UL primed for Collingwood Cup title tilt at UUJ this week

UNIVERSITY of Limerick senior men’s soccer team go in search of their first ever Collingwood Cup title this week as the cross-border competition kicks off in Ulster University Jordanstown in Belfast today, Monday.

UL won the right to compete in the tournament by defeating Trinity College 2-1 in College Park last month.

UL have been drawn to face Johnny McDonnell’s DCU side in today's quarter-final which gets underway at 11am, with the winners drawn to play Queens University Belfast or NUI Maynooth in tomorrow's semi-final.

UL manager Ian Sullivan has led UL to two Collingwood Cup finals and two CUFL League finals over the 10 years of his tenure, and hopes to bring more than 50 years of heartache to an end for UL this week.

Sullivan remarked: “The players have given us everything since we started with the university back in 2013, and this year’s group is no different. We will go to Belfast as prepared as we can be, and thanks to the support we always receive from Neasa O’Donnell and Noreen O’Connell in UL Sport, we’ll be giving it everything.

“Our sponsors Castletroy Park Hotel have also demonstrated their belief in us, as they do in many teams in UL, and we want to repay that faith with good performances, and ideally, silverware.

“UL Soccer has tried many times over the years to win this tournament, with players like Scott Brady, Trevor Lovell and Garbhan Coughlan, and we hope that the glory of finally making the breakthrough will last forever.”

Tramore’s Tom Carney captains the side from centreback, having only briefly experienced the intensity of the competition previously as he was studying abroad.

His clubmate Conor Butler is the team’s top scorer from midfield and his eye for goal is matched only by his aggression and will to win.

Aisling Annacotty’s Adam Foley won a Harding Cup while in his first year in Plassey, and also played in the last UL team to reach the Collingwood Cup final in 2019.

Bridge Utd’s Leon Daly and Connemara man Theo Joyce have provided a spark to UL’s attacking play in wide areas this season, and Newmarket Celtic’s Dave McCarthy and Charleville’s Darren Butler bring a wealth of experience to the squad in attack and defence as mature students.

Like team mate Alex Sidorov, Gortnahoe’s Josh Coady is contracted to Treaty United, has played in all but two of UL’s matches this year as a commanding presence in goals.

Important members of Sullivan’s team include Regional Utd’s Oleg Vysochan, Ewan O’Brien and Joey Rushe, all of whom have played a major role in getting UL to this stage, and exciting Claremen Dean Hegarty and Cullen McCabe are sure to make life difficult for the Dubliners if called upon.

2023 UL Collingwood Cup Squad: Josh McCarthy (Fairview), Josh Coady (Treaty Utd), Cullen McCabe (Avenue Utd), Tom Carney (Tramore, captain), Conor Whittle (Pilltown), Tom Kelly (Drogheda Utd U19), Ciaran Barry (Aisling Annacotty), Eoin Redmond (College Corinthians), Killian Duffy (Dundalk U19), Gavin Dillon (Aisling Annacotty), Ciaran Jennings (Sligo Albion), Conor Butler (Tramore), Darren Butler (Charleville), Theo Joyce (Aisling Annacotty), Leon Daly, (Bridge Utd), Adam Foley (Aisling Annacotty), Ewan O’Brien (Regional Utd), Oleg Vysochan (Regional Utd), Tom Kidd (Kinvarra), Dean Hegarty (Newmarket Celtic), David McCarthy (Newmarket Celtic), Alex Sidorov (Treaty Utd U19). Management: Management: Ian Sullivan (Manager), Mark Nolan (Head of Security), Michael McCarthy (Coach), Leon Casey Ryan (Goalkeeper Coach), Prof. Martin Hayes (Club President), Craig Reddan (Physio), Gordon McKevitt (Kitman), Jamie Flynn (Assistant Kitman).