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Here are the draws with the semi final pairings included

SIGERSON CUP 2008
Round 1 - 07.02.08
A NUI Maynooth  1-14 Belfast Met College (BMC) 1-8
B Carlow IT 6-12 Dundalk IT 0-12
C DIT 1-17 UCC 1-12
D NUI Galway 1-15 Athlone IT 1-9
Round 2 – 13.02.08 Open Draw:  
I D.I.T. v  D.C.U.
J NUI Galway  v  Q.U.B.
K Cork IT v UCD
L Sligo IT  v  UUJ
M St. Mary's Belfast  v  UL
N IT Tralee v NUI Maynooth
O GMIT v Waterford IT
P Carlow IT v Garda College
Quarter-Finals - 27.02.08  
Q Winner N   v  Winner O
R Winner K   v  Winner P
S Winner J   v  Winner L
T Winner N   v  Winner I
07.03.08- Semi-Finals (IT Carlow)
Q v R
S v T
08.03.08 – Final (IT Carlow)

Sorry about the delay in getting back to ye!

Aye if the distance travelled is over 300km neutral venues are used.

Was at the Fergal Maher Cup Hurling game between Letterkenny IT and Marino Institute earlier!! A cracking encounter it has to be said - goals galore, went to extra-time and finished in a 5-14 to 3-17 win for Marino.

Off to St. Mary's and UL in DCU in the Sigerson Cup today - should be an interesting tie. Hard one to call as are a lot of today's fixtures. Mary's are fresh from a 10-14 to 2-10 hurling win over Dundalk IT yesterday. Doubt if they have any duel players?

TUESDAY 12th FEBRUARY
Ulster Bank Fergal Maher Cup Round 1
(Extra-time if necessary)
St. Mary's Belfast v Dundalk IT 2pm, Belfast
UUC/Magee v NCI 2pm, Coleraine
Marino Institute v Letterkenny IT 2pm, St. Vincent's, Dublin
GMIT Castlebar v Garnerville Gaels 2pm, Ballyvary

WEDNESDAY 13th FEBRUARY
Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup Round 2
(Extra-time if necessary)
DIT v DCU 2pm., Grangegorman
NUI Galway v Queen's University 2pm, Mullahoran, Co. Cavan
Cork IT v UCD 3pm, Cork IT pitch
IT Sligo v UUJ 2pm, IT Sligo pitch
St. Mary's Belfast v UL 2pm, DCU Sportsgrounds

IT Tralee v NUI Maynooth 2pm, Tralee
GMIT v Waterford IT 2pm, Galway
Carlow IT v Garda TC 2pm, Carlow IT

Ulster Bank Trench Cup Round 1
(Extra-time if necessary)
Limerick IT v St. Pat's TC 2pm, Limerick IT
IT Blanchardstown v The Law School 2pm, Blanchardstown
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick v Letterkenny IT, 2pm, Cloone

Ulster Bank Fergal Maher Cup Round 1
(Extra-time if necessary)
Kings Inns v DLIADT 7pm, Dublin Venue (TBC)

THURSDAY 14th FEBRUARY
Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup Round 3
Limerick IT v UL 2pm, Limerick IT
DIT v Cork IT 2pm, Grangegorman
GMIT v UCC 2pm, Galway
St. Pat's/Mater Dei v UCD 2pm, Drumcondra

Ulster Bank Ryan Cup Round 3
Queen's University v Tipp Inst./St. Pat's 2pm Dublin venue (TBC)
DCU v IT Sligo 2pm, DCU Sportsground

IT Tallaght v Athlone IT 2pm, Tallaght
IT Tralee v NUI Maynooth 2pm, Tralee

Ulster Bank Corn na Mac Léinn Quarter-Finals
(Extra-time if necessary)
GMIT Letterfrack v GMIT Castlebar 2pm, Ballyvary
Marino Institute v Garnerville Gaels 2pm, Dublin venue (TBC)
Froebel College v Cadets 2pm, Dublin venue (TBC)

MONDAY 18th FEBRUARY
Ulster Bank Trench Cup Round 1
(Extra-time if necessary)
NCI v IT Tallaght 2pm, St. Vincents, Dublin

Yip you got it in one Gnevin. There's something before Special Congress or Congress which aims to clear all this up. Basically yellow cards carry across the 90 minutes but from the start of extra-time it's deemed to be a new game from a team perspective and you are allowed to go back to a full complement of players. Surely every 'true' GAA fan would know that

Cheeky Dubs!!

Did Murray not exit the field? It definitely was his second yellow - it didn't matter when he got the first one - yellow cards carry over into extra-time

Somebody must be looking down on me. First Antrim/Kilkenny last Sunday and now this match - can it get any better for the rest of the year!

Great buzz in Parnell tonight and a great match for such poor pitch conditions, heavy stuff throughout, man of the match for me has to be Carlow goalkeeper John Brennan. The O'Hanrahan's man certainly gave a huge committment throughout the contest and was probably the main inspiration after Carlow conceded an early goal from Bernard Brogan after five minutes.

I know it's only January but hopefully this is a sign of things to come from Carlow after the disaster of last year. Teams in Division 4 be very afraid. Nice to see a return to action for the Dubs for Graham Cullen, chipped in a good point tonight and showed good work-rate when introduced.

Roll on Saturday's replay in Dr. Cullen Park, 2pm

I'd the fortune of attending the Antrim/Kilkenny game today and I have to say there was very little wrong with Antrim's style of play, physicality and general scoring and this game will certainly stand them well for the remainder of the year. It's a young Antrim team but something tells me that we may see them make there way to the final. They face a UCD side who offer plenty of youth and skill also and this should be a cracking semi-final wherever it is played next weekend

Here are the teams and scorers from Freshford today for the record.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; S Cummins, B Hogan, J Tyrrell; J Dalton, PJ Delaney (0-1, 1 '65'), J Ryall (0-1); R Mullally (0-1), W Dwyer; P Cleere, R Power (0-9, 0-8f), A Fogarty (0-2); E McCormack (1-0), E Brennan (0-2), R Hogan (0-1). Subs: E McGrath for Cleere (48 mins), D Fogarty for Dwyer (63).

Antrim: R McGarry (0-1); A Graffin, N McGarry, S Delargy; C Herron, M McCambridge, K Elliott (0-1); K McKeegan (1-1), D Hamill; N McManus (0-1), L Watson (1-8, 0-4f, 2 '65'), P McGill; S McCrory (0-1), C Donnelly, S McNaughton (0-1). Subs: M Kettle for N McGarry, K Stewart (0-1) for Donnelly (both half-time), C Duffin for McNaughton (64 mins).

Referee: Tony Carroll (Offaly)

Excellent win for Antrim this afternoon in a hard fought game in must be said. Anyone have any idea when the Saffrons last beat Kilkenny? I'm hearing around 1992 in the NHL

Setanta only have the rights to show Saturday games I think. So it will just be re-runs of Dublin/Westmeath all next week!! Meath aren't a bad force for this time of year and seem to be taking things pretty seriously from what I witnessed in Navan last night. UCD really pushed them to the pin of their collar.

DCU 1-14 Louth 0-11 - Good performance by a very strong DCU side in Darver tonight. Have to admit all the fuss over Benny McArdle on this board failed to live up to its promise, but McArdle had to cope with a stunning DCU full-forward line, Seanie Johnston of Cavan and Mayo's Conor Mortimer were simply on fire - they have to be odds on for Sigerson on the back of a display like this and excellent league performances.

Brian White and Ronan Carroll were probably Louth's best to players in this game, but they really left themselves with a huge job to do at the end of a dissmal opening half. Good conditions in Darver and an excellent surface. Fair play to all involved in Louth GAA for having the willpower to stay with an idea like this and see it come to fruition, four excellent pitches but money still required to finished off a clubhouse facility etc. Certainly a blueprint for other counties to follow that's for sure.

Fermanagh Chairman backs anti-grants movement
11 counties represented at Cavan meeting
By Cóilín Duffy

Fermanagh GAA Chairman Peter Carty firmly expressed his support to the anti-government grants movement at a public meeting last night in Cavan.
Carty was concerned about whether or not any ratification or indeed discussion has taken place by the Central Council, although GAA President Nickey Brennan and other top level officials have stated that there is uniformity among the top-brass.

"I've great concern over how it happened," Carthy stated.

"I've yet to see the minutes of any meeting from Central Council to see where it was ever discussed and I feel very strongly about that."

The recently re-elected Chairman believes that there may be some mistruths in relation to the decision taken by Central Councils delegates in relation to the grants issue.

"Rumour is that the Central Council delegates gave a unanimous decision and that is one issue I would be questioning very much."

"The issue is that we get this to the GAA Congress floor at all costs. I know that we as a county are putting a motion forward.

"I don't want to see a case that we would be splitting the association but I am demanding sensible debate."

Club Derry member Seamus Mullan was firm in his belief that Government grants mean pay-for-play for the GAA, but also expressed his concern that the GPA are touting themselves as becoming an official part of the Association in the near future.

"I see that this is pay-for-play. I have no doubt in my mind that this will fundamentally change the direction of the GAA. Once this comes we are creating a division between club and county players and developing an elitist approach that will fundamentally damage the association," he said.

"Also the GPA website makes for very interesting reading, when you finish reading it you would think they will be running the GAA in the near future."

"They say they are not a trade union movement yet on their website they state that 'the gaa must recognise the GPA as a matter of urgency' and that they 'must negotiate a collective bargaining agreement."

Mullan also expressed his view that this issue is not just one for GAA members in the 32 counties but further afield also.

"This is pay for play but the fundamental issue is that this hasn't been dealt with democratically by the GAA across the world. Do they not have a voice, should their views not count? I think so."

"If the GPA are to be recognised officially that should only be decided upon at congress if they are to become the fundamentally recognised players body."

Brendan Holland, a GAA club member from Tyrone spoke from the heart at the meeting and expressed the view that GAA has cemented communities together for the past 40 years in the North.

"The GAA has become the social glue that has kept our communities together," he said.

"It's the only organisation that could do that and have an opportunity every weekend to do that however I realise the spirit of volunteerism is a diminishing one in this Celtic Tiger Era."

Grassroots members from 11 counties were represented at the meeting and with at least four counties including Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry and Armagh, putting motions forward to GAA Congress in opposition to the grants, it's clear that this issue is not going to go away.

The meeting of the anti-grants people has just begun in the Cavan Crystal Hotel and I have to say it's very disappointing. Scarcely 100 people in attendance

ULSTER BANK FITZGIBBON CUP 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]
Round Robin – 12 teams-4 seeded teams (3 division 1 group winners plus hosts U.C.D., U.C.C, U.L, C.I.T.)+ 8 non seeded (St. Pats, DIT, UUJ, LIT, NUIG, GMIT, WIT, Gardai)
4 groups of 3 teams top two in each group qualify for quarter finals.
A Group A – U.L. (Seeded), Waterford I.T., Limerick I.T.
B Group B – Cork I.T (Seeded)., N.U.I. Galway, D.I.T.
C Group C – U.C.C. (Seeded), Garda College, G.M.I.T.
D Group D – U.C.D. (Seeded), U.U.J., St. Patrick's College/Mater Dei
Round 1 - Wednesday, 30th January 2008
Round 2 - Wednesday, 6th February 2008
Round 3 - Thursday, 14th February 2008

Quarter – Finals by 20.02.08 Group Winners at home   
K Winner A Vs Runner Up B
L Winner C Vs Runner Up D
M Winner D Vs  Runner Up A
N Winner B Vs  Runner Up C
29.02.08 - Semi-Finals
O K Vs L
P M Vs N
Cork I.T.
Final – 01.03.08 (Sat) –
      O Vs P
Cork I.T.
ULSTER BANK RYAN CUP 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]

Round Robin – 12 teams-4 seeded teams (division 2 Semi finalists AIT, NUIM, TIPP INST/ST. PATS, SLIGO I.T.)+ 8 non seeded (QUB, DCU, TALLAGHT IT, CARLOW IT, MICL, TCD, TRALEE IT, CCFE)
4 groups of 3 teams top two in each group qualify for quarter finals.
A Group A – Tipperary Institute/St. Pat's (Seeded), Mary Immaculate College, Queen's University.
B Group B – IT Sligo (Seeded), Carlow IT, DCU.
C Group C – Athlone IT (Seeded), Cork Colleges of Further Education, IT Tallaght.
D Group D – NUI Maynooth (Seeded), Trinity College Dublin, IT Tralee.
Round 1 - Wednesday, 30th January 2008
Round 2 - Wednesday, 6th February 2008
Round 3 - Thursday, 14th February 2008

Quarter – Finals by 20.02.08 Group Winners at home   
K Winner A Vs Runner Up B
L Winner C Vs Runner Up D
M Winner D Vs  Runner Up A
N Winner B Vs  Runner Up C
29.02.08 - Semi-Finals
O K Vs L
P M Vs N
Cork I.T.
Final – 01.03.08 (Sat) –
      O Vs P
Cork I.T.



ULSTER BANK FERGAL MAHER CUP 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]
Round 1: 12.02.08 - 10 teams (GMIT CASTLEBAR, LETTERKENNY IT, UUJ/MAGEE, GARNEVILLE GAELS, ST MARYS or GMIT L'FRACK, DUNDALK IT, NCI ,KINGS INNS, MARINO, DLIADT)
A   Losing team Letterfrack/St. Mary's v Dundalk IT
B   UUC/Magee v NCI
C   Marino v Letterkenny IT
D   King's Inn's v DLIADT
E   GMIT Castlebar v Garnerville Gaels
Qtr-Finals: 20.02.08 (Open Draw) – 5 winners on Round 1 + (ST MARYS or GMIT Letterfrack)
F   Winner A v Winner E
G   Winner D v Winner Letterfrack v St. Mary's
H    Winner C v Winner B

Semi-Finals: 29.02.08 -3 Qtr-Final winners + British Champions
F Vs G
H Vs BRITISH CHAMPIONS (Napier University)

Final: 01.03.08 (Sat)

ULSTER BANK SIGERSON CUP 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00pm UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]

Round 1 - 07.02.08
(St Mary's, BMC, DIT, DKIT, NUIM, UCC, IT Tralee, WIT, NUIG, IT Sligo, AIT, IT Carlow) 
A   NUI Maynooth v Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC)
B   Carlow IT v Dundalk IT
C   DIT v UCC
D   NUI Galway v Athlone IT

E   Bye
F   Bye
G   Bye
H   Bye
Round 2 – 13.02.08 Open Draw: 
16 teams - (8 Round 1 winners) + (UUJ, QUB, UCD, DCU, CIT, UL, Garda, GMIT) 
I   Winner C v Dublin City University
J   Winner D v Queen's University
K   Cork IT v UCD
L   Sligo IT v UUJ
M   St. Mary's Belfast v UL
N   IT Tralee v Winner A
O   GMIT v Waterford IT
P   Winner B v Garda College
Quarter-Finals - 27.02.08  (8 Round 2 winners) 
Q   Winner M v Winner O
R   Winner K v Winner P
S   Winner J v Winner L
T   Winner N v Winner I
07.03.08/08.03.08 - Semi-Finals and Final
IT Carlow
ULSTER BANK TRENCH CUP 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00pm UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]
Round 1 - 13.02.08 (Open Draw):
10 teams (UUC, LYIT, UU Magee, NCI, St Pats, Law School, LIT, MICL, IT Tallaght, IT Blanchardstown ) 
A      Limerick IT v St. Pat's Drumcondra
B   University of Ulster Coleraine v University of Ulster Magee
C   Blanchardstown I.T. v Law School
D   Mary Immaculate College Limerick v Letterkenny IT
E   NCI v IT Tallaght
Quarter-Finals - 27.02.08 
(5 winners of Round 1 + Trinity) 
F   Winner B v Winner D
G  Trinity College v Winner C
H  Winner E v Winner A 


Semi-Finals – 07.03.08 (Fri) in Carlow
British Winners  v _________________
_______________  v _________________

Final – 08.03.07 (Sat) in Carlow


ULSTER BANK CORN NA MAC LÉINN 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00pm UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]
Round 1: 07.02.08 (Open Draw)
11 teams (RCSI, Mater Dei, Marino, Froebel, GMIT Letterfrack, GMIT Castlebar, DLIADT, Carlow College, Tipp Inst-St Pats, Cadets, Garnerville Gaels)
A   Cadets v DLIADT
B   Tipperary Institute/St. Patrick's v Mater Dei
C   Froebel College v Carlow College
D      Bye
E      Bye
F      Bye
G      Bye
H      Bye
Qtr-Finals: 13.02.08 (Open Draw)
3 winners on Round 1 + remaining 5 from above list
I   RCSI v Winner B
J   GMIT Letterfrack v GMIT Castlebar
K   Marino Institute v Garnerville Gaels
L   Winner C v Winner A

Semi-Finals: 27.02.08
Final: 08.03.08 (Sat) in Carlow


ULSTER BANK Further Education Championship 2008
ALL MATCHES AT 2.00pm UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED - [E.T. if necessary]


8 teams (NWRC Limavady, Cavan Inst, NWRC Derry, Colaiste Íde, Inchicore,
Carlow IE, CCFE, Portlaoise College )

Qtr-Finals: 13.02.08 (Open Draw)
A   Inchicore College v Carlow I.E.
B   Cork Colleges of Further Education v NWRC Limavady
C   Colaiste Ide v Cavan Institute
D   NWRC Derry v Portlaoise College

Semi-Finals: By 27.02.08 


Final: 08.03.08 (Sat) in Carlow

I've always been Drici! Game is at 7.30pm in Silverbridge. Division 2 final between IT Carlow and Trinity College is at 2pm in the Curragh tomorrow while the Division 3 final pairs Inchicore College and Mater Dei Institute on Thursday in DCU at 2pm