SIGERSON CUP:SOME PLAYERS have been pulled and dragged in all directions ahead of tomorrow's centenary Sigerson Cup but for Westmeath teenager John Heslin there has been some relief.
Heslin is free to play with hosts UCD despite being suspended from intercounty action, and in fact sat out last Sunday's almost historic win over Tipperary in Division Three of the Allianz Football League.
Historic might be too strong a word but it was Westmeath's first league victory in almost three years – or 34 months to be exact, as their last league win was over Dublin in the Division Two play-off in April, 2008. Since then Westmeath endured 15 consecutive league defeats, and one draw, but with such exciting emerging footballers as Heslin the future is at last looking a lot brighter.
Heslin was red carded late in Westmeath's draw with Cavan in the previous round, and thus also missed their Leinster under-21 win over Laois during last week.
However his four-week suspension doesn't apply to third-level competition, leaving him free to line out with UCD tomorrow – and add his considerable talents to their quest to win a first Sigerson since 1996.
"I have been suspended," he says, "but I've been training every day since. I was also down in Thurles on Sunday with the team, and it was great to get a win. Hopefully the mentality has changed and Westmeath can go out with confidence now after getting the win.
"When you go on a losing streak it's very hard to get out of it. The league, whichever division you're in, it's hard to get a win and when you're losing game after game it's hard to get out of that. But promotion is what we were aiming for at the start of the year so there's no change for that. We've only lost one game."
In the meantime the Sigerson finals afford Heslin the chance to vent some of his frustration at missing Sunday's game (and also one more game in the league and under-21 championship): "It was a high tackle, a bad tackle. Everybody has their own different views on it. Obviously Martin Sludden's view (the referee) was that it was a red card. There were only 30 seconds or so left in the game and it was the first free I conceded in the whole game. It was a bad tackle, I say that, and if I had tackled him with my near hand it wouldn't have happened. I came across the man. It was my own fault."
Incredibly, Heslin still has another three years at under-21 grade, and while many of his UCD team-mates are coming into the Sigerson showdown off heavy county, club or under-21 campaigns, he's raring to go.
"Lads talk about burnout and yeah, there is such thing as burnout, but it's all about a mental issue. If you're getting the right rest, eating well, you're fuelling your own body to go them extra yards and be able to participate in every game.
"It helps that we have Pat Flanagan for the under-21s and the seniors because you can miss a session here but you'll be there for the team and you don't have to do the training because you were training the night before, and you're training the next night.
"So I wouldn't get sick of football as such. My body would be tired but the managers I deal with work very well and if you're tired they'll rest you, they'll give you a couple of days off."
If UCD progress to Saturday's final then, like their opponents, they'll have played three games in three days.
"Yeah, hopefully we'll get the three games in this weekend," says Heslin. "When you're training all the time it's not too much of a change for the body. The only thing is getting a knock in a game prevents you from playing the next game. That's what the strength of a panel is all about."
A special plaque in honour of the Sigerson Cup founder, Dr George Sigerson, will be unveiled today at his former home on 3 Clare Street, Dublin.
Dr Sigerson (1836-1925) not only presented one of the most famous trophies in Gaelic games, but was one of the most eminent figures in Ireland in the fields of medicine and science, university life, and literary and political affairs. A new book entitled George Sigerson: Poet, Patriot, Scientist and Scholar, written by Ken McGilloway, will also be launched today at the National Library, Kildare Street.
The GAA have confirmed the AIB club finals at Croke Park on St Patrick's Day will begin with Clarinbridge of Galway against O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny in the hurling final at 2pm, followed by St Brigid's of Roscommon against Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh in the football decider at 3.45pm.
Upcoming Fixtures
Tomorrow
Sigerson Cup Quarter-finals(all at UCD) – Carlow IT v UUJ, Castle Pitch, noon; NUI Maynooth v UL, Castle Pitch, 1.45pm; DCU v UCC, New Pitch, 3.30pm; NUI Galway v UCD, Hurling Pitch, 5pm.
Friday
Sigerson Cup Semi-finals– Carlow IT/UUJ v NUIM/UL, Hurling Pitch, 2pm; NUIG/UCD v DCU/UCC, Hurling Pitch, 3.30pm.
Corn na Mac Léin Semi-finals– Blanchardstown IT v Froebel College, Devlin Pitch, 11am; Mater Dei v RCSI, Devlin Pitch, 12.30pm.
Trench Cup Semi-finals– John Moores University v St Patrick's, Castle Pitch, 11am; IT Tralee v Waterford IT, New Pitch, 11am.
CFE Final– NW Regional College v Cavan Institute, New Pitch, 7pm.
Saturday
Corn na Mac Léinn Final– New Pitch, 11.30am.
Trench Cup Final– New Pitch, 12.45pm.
Sigerson Cup Final– Hurling Pitch, 2.15pm.
Allianz Hurling League – Division One:Tipperary v Waterford, Thurles, 7.30pm. Division Two: Laois v Antrim, Portlaoise, 2.30pm.
Dr McKenna Cup Final– Derry v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds, 7pm.
Allianz Football League– Division 4: London v Longford, Ruislip, 1.30pm.
Leinster Colleges SF A Semi-final– St Patrick's, Navan v Moate CS, Cusack Park, 2pm.
Sunday
Allianz Hurling League– (All games 2.30 unless stated) Division One: Cork v Galway, Páirc Uí Chaoimh; Kilkenny v Wexford, Nowlan Park; Offaly v Dublin, O'Connor Park. Division Two: Carlow v Kerry, Dr Cullen Park; Down v Limerick, Portaferry, 1.30pm; Westmeath v Clare, Cusack Park. Division Three A: Armagh v Kildare, Athletic Grounds; Derry v Meath, Swatragh; London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 1pm. Division Three B: Fingal v Louth, Swords; Monaghan v Donegal, Clones; Roscommon v Sligo, Athleague. Division Four: Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni Park; Fermanagh v South Down, Brewster Park; Leitrim v Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon.
Camogie – All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final: Inniscarra v Killimor, Croke Park, 3pm. All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Final: Eoghan Rua v The Harps, Croke Park, 1pm.
Women's Football– (all 2pm unless stated) Division One: Kildare v Monaghan, Ballykelly, Monasterevin; Tyrone v Laois, St Mary's Park Beragh; Mayo v Galway, Davitts, Ballindine; Cork v Donegal, CIT. Division Two: Kerry v Armagh, Finuge; Cavan v Dublin, Munterconnacht; Sligo v Meath, Geevagh; Waterford v Tipperary, Waterford. Division Three: Fermanagh v Wexford, Derrlyin; Down v Wicklow, Saval; Clare v Limerick, Milltown; Leitrim v Longford, Ballinamore. Division Four: Derry v Roscommon, Derry; Offaly v Westmeath, Offaly venue; Carlow v Kilkenny, Tinryland.
