Sheridan laments Molloy’s Sigerson situation

NUIG manager Maurice Sheridan said that it is regrettable that Corofin player Kieran Molloy has had to choose between playing in a Sigerson Cup final or the All-Ireland club football semi-final.

Molloy, a key figure for NUIG and Corofin, will miss the Sigerson Cup final tomorrow against UCD as he will playing in the All-Ireland club football semi-final.

That match against Kildare champions Moorefield will go ahead in Tullamore at 2pm, with the Sigerson Cup final taking place in Santry at 3.30.

“It is a terrible situation for Kieran, for Corofin and for us, but the workload on players in these months is absolutely appalling,” said former Mayo footballer Sheridan.

He paid tribute to the Corofin club and to Molloy for juggling the demands as best as possible.

“He’s an absolute hero. He wanted to play (in the semi-final) and the Corofin club have been very accommodating towards us. But he won’t be available on Saturday.”

Molloy was kept in reserve in Wednesday night’s 2-12 to 0-15 semi-final win over DIT in dreadful wintry conditions in Mullingar.

NUIG will now meet UCD in the final as they look for their first title since 2003.

The players only have a few days to recover from their semi-final exploits – UCD went to two periods of extra-time before seeing off Ulster University on Wednesday — but Sheridan, a winner with NUIG in 1992, is all too familiar with the demands of the competition in its traditional format.

“We used to have to play on a Friday as well as on a Saturday and on a Sunday,” added Sheridan.

“I did that once. In this competition the conditions are tough but it’s all about resolve and a collective attitude.”