Trinity College Dublin v UCC, College Park (12.00)
Trinity missed out on a league play-off spot but they were competitive in all five games although managing just one win against lowly DCU.
Home advantage in their opener may give them a boost as they bid to break the 40-year hoodoo since they last captured the Collingwood Cup.
UCC are always among the favourites when it comes to the Collingwood Cup and despite their disappointing league form their mix of experience players and decent newcomers should see them into another semi-final.
Maynooth University v University of Limerick, AUL Complex (2.00)
This is the fourth successive season these two sides have met in Collingwood Cup ties and the games are always highly competitive.
Their latest meeting in a quarter final tie last year at the University of Limerick saw the home side win 3-1 on the way to the final.
Maynooth have already been in Collingwood Cup action this season and they needed a 7-6 penalty shoot out win to get past NUI Galway in a First Round tie last November after the sides finished 2-2.
Maynooth boss Martin Russell will hope to have St Patrick’s Athletic’s Luke McNally and Conor Kane from Drogheda United available to add to his squad most of whom are regulars on the Maynooth University Town side in the top Leinster Senior League.
Russell will be confident of overturning last season’s defeat in Limerick after the fine league form his side showed when they finished their campaign strongly with a couple of impressive wins including ending UCD’s unbeaten run to seal a play off place.
On the other hand, Limerick struggled in the league and finished bottom of Premier South with a win and a draw from five outings to send them into a relegation play-off game with DCU to retain their top flight spot.
Manager Ian Sullivan will demand an improvement for the cup and after adding a few players to his squad including Ryan Doherty and Gavin Dillon they are sure to test Maynooth.
Queens University Belfast v Ulster University, AUL Complex (2.00)
An intriguing Northern derby with Ulster University having a slight edge after defeating Queens 6-1 in a Division One league game earlier in the season.
Both sides have made it to the league play offs but with players involved in weekend Irish League and Cup games managers Ruairi Taylor at Queens and Ulster University’s Stephen Small will be keeping their fingers crossed that none pick up serious knocks.
Small’s side impressed when defeating Mary Immaculate College 4-2 in a First Round tie last year and with players of the calibre of Cliftonville striker Thomas Maguire and Marc McKenna from Queens University Irish League side in the squad they may just shade it.
DCU v UCD, AUL Complex (2.00).
The Glasnevin side were on the wrong end of a 7-0 defeat in their opening league game at Belfield and they showed little improvement after that drubbing picking up just a point with a 1-1 draw against TU Dublin-City Campus to finish bottom of the Premier North.
Coach Johnny McDonnell will have DCU head coach Declan Roche on the touch line for the Collingwood Cup and they hope to add some experience to the squad with Sean Trimble, Sean Cronin and James Rice returning.
UCD hold the most successes in the Collingwood Cup and although their squad has undergone a major change with many players moving on newcomers like Jack Keaney, Colm Whelan, Harry McEvoy and Mark Dignam can play vital roles in bidding for another win.
The four winners will progress to Tuesdays afternoons semi-finals whilst the four defeated teams will contest the Farquhar Cup semi-finals on Tuesday morning.