DCU/D. E. 3-13
UUJ… 0-08
Do not adjust your sets. This is neither drill nor wind up. You might recall that this time last year this corner had something of a conversion moment in relation to Third Level GAA competitions. At my own expense, it will be admitted that it’s more the timing of the colleges competitions which grinds the gears.
The action which generally takes place therein tends to be of the highest standard and is actually the best trialing ground for a player’s inter county prospects there could be. Where the problem arises, though, is that the universities tend to be fully engaged at the exact time the same players should be serving their apprenticeships with county teams. Yet, to make a messy situation even more chaotic, it would appear the colleges have first call on players at this time of year. Which, in turn, negatively impacts on at least three other teams.
As with a lot of things within the GAA, it’s an issue which (a) need not exist at all and (b) is entirely of the associations own making. If the top brass – dictated to by the repugnant GPA or otherwise – remain insistent on the retention of the dastardly split season, they should at least be made concede to the university competitions being played in October. Either that or revert to playing a few rounds of the National Leagues prior to Christmas. The naysayers and their sheep-like followers can’t eat their cake and still have it.
Anyway, enough time roasting stale chestnuts. If, indeed, the Higher Education competitions are considered auditioning grounds for the highest level, Jack Tumulty must surely be on standby for a call up to the primrose and blue of Roscommon. If he hasn’t featured therein already at the highest level.
The speedy and jinky corner forward first came to this observer’s attention thanks to the wonder that is Clubber TV. Yes, I was watching the Roscommon club championships. Most people know at this stage I’d watch two dogs chasing a football and find peace in it. Have done too.
Young Tumulty was first noted wreaking havoc for Padraig Pearses in domestic fare in the Connacht county. However, even if that hadn’t impressed me much, it was impossible not to be drawn in by his dazzling display in Co Down on Tuesday night as DCU/Dochas Eireann got their Sigerson Cup title defence off to the type of start which serves as notice that they will be very difficult indeed to dislodge.
This despite the fact players like Tom Prior of Leitrim and last year’s winning captain/Sigerson Player Of The Year/All Star nominee and all round good guy Ciaran Caulfield no longer in situ. Retaining titles at inter varsity level is – a bit like county underage grades – not easily done due to the inevitability of player turnover.
Which might go some way to explaining the Ballymun college’s sluggishness into their stride under the Burren floodlights. So sticky, was it, in fact that, having played with wind advantage in the opening stanza, pondering as to whether a buffer of 0-06 to 0-03 was going to be enough were entirely genuine.
However, I suppose it is a mark of the quality of players at their disposal that the Dublin educational institution actually played better into the elements than they did with their aid.
Perhaps unsurprising given that the holders had Greg McEneaney, Ethan Dunne and the very experienced Lorcan O’Dell of Dublin through the spine of their team.
Though, for this observer at least, they all played second fiddle to Tumulty.
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