Q & A with the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Quarter Finalist Karl McKaigue
Ahead of the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Quarter Final this evening, Ulster University and Slaughtneil Star Karl McKaigue shares what it’s like to put old inter-county rivalries aside for the sake of his college, and how important this championship is to the players involved.
A key theme of the Electric Ireland Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups has been that of inter-county rivalries. What do you think is most important in gelling players from different counties – turning these first-class rivals into teammates?
It definitely takes some time. I suppose you don’t fully gel as a team until you’ve had a few games together or indeed, a few wins together. Perhaps that’s why you see the best football played in the Sigerson Cup at the latter stages of the competition as lads have got more game time to gel and grow as a team, putting away the county rivalries, which inevitably leads to better performances.
A Quarter Final this week against NUI Galway. How will you prepare on the day and what, if anything, is different between this and a game for Slaughtneil?
Well, a round of National League games has just taken place on Sunday so we have to be conscious of player load. We will get together in UU on Monday evening for a flush-out session, some light ball work and probably a meeting ahead of the game Wednesday. Preparation will be different in comparison to a club game because we seldom have big midweek games for Slaughtneil and the game is in Dublin so the effect of a few hours on a bus has to be taken into consideration. Factors like nutrition and hydration remain fairly consistent with any other game.
In last year’s All-Ireland Semi-Finals, 27 players were represented that had come through Ulster University. How important a stepping stone is Higher Education football – and what makes it unique?
The Sigerson Cup is probably the next highest level of football after inter-county, in my opinion. Most players involved in the universities have considerable experience at inter-county levels through minor to senior while the “big” universities will have a county select where lads have been playing at senior county level for years. It is unique in the manner that it offers quality players from traditionally weaker counties the opportunity to mix it with the lads who would be playing in the latter stages of all-Ireland championship. It ultimately gives them a chance of winning an A-grade All-Ireland medal which is perhaps unlikely to happen otherwise.
What is the most difficult thing about balancing a county season and a now very busy University schedule?
The bulk of training is done with the county squad now while you try and keep lighter skill-based sessions with the college team. Kieran Molloy of NUIG/Corofin would be the man to ask as he has been doing it for 2 years straight now!
This year the Electric Ireland GAA Rising Star Awards Teams of the Year have been launched; recognising the skill and talent displayed in the championship. What do you think the inclusion of these awards means to those playing in the Sigerson or Fitzgibbon Cups?
Like any competition a platform for exposure is always beneficial. Each year a number of county players are discovered through the Sigerson/Fitzgibbon cups, who without the competition could otherwise slip under the radar. The Electric Ireland Rising Star Awards help boost the profile and prestige of the competition, which in all honesty is probably needed, as the competition is squeezed into the GAA with certain individuals questioning its importance in relation to the club and county competitions. Anything introduced to tackle that issue is most welcome.
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