This weekend sees the final stages of the Amstel-sponsored Sigerson Cup, hosted by the Institute of Technology, Tralee. Whereas Athlone Institute of Technology are surprise qualifiers, the other three semi-finalists are predictable presences at this level.
Holders and hosts Tralee (or ITT as the college's delicately arranged acronym goes) are frontrunners, but more because of their in-depth quality than current patchy form. Northern challengers Jordanstown have also had their claims earmarked for a while.
Their progress has included a hard match against Garda College, but has otherwise been steady and impressive. In recent years, UUJ have under-achieved and were particularly disappointing in two semi-finals against UCC in 1994 and '95. This season, however, things have been different.
Adrian McGuckin has a proven coaching pedigree and has brought an intense focus to bear on Jordanstown's efforts. Supplies of inter-county personnel have never been a problem for the college and this weekend, such luminaries as Derry's Joe Cassidy (expected to line out despite an injury concern), Sean Lockhart and Paul Diamond, Fermanagh's Kieran Donnelly and Shane King and the McEntee brothers from Crossmaglen are all on hand.
They will be a formidable unit this weekend, but have drawn a tricky semi-final against northern neighbours Queen's with whom they have a long, intense rivalry.
Although apprehensive about the quarter-final against Waterford IT, the team played well and Armagh forward Diarmuid Marsden was in scoring form and former UCG player Joe Considine is enrolled as a post-graduate student.
Only last year, Tralee and Sligo became the first RTCs (as the Institutes of Technology were then known) to reach the Sigerson weekend. Today Tralee are joined by another IT making their debut at this stage.
Athlone have reached this stage by springing a surprise defeat on UCD. Val Daly, the former Galway player and manager, is in charge of the side and stresses the collective element: "It's been a team effort," says Daly. "We used 18 players against UCD and everyone played their part."
Offaly's Barry Malone had a stormer at centre back against UCD and his county colleague Colm Quinn is also on the team. Corofin's Shane Conlisk and Longford's Niall Sheridan join three of Westmeath's 1995 All-Ireland minors, Aidan Lennon, David Nartin and Fergal Murray. Westmeath senior Ger Heavin is the development officer.
Nonetheless, they will be up against the weekend's best team on paper. Tralee have Kerry AllIreland medallists Seamus Moynihan, Barry O'Shea, William Kirby and Mike Russell (a new recruit from UL) at their disposal and Donegal's Jimmy McGuinness.
The discipline imposed on the above players (except the impeccable Moynihan) for not training may have been a storm in a teacup, but maybe suggests that the Sigerson is proving more elusive the second time around.
If they can raise their game at home, Tralee have the capacity to retain their title. They should reach the final, but on available evidence Jordanstown are looking more driven.
