The 2016 Sigerson Cup competition is due to get underway tomorrow (Tuesday) and, with the entry of more teams, the preliminary round sees six teams compete for a place in round 1.

Preliminary Round

Trinity v NUI Galway (1)

First playing in the competition in 1963, Trinity College still remain one of the few teams to have never won the competition though they have made the final. They avoided relegation from the top tier of the league this year when they overcame GMIT in the relegation semi-finals by the narrowest of margins. They will look to one of the stars of Fermanagh's march to Croke Park last season, Thomás Corrigan for scores and Michael O'Grady from Kildare in defence.

NUIG are one of the original trio of competitors in the Sigerson Cup and will be looking to add to their 22 previous victories, the last of these coming in 2003. Having competed in Division 2 of the league this year, NUIG were unlucky to be beaten by a strong St. Pat's Drumcondra side in the final. Some good challenges in this year's FBD league will have prepared the Westerners for this year's Sigerson Cup as NUIG can call on Limerick goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan as well as Kevin McDonnell (Sligo), Conor O'Shea and Adam Gallagher (Mayo) and Ray Connellan (Westmeath) as their main men.

Cork IT v Garda College (2)

CIT were lucky to avoid the drop to Division 2 in the league this season as they defeated GMIT in the relegation final just before Christmas. The Cork college last captured Sigerson success in 2009, when they also hosted the final at Bishopstown in what was also their only win in the competition's history.

Having won the Trench Cup in 2015, the Garda College have once again returned to the top table of Higher Education football. The Garda College have previously played in the Sigerson Cup, however they are still remain one of the few teams to have never won the competition. Last year's captain Colm Ó Cúiv (Galway), Colin Compton (Roscommon) and Paul Smith (Cavan) all tasted success in 2015 and this experience should help them to make the step up required to be competitive at the top level of colleges football.

St Pat's Drumcondra v GMIT (3)

This year sees the inaugural entry of St. Patrick's College Drumcondra into the Sigerson Cup following on from numerous successes in the Trench Cup in the last few years. St. Pat's come into this tie as winners of the Division 2 League and will hope to carry on from that success with leaders on the field such as player-manager Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin) and Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon).

GMIT on the other hand had a negative start to their season and they were relegated from Division 1 in the league following a defeat against Cork IT in the final. GMIT's key men are expected to include Patrick Holloway (Westmeath) and Corofin duo Martin and Michael Farragher.

Round 1

Maynooth v Queens University (D)

Since joining the Sigerson Cup competition in 1972, Maynooth University have only managed to secure the one title (1976) and will be hoping to add another title in 2016. Laois senior footballer Evin O'Carroll will be expected to lead the charge for the Kildare college and will look to Eric Lowdnes (Dublin) and Paul Cribbin (Kildare) for support. Maynooth will be happy with their January exploits as wins against Wicklow and Westmeath as well as a battling loss to eventual finalists Longford will stand them in good stead ahead of the Sigerson Cup.

First entering the competition in 1923, Queen's University have not won the Sigerson Cup since 2007 when Down's Daniel McCartan captained his side to victory over fellow Northerners Ulster University (then University of Ulster Jordanstown). They were beaten by Tyrone, Antrim and Derry in the McKenna Cup during January but run outs against quality opposition such as these will no doubt have brought the Ulstermen on a great deal ahead of this clash.

IT Carlow v IT Sligo (G)

After a good run to the semi-finals last year in Cork, IT Carlow will be hoping to go one step further this season. Their recent outings in the O'Byrne Cup yielded little joy as they went down to DCU, Wexford and Dublin in their group. Carlow's danger men are Israel Ilunga (Westmeath) and Sean McGraynor (Wicklow).

IT Sligo last won the Sigerson Cup in 2005 when a Christy Toye (Donegal) captained side beat James McCartan's Dundalk IT in a low scoring encounter. IT Sligo played in the Connacht FBD League and like their opposition had no luck in any of the three group games against NUIG, Roscommon and Mayo. Sligo's main men are Adam Treanor (Monaghan), Daniel Maye (Sligo), Niall Walsh (Leitrim) and Eamon McGrath (Donegal).

DCU v Athlone IT (H)

Ten years on from their first Sigerson victory, reigning champions DCU will bid to win back-to-back titles which would be a first in the university's history. Niall Moyna's Northsiders will call on Colm Begley (Laois), Diarmuid O'Connor (Mayo), Conor McHugh (Dublin). DCU are going into the competition following a good run in this year's Ryan Cup where they were beaten by Dublin rivals UCD in the Final.

AIT will be vying to reach their first quarter-final since they hosted the Sigerson Cup in 2013, while they remain one of the few sides in the competition who have never had a final appearance. They finished third in the Connacht group of the League behind IT Sligo and Maynooth University. They will be able to call on players such as Kieran Martin (Westmeath) and Daniel Flynn (Kildare).

Tuesday 26 January

Sigerson Cup preliminary round
Trinity v NUIG, Fontenoy, 7pm
CIT v Garda College, CIT, 7pm

Sigerson Cup round 1
IT Carlow v IT Sligo, Carlow IT, 2pm
Maynooth University v Queens, Maynooth University, 7pm
DCU v Athlone IT, DCU Sportsgrounds, 7pm

Wednesday 27 January

Sigerson Cup preliminary round
St Patricks v GMIT, St Patricks, 2pm

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