By Niall McCoy

HAVING embarked on a wonderful journey on their maiden Sigerson Cup campaign, Letterkenny IT will be hoping for more of the same when they travel to meet the side that ended their fairytale run in 2020, IT Carlow.

Michael Murphy guided his side to the semi-finals in their first year in the competition, but the Leinster side hit a late goal to send them packing in Inniskeen. While the management has changed – Donegal ladies boss Maxi Curran replaces Murphy – some of the players do remain in place from that game, most notably county man Peadar Mogan.

Others such as Aaron Gilhooley, Mark McAteer, Ryan McFadden and Ethan Harkin remain in situ for Tuesday evening’s clash (7pm).

Carlow would go on to comfortably lose the final to a David Garland inspired DCU and with last season’s competition cancelled, this is their first game in the competition since. There is a touch of added pressure on IT Carlow as they are hosting the finals’ weekend and will be determined to be present at their own party.

They can no longer call on Cian Farrell, their free-taker from the 2020 campaign, but two key forwards, Padraig ‘Podge’ O’Toole and Evan Lowry, do remain. They also have the addition of some real speed now in the form of Meath forward Joey Wallace.

The two of them are amongst the three bottom sides in the betting market – IT Sligo the other rank outsider – but whoever progresses here will be a dangerous proposition for any side.