DCU Dóchas Éireann manager Seán Fox during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup quarter-final match between DCU Dóchas Éireann and TUS Midlands at Dublin City University Sportsgrounds in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
If DCU defeat UCD in this evening’s Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Final, then Seán Fox would have the distinction of managing two different colleges to that honour having also been DIT banisteoir when they won their first and only ever Sigerson Cup in 2013.
It would be quite the achievement, particularly as he regards himself as an accidental manager.
“I managed DIT after my eldest son left in 2009 and then Paddy Christie brought me into DCU when my second son left in 2020,” Fox told GAA.ie
“It's sort of by accident I've been involved in two colleges, it's not that I'm a journey man.
“It's been an unreal experience because you're dealing with quality footballers who want to play football.
“Most of them know what they should be doing and it's just a matter of gelling different lads from different parts of the country together.
“Fellas who would normally be enemies come together and it's a great experience for four months every year when you're involved in it.
“Sigerson Cup games are fast and furious, they're hard and tough, but there's very little cynicism. The players love it. It's unique.
“I've never finished a Sigerson season having not enjoyed it. Now, you might not always enjoy the results which is a different matter, but the experience of working with these lads is fantastic.”
DCU and UCD already crossed swords in Round 2 of this year’s competition with UCD coming out on top by a point on the night.
Fox is expecting this evening’s tie to be a contest of similarly fine margins.
“I'm not one who goes to Paddy Power,” he says. “If I put money on a horse you can be sure it'll go out at ten to one and come back at half past five.
“Whoever is involved in sports betting tend to know what they're doing and at the moment the spread is two points. The spread against Jordanstown was plus or minus a point and we won after extra-time.
“At the moment we're the underdogs which is fine and it's plus or minus two points. I would think it'll be very tight and there could be extra-time again.”
Daire Cregg of UCD in action against Bryan Masterson, right, and Alex Gavin of DCU Dóchas Éireann during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup Round 2 match between UCD and DCU at Billings Park in Belfield, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
If it does go to extra-time, then DCU will be quietly confident of getting the job done.
They certainly looked like they had plenty of gas in the tank in their semi-final win over reigning champions Ulster University which they eventually won by four points.
They’ve had a big impact from their bench throughout the competition and you don’t envy Fox his job of picking a starting XV and deciding who to throw into the fray thereafter.
“Under normal circumstances you're looking at a panel and you're fairly certain about your starting 15 and your best six or seven finishers,” he says.
“But in this case we have so many lads at the same level we know what our starting 18 are and our finishing 10 are. You're up to 28 players there but you can only play 20.
“Lads are fighting for positions and are very much on their toes. We're able to say that we need an impact off the bench and if it doesn't happen then out you come again.
“It's do or die in a Sigerson Cup Final, we have to make sure that whoever participates makes a contribution that's at a level that meets requirements.
“For some lads, Wednesday night will be their last college game. So why not be man of the match?”
The Sigerson Cup has always been about the journey for Fox but he knows too how happy the destination is when you win it, and would love nothing more than to do it now with another group of players he greatly admires.
“Having the experience of winning previously, the camaraderie I'd still ahve with those lads from 2013 is fantastic. They're all my friends now even though they're from all different parts of the country.
“We'd see each other, we'd communicate with each other, we've gone to funerals together, we've met up afterwards, we've done all sorts of things.
“You can't lose that bond of winning a Sigerson. It stays forever, it's always there.”
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Final
Wednesday February 12
UCD v DCU Dóchas Eireann, Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, 7.30pm, TG4 - click here for ticket details.
