This year's Amstel-sponsored Sigerson Cup will revert to the old weekend format with quarter-finals on Friday February 5th, semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday. Queen's University, Belfast, are to act as hosts of the competition. At yesterday's launch in Croke Park, details of the draw were announced.

With a record number of 21 third-level institutions taking part, a few of the first-round matches catch the eye. Pride of place goes to the meeting of recent winners UCD (1996) and Queen's, who clash at Belfield on February 10th. UCD have been rebuilding since their victory of three years ago and have available All-Ireland winners John Divilly and Derek Savage, as well as Ciaran McManus of current NFL holders Offaly.

Queen's reached last year's semi-finals but were defeated by Jordanstown who narrowly lost a gripping final to host club IT Tralee who this year go in search of a three-in-a-row. Their first-round match is a nostalgic pairing with Maynooth who were the opponents three years ago in Tralee's first-ever Sigerson match.

UUJ entertain the Garda College in a reprise of another 1996 match but one which evokes less mellow memories. In that year's semi-final in Limerick, the two colleges contested an unpleasant affair which threatened to get out of hand on several occasions.