CONVENTIONAL wisdom had right for last week's Sigerson up in Limerick, with the UCC UCD semi final proving both the right and decisive match of the weekend. But this year's Cup, sponsored by which starts at tomorrow is a rather, open affair.

Plausible cases can be made for three of the semi finalists, and even the outsiders, St Patrick's, Maynooth, have both experience and some outstanding players.

Holders Waterford RTC were unwitting participants in the main shock of the last round, losing by a goal to the Garda College at Templemore. Waterford had lost several of last year's panel, but were nonetheless confident, about giving the Fitzgibbon another good rattle this year.

The guards, however, have a fair bit going for them. Several of their hurlers have played Fitzgibbon previously with different colleges, and a few even have medals. An older and therefore physically mature team, will be difficult to shake in tight exchanges.

The goal which effectively finished Waterford in the quarter final came from Kilkenny's senior corner forward, Denis Byrne. But the command centre of the team was on the half back line, where Waterford senior Peter Queally ran the show from centre back and, from his flank, Mark Dowling got up for a couple of points.

The side is well drilled by Tipperary selector Ken Hogan and features accomplished players throughout the field, such as Kilkenny minor and under 21 star Damien Cleere, Limerick's Pat Tobin, Tipp's Conor Gleeson and corner forward James Aherne, from Fermoy, who won a medal with Waterford RTC in 1992.

A heavy pitch and tough going would be right up the guards' street not that they can't play but, because of their strength, they can play better than any one else in had conditions.

Despite these credentials, there are some reservations concerning the Templemore team, and the main one is their lack of experience as a unit.

But it's fair to say that both UCC and UL are slightly more favoured if largely on the grounds of tradition.

In a 12 months which have seen Clare involvement in nearly every big hurling occasion from the league to the club championship, it is tilting that both Cork and Limerick colleges are captained by players from the current All Ireland champ ions, Frank Lohan, who has been outstanding this Fitzgibbon to date, captains UCC, whereas Texaco hurler of the Year, Sean McMahon, leads UL.

UCC have the reputation of being the most skillful hurlers left aground and a big pitch would be short odds to win out. They are a young light team with plenty of talent in attack where the En rights, John (on scholarship) and Eddie, Kieran Morrison, who played championship for Cork against Clare last June, current Cork senior Joe Deane and Philip Dwyer, star of the Tipp under 21 All Ireland win, to the fore.

They weren't extended against Queen's in the quarter final which was played on the bigger UCD pitch at Roebuck, and will be expected to beat Maynooth. But the possibility of bad weather and the smaller main Belfield aground militates against them.

Maynooth's main chances centre on a powerful Galway contingent which excelled in the defeat of UCD. Galway seniors Conor O'Donovan and Cathal Moore provide a strong spine to the team, with county man Darragh Coen in a capable, supporting role.

The team is managed by Ken Hogan's brother, Colm which could lead to a good old domestic squabble on Sunday if the two teams survive their semi finals. Maynooth's problem is believed to be the lack of consistency throughout the team which is expected to be exposed by the Cork college.

The view here marginally favours UL on the grounds that they represent the best balance between the various strengths on display at the weekend. Although there are only a handful of survivors from the 1994 Fitzgibbon winning team, that experience is there and even among the newcomers Gerry Maguire is a former UCC captain.

UL have the hurling to take on UCC and a maturity and experience which will help against the guards. They are currently sharp enough and had a good workout against UCG in the quarter final, although they won well in the end. Finally, for much a modern college, UL, have acquired a formidable Fitzgibbon tradition and can add to it by Sunday evening.