NUI Galway handed tough draw in 2015 Collingwood Cup

NUI Galway have been given a nightmare draw for the 2015 Collingwood Cup, which it will host in February to mark its 100-year involvement in the tournament.

The draw was made in the Connacht Hotel on Wednesday, and sees the four semi-finalists from last year’s Collingwood Cup – including NUI Galway – all drawn in the same half of the draw. John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan’s side were given a First Round bye, but that was as about the best news for the side, which will be hoping to capture the title for the seventh time in its history, and the first time since 1999.

Next year’s hosts were the last seeded team out of the pot, and as a result will meet DCU – who they beat 2-0 in last year’s semi-finals – in the quarter-final.

If they get over that hurdle, they will meet either UCC or defending champions NUI Maynooth in the Collingwood Cup semi-final – NUI Maynooth won the 2014 tournament thanks to 2-1 win over NUI Galway in Belfield back in February, having first beaten UCC 2-0 in the semi-final.

“I’m happy enough with the draw, especially with having a First Round bye. I think playing on the first day is important if you are away at a tournament, it gives you a chance to build momentum early, but when you are hosting the event, it is good to have that extra day before you get going,” Brennan said.

The draw was also attended by city native Stephen O’Donnell, who captained Dundalk to the Airtricity League Premier Division title in 2014. The midfielder is assistant manager to Declan Roche at DCU, and he admitted his side had been handed a tough draw.

“It is the tough side of the draw, there is no doubt about that – all four of last year’s semi-finalists been grouped in the one half, and we meet NUI Galway again who knocked us out in the last four last year, but that’s the luck of the draw,” he said.

The Collingwood Cup kicks-off on Monday February 23 with the First Round games, with the quarter-finals to be played on Tuesday February 24; the semi-finals on Wednesday February 24; with the final, which will be played in Eamonn Deacy Park and televised on Irish TV (channel 191 on Sky; 400 on Freesat), being played on Thursday February 26.

“I am always amazed the way the Galway football family embraces the Collingwood Cup,” said Terry McAuley, the Chairman of the Irish Universities Football Union, at the launch.

“Both Mervue United and Salthill Devon have offered the use of their facilities for the 2015 tournament and I want to extend a big ‘thank-you’ to them – trying to play 18 games over four days is a challenge, so we are very grateful to those two clubs for their assistance,” he said.

2015 Collingwood Cup draw

First Round, Monday Feb 23: (A) UL v UU Coleraine; (B) RCSI v Trinity College; (C) UU Jordanstown v UCD; (D) Mary Immaculate v Queens.

Quarter-finals, Tuesday Feb 24: (1) Winners A v Winners B; (2) Winners C v Winners D; (3) NUI Maynooth v UCC; (4) DCU v NUI Galway.

Wed Feb 25, semi-finals: Winners 1 v Winners 2; Winners 3 v Winners 4.

Thurs Feb 26, final.