THE DUST IS barely settling on the 2015 GAA season but thoughts are already turning to next year.

This afternoon at Croke Park, the draws for 2016 Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups were made – and some interesting pairings have been thrown up.

Champions Dublin City University will begin the defence of their Sigerson Cup title with a fixture against Athlone IT while there could be an early Dublin derby in store between UCD and Trinity College, should the latter see off NUI Galway in the preliminary round.

Clare's David McInerney captained University of Limerick to Fitzgibbon Cup glory in March. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Group A of the Fitzgibbon Cup, meanwhile, looks like the pool of death as former winners UCC, UCD and Limerick IT have all been pitted together, along with Maynooth University.

Holders University of Limerick are in with city rivals Mary Immaculate College, Dublin IT and NUI Galway.

Sigerson Cup

Preliminary round:  

1. Trinity College v NUI Galway
2. Cork IT v Garda College
3. St Pat’s (Drumcondra) v GMIT

Last 16: 

UCC v 3
UCD v 1
UUJ v 2

UL v IT Tralee
Maynooth University v Queens
St Mary’s v DIT
DCU v Athlone IT
IT Carlow v IT Sligo

Fitzgibbon Cup

Group A: UCC, UCD, Maynooth University, Limerick IT
Group B: IT Carlow, DCU, St Pat’s (Drumcondra), Waterford IT
Group C: DIT, UL, NUI Galway, Mary I
Group D: Cork IT, GMIT, UUJ

Check out the Higher Education GAA Twitter feed here for fixtures details for the various other competitions.

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