Preview: Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Round One
Ryan McNamara, UL, Barry McNulty, UC, Greg McEneaney, DCU Dóchas Éireann, Eoin Colleran, University of Galway, and Paddy O'Driscoll, UL pictured at the launch of the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships at Croke Park. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Round One
Tuesday January 6
TUS Midlands v MTU Kerry, TUS Midlands, 7pm
TU Dublin v DKIT, Grangegorman, 7.30pm
Ulster University v DCU Dóchas Eireann, Burren, 7.30pm
Wednesday January 7
St Mary's v Maynooth University, Davitts GAC, 1.30pm
UCD v ATU Galway, Belfield, 7.30pm
Queens University v University of Galway, Abbottstown, 7.30pm
MTU Cork v UL, MTU Cork, 7.30pm
ATU Sligo v UCC, Edenderry, 8pm
**Please note venues and throw-in times subject to change due to the inclement weather conditions
By Cian O'Connell
The Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup brings all sorts of possibilities. So, the 2026 edition commences this week with 16 teams hoping to flourish.
Holders DCU Dóchas Eireann face a demanding away assignment against Ulster University.
There will be no shortage of talented footballers involved in that encounter. Dublin's Greg McEneaney and Lorcan O'Dell, Westmeath's Sam McCartan, and Kildare's Ryan Sinkey are on the DCU Dóchas Eireann panel.
The home side, though, is also sprinkled with capable operations such as Down's Ronan Burns, Monaghan's Gary Mohan, and Tyrone's Eoin McElholm, Lorcan McGarritty, and Ruairí Canavan.
TUS Midlands host MTU Kerry in Athlone. The TUS Midlands' squad has significant inter-county experience with David Dempsey, Matthew Whittaker, and Brian Cooney involved, while MTU Kerry will be looking to Armin Heinrich, Darragh O'Connor, and Keith Evans for inspiration.
Grangegorman has provided the backdrop for exciting matches in the competition so TU Dublin will be striving to impress once more against Dundalk IT.
Conor Fee, Danny McCartan, Darragh Lovett, and Jordan Morris are named in TU Dublin's panel with Crossmaglen Rangers' Aaron O'Neill and Pearse Blessing and Monaghan's Stephen Mooney included for the visitors'.
St Mary's face Maynooth University in another attractive match. The Ranch include plenty of promising performers such as Seánie O'Donnell, Macdarragh Hynes, and Shea McCann.
In recent years, Maynooth University have demonstrated their ability on the Sigerson stage. Meath's Conor Gray, Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, and Eoghan Frayne are all set to feature.
UCD, always contenders and highly regarded, welcome ATU Galway to Belfield on Wednesday evening. Sam Callinan, Theo Clancy, Barry McNulty, and Callum Bolton will be key players for UCD.
Roscommon forward Shane McGinley, who was prolific at U20 level in the 2024 Championship, Ryan Roche, and Conor Reid are included in the ATU Galway squad.
Queens and University of Galway will battle in Abbotstown. Derry's Anton Tohill and Dan Higgins and Antrim's Ryan McQuillan supply plenty of class for Queens.
Several of the University of Galway panel featured for Galway in the Connacht FBD League, while Matthew Thompson and Clare's Mark McInerney carry a potent attacking threat.
Brian Thompson, Keith O'Driscoll, and accomplished Waterford attacker Alan Dunwoody are named in the MTU Cork panel against UL, who include Frank Irwin, Evan Looney, and Jack McCabe.
Edenderry is the venue for ATU Sligo versus UCC. Sligo's western success at minor and U20 level ensures the ATU Sligo panel is nicely stocked with Dylan Walsh, Ross Doherty, Daire O'Boyle, Eli Rooney, and Mark McDaniel emerging footballers in the county. Castlehaven's Thomas O'Mahony, Douglas' David Buckley, and Clonakilty's Dan Peet are promising players in the UCC squad.
