Cup title against Munster rivals UCC

The final clash will be a repeat of the first round meeting of the sides where the Limerick outfit were three point winners in the Mardyk.

UL’s search for a maiden Sigerson Cup title could come to an end this Wednesday as they take on UCC in the final of the 2023 competition.

After falling in the final hurdle in 2022, Declan Brouder’s men are just one hour away from a first ever title when the teams meet on Wednesday in Waterford at 7.30pm. The game will be shown live on TG4.

While UL are looking for a first title, UCC were last champions just three years ago, achieving a Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup double, something UL could emulate with their hurlers in semi-final action on Thursday.

UCC are second in the roll of honour with 23 titles, level with last year’s winners NUIG. UCD have won the most championships with 34 to their name.

UL have only ever reached two finals prior to Wednesday’s decider, 1997 when they were beaten by IT Tralee and last year’s loss to Galway in Carlow.

Last Ten Sigerson Cup Winners

• 2022: NUIG
• 2021: N/A (Not held due to Covid)
• 2020: DCU
• 2019: UCC
• 2018: UCD
• 2017: St Mary’s Belfast
• 2016: UCD
• 2015: DCU
• 2014: UCC
• 2013: DIT
• 2012: DCU

Interestingly, this year’s final will be a repeat of the first round clash of the Munster sides at the Mardyk in January. On that evening, Brouder’s men were 2-7 to 0-10 winners with Ciaran Downes and Paul Mathews grabbing the goals.

UL looked like cruising into the quarter-finals as they led TU Dublin by six at the break in the second round. But the Dublin side regrouped after the interval to eventually claim victory after penalties.

The Limerick outfit were back to their best against SETU Carlow to move into the last eight where they eliminated the defending champions University of Galway after extra-time in Dangan. A Paul Walsh goal did give them the lead late on in normal time but the home side found the leveler. Scores from Downes and team captain Emmet McMahon did ensure victory in the added twenty.

Arguably their best performance came in last week’s semi-final as they put the pre-match favourites DCU to the sword with a 3-12 to 0-12 victory. Goals from Downes, Aaron Griffin and Eoghan MacLaughlin powered them past the Dublin outfit and within an hour of that elusive title.

On the same evening, UCC booked their final berth by virtue of a 1-12 to 0-13 victory over TU Dublin. The Cork side just edged past St Mary’s in the quarters after reaching the knockout stages with wins over Queens and ATU Galway following the UL defeat.

Limerick’s John Hayes has become a key member of the side, starting both knockout games and chipping in with scores in each. Mungret St Pauls’ Ronan McElligott is the team’s back up keeper with Conor Flaherty in goals. Flaherty is the only member of the Sigerson squad who is also with the Fitzgibbon cup hurlers.

Flaherty is one of nine who appeared for the Limerick college in the 2022 decider. Jack Coyne, Eoghan McLaughlin, Connell Dempsey, Daniel Walsh, Ciaran Downes, Emmet McMahon, Jack Glynn and Paul Walsh all also featured in last year’s final.

The Limerick outfit are slight favourites at 8/11 and with UCC having no members of the victorious 2019 team to choose from, UL’s experience may prove the difference.