It’s a wonderful time to be involved in a DCU Senior GAA team, be it football or hurling.
Like DCU’s Fitzgibbon panel, the Sigerson team are blazing a trail in the league and a 2-19 to 2-13 comeback win over UCC means they have reached the Division 1 League Final.
Spirits are high in the camp and DCU’s Wicklow forward Conor McGraynor believes that the win over UCC says a lot about this year’s squad.
“The UCC game tells us a lot about the team. We went in at half time 5 points down and had a poor start to the second half, going 9 points down within the first 10 mins.
“The team showed massive strength and character to battle back and produce a 15 point turnaround. The belief in each other was phenomenal.”
Players from 11 different counties featured for DCU in the League semi-final, in contrast to a UCC team represented by mainly Cork and Kerry natives. McGraynor thinks that this diversity is extremely beneficial in college football and has helped DCU.
“It’s great to have a massive spread of counties represented. It brings players who are used to different styles of play in their counties together, battling for the same goal. We all learn lots from each other at every training session.”
There’s a lot of football left to be played before DCU can start to think about a Sigerson title and McGraynor is cautious about making predictions. However there’s no denying what the final goal should be for such a strong side.
“It’s still early doors in the season but we have set a good foundation with a strong league campaign.
“That bodes well for chances of getting a Sigerson title this year and from what I’ve seen so far we are well on track to achieve that.”
With high levels of performance comes competition for places in the squad. The 21 year-old Avondale man is under no illusions about how tough it will be to claim a starting 15 spot in the DCU team for the Sigerson Cup.
“The Sigerson 15 is far from decided there is a serious competitiveness among the panel to get one of the starting 15 jerseys.
“It’s a healthy competition though and one that only drives the team on.
“The lads who have played in the league have really staked their claim to be involved come Sigerson.
“With some players to come back from club commitments, and the fact there will always be a player or two carrying a knock or injury, the team come February could be a whole different lineup.
“But as I’ve said the lads who have played in the league have really stepped up to the plate.”
By Kevin Taylor
Image Credit: Sportsfile
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