Six tasty man on man battles for Saturday’s Sigerson Cup final

Niall McIntyre

This will be a cracker.

UCD will go into Saturday’s Sigerson Cup final as favourites, but the Santry showpiece will be tighter than the bookmakers’ odds suggest.

NUIG have been faultless to date. With a slick, explosive but undoubtedly hard-working forward line led by Galway giant Damien Comer, they’re primed up front.

Their defence is a no-bloody nonsense brick wall full of starving players.

UCD have a galaxy of stars in comparison. From Con O’Callaghan to Conor McCarthy, Their lineup is a who’s who of inter-county stars, but the worry for them has to be whether all of these lads balancing county commitments can keep their appetites whetted. They had no problem on that front in Inniskeen when they finally tussled their way past UUJ after 80 minutes of attrition.

The match-up will be fascinating. The duels will be hard-hitting. Here’s the best clashes.

Conor McCarthy (UCD) V Ruairí Greene (NUIG)

The heir to the most famous Conor Mc in Monaghan’s throne, McCarthy has all the equipment to take on that famous mantle.

Tipped for stardom throughout his underage career, the Scotstown starlet has bedded in well with the Farney seniors. He’s one of this UCD side’s most dangerous forwards. Dainty, fleet-footed and dangerously elusive, at centre forward he’s the fulcrum around which the UCD door revolves.

A massive win for @UCDGAA in Monaghan https://t.co/HeHT3SUH4k

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 14, 2018

In the semi-final, he was at his creative best, zapping past UUJ all night long on his way to a man-of-the-match crown.

VIDEO CREDIT: Jerome Quinn media.

He’ll be tough to handle, but in former Galway under-21 and current senior player, NUIG’s dogged number six Ruairí Greene will stick to him like glue.

It’ll be interesting and defining to see if McCarthy can run loose or if Greene can keep him at bay.

Damien Comer (NUIG) V Cillian O’Shea (UCD)

Comer needs no introduction. Built like a house, his drive and appetite for the battle combined with that pace and deceptive skill marks him out as one of the best number 14s in the game.

A real team player, he hasn’t been shooting the lights out for NUIG but the amount of scores that come off his industry is crazy.

He’ll meet a hardy match at 3.30 on Saturday when Kilmacud Crokes’ house-minder Cillian O’Shea stands on his heels.

O’Shea was a member of the Dublin panel last year that lifted Sam Maguire. He hasn’t yet made a breakthrough onto the county team, but he’s highly rated within the county. What greater motivation does he need to keep Comer quiet than Jim Gavin taking notice.

Con O’Callaghan (UCD) V Stephen Brennan (NUIG)

Con O’Callaghan needs no introduction. He made his first start in the semi-final. He’s gunning to add a Sigerson medal to his scary haul in the last 12 months.

Stephen Brennan may be the man faced with the unenviable task. An All-Ireland minor winner with Mayo in 2013, the Claremorris club man has been a stalwart of NUIG football for some years now.

He’s tigerish, tight and tidy. He’ll need to be that and more.

Ronan O’Toole (NUIG) V Any UCD defender

It’s surprising that O’Toole hasn’t yet started a Sigerson game for his college because the elusive St. Loman’s star is quickly blossoming into one of the best young talents in the game.

The Westmeath man caught fire again last night https://t.co/IL9RUrHk0j

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 15, 2018

He’s some weapon for Maurice Sheridan to throw in off the bench, and he’ll run the UCD lads into the ground whether he starts or comes on.

They’ll need to be keeping tabs.

Evan O’Carroll (UCD) V Sean Mulkerrin (NUIG)

UCD’s rangy full forward O’Carroll has been one of their key players so far in the competition. The bustling Laois man offers an aerial threat. He’ll throw his weight around and will stick it to any full back in the physical stakes.

He’s very well able to take a score, too.

Last year’s Galway minor captain Sean Mulkerrin will be his direct opponent. Mulkerrin won’t match O’Carroll’s physicality, but he may have the legs and he’ll be up for the battle too.