Fitzgibbon and Sigerson finals could be headed to Croke Park, says UL boss Brian Ryan
Pictured at the draw of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships at Croke Park today is Queen's University manager, Feargal Logan, left, and University of Limerick hurling manager, Brian Ryan.(Image: ©SPORTSFILE)UL boss Brian Ryan insists he doesn’t know — but he’s pretty sure. Something is coming. Something big. And in the small print of fixture memos and throwaway presidential remarks, he believes the GAA has already left a few breadcrumbs pointing towards a historic first: a Fitzgibbon–Sigerson double-header in Croke Park.“It’s going to be interesting,” says Ryan, who guided UL to three Fitzgibbon triumphs. “What came out of the draw now… it’s not confirmed yet, but the Fitzgibbon is starting a week earlier, the 7th or 8th of January. What hasn’t been confirmed either — but it looks like there could be an announcement coming about the venue for the finals. Reading between the lines, you could have a double-header, Sigerson and Fitzgibbon final.”Ryan stresses he has no insider knowledge. But the clues, as he sees them, are too obvious to ignore. “All I know for definite is the Fitzgibbon is starting a week earlier. And what we also know is they’ve said the fixtures for the finals are not set in stone. So they’re leaving themselves some wriggle room. The President (Jarlath Burns) did allude to a big announcement coming. You’d have to draw some conclusions from that.”The competitions, both hosted by DCU this year, have long suffered from identity drift — squeezed between club seasons, overshadowed by inter-county demands, lacking the prestige they once enjoyed. Ryan believes a move to Croke Park would fix that overnight.“Yeah, look, the Fitzgibbon hasn’t had the same standing as before. But I think Croke Park may be about to address that. If there is a change in venue, it elevates the status and puts it back centre-stage. At the moment the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson are in no-man’s land. You’re hoping you get support from inter-county managers just to let the competition run properly.”So — Croker? Really?“To be honest with you, I haven’t an earthly clue,” he says. “I’m just reading the tea leaves. But if the President says there’s a big announcement coming, if we’re starting a week earlier, if the finals aren’t fixed… I’d suspect it won’t be the same as last year. Read what you want into it — but it may very well be.”2026 Sigerson Cup drawFirst roundTUS Midwest v MTU KerryAdvertisementTU Dublin v Dundalk ITSt Mary's v MaynoothUCD v ATU GalwayQueen's Belfast v University of GalwayATU Sligo v UCCATU Cork v University of LimerickDCU Dóchas Éireann v Ulster University2026 Fitzgibbon Cup drawGroup A: University of Limerick, Maynooth, DCU Dóchas ÉireannGroup B: UCC, MTU Cork, Garda Co.Group C: University of Galway, UCD, TUS MidwestGroup D: Mary I, SETU Waterford, ATU GalwayClick here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond
