RYAN McFadden was involved in a Sigerson Cup semi-final with LYIT two years ago and he’s hoping to help the Donegal institution back to that stage today.
The competition was straight knock-out in 2020 and a win over IT Sligo sent LYIT through to the last four. They made a real fist of that semi-final only to lose to a late goal against IT Carlow.
It’s a more complicated system this year, and it will be Maxi Curran’s side fourth game in the competition when they take to the field against NUI Galway at Dangan on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm.
“Two years ago, we were unlucky in the semi-final.
“It would be great to get back there again but we have a lot of new players in now.
“There are only a couple left and it is really a new team. It’s great to be back in a quarter-final and hopefully we can take the next step.
McFadden (20) played the whole match against UCD last week and it was a tight encounter.
The game could have went either way in the closing exchanges but LYIT found the scores they needed.
“It was touch and go.
“We wanted to make sure we were still in it at half-time, and at the water break, and when we got down the home stretch, we knew we had that bit of togetherness.
“We are all men from in an around the North West and we play for each other.”
UCD is one of the biggest third-level institutions in the country and they have a good tradition in the Sigerson Cup.
They had plenty of intercounty experience on show too through Ray Connellan (Westmeath), Evan Comerford (Dublin), Brian McLoughlin (Kildare), and Donegal’s own Jeaic MacCeallbhuí.
However, LYIT made their home comforts count.
“They had to travel down, and I don’t think they were too happy about it.
“We were glad to have the home advantage and it was the first ever home game in the Sigerson Cup, and it was a nice bit of history to win it.”
McFadden is part of the Donegal development squad and made his senior intercounty debut against Down a few weeks ago.
Peadar Mogan, Jason McGee, Conor O’Donnell, and Rory O’Donnell are also up training with the Donegal seniors, while Liam Gaughan is part of the Sligo set-up.
Those players all have pivotal roles, but LYIT have lots of talent all around the field.
McFadden said: “We have a few county seniors and then a couple of county under 20s, and then you have some very good club players there too, and they might be looking to make the breakthrough after this.
“We have a great mix of men. We have great height and great strength, and loads of speed.
“We have tight marking men at the back and boys who know how to score up front.”
Next up is NUIG, who are once again a much bigger college than Letterkenny IT, but that won’t faze McFadden and his teammates.
“The spirit is great. Every man knows each other and that’s before we even went to college, and it makes it that wee bit easier to bond with the players.
“We’re not taking boys from all over the country like some colleges might.
“We’re a small college but we have that bit of togetherness when we’re here and we’re lucky to have that.”
NUI Galway’s first game against Ulster University was abandoned late on due to an injury to Galway senior star Sean Mulkerrin but they were granted the win from that opener.
Maurice Sheridan’s side then followed that up with a six-point victory over Queen’s.
It is sure to be a challenging match for LYIT as NUIG boast Mayo seniors Tommy Conroy and Fionn McDonagh in their side, as well as Galway players Paul and Sean Kelly, Matthew Tierney and Tomo Culhane.
McFadden said: “We know it will be tough against Galway but we will give it our best.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)