Mayo pair on the 2022 Electric Ireland Higher Education Football Team of the Year
Electric Ireland has put the spotlight on 15 exceptional players from this season’s Higher Education Football Championships with the unveiling of the 2022 Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year.
In a season filled with stand-out team and individual performances, NUI Galway took home the Sigerson Cup for the first time since 2003 after a powerful display against runners-up University of Limerick, while GMIT gained promotion from the Electric Ireland Trench Cup following their impressive run of form in this season’s championship.
Mayo and Westport's Fionn McDonagh was on the winning NUI Galway team and earns his place at right half-forward on the team, with his club and county team-mate Eoghan McLaughlin of runners-up UL named at right corner-back.
In total NUI Galway have seven players included, while beaten finalists UL have four representatives on the team. Beaten semi-finalists DCU DÉ and MTU Kerry each have two players represented.
Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “I would like to congratulate each of the players and their institutions on their achievements throughout this season’s championship and for being named on the Football Team of the Year.
“The determination and skill on display in this year’s Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Championships has been immensely enjoyable to watch, and the players named here serve as fantastic representatives of their third level institutions. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at a formal ceremony later in the year.”
Sarah Sharkey, brand, PR and sponsorship manager with Electric Ireland, commented: “We are delighted to announce the 2022 Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year and are looking forward to being able to recognise these players’ outstanding performances at the annual Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Awards Ceremony which will take place later this year. It has been wonderful to be able to continue our support of these Championships this year, and of the players, whose performances throughout the season have been incredibly exciting to watch.”
This year’s Electric Ireland’s #FirstClassRivals campaign celebrated the unexpected alliances that were formed by county rivals coming together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles in the GAA.
The Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Rising Star Hurling and Football Players of the Year will be announced on April 4. These awards will acknowledge one outstanding performance from this year’s Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup championships.
The 2022 Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year in full is as follows: Conor Carroll (NUI Galway, Oranmore-Maree, Roscommon); Eoghan McLaughlin (UL, Westport, Mayo), Shea Ryan (DCU, Newbridge Sarsfields, Kildare), Fionán Mackessy (MTUK, Ardfert, Kerry); Sean Powter (UL, Douglas, Cork), Eoin Kelly (NUI Galway, Moycullen, Galway), Sean Kelly (NUI Galway, Moycullen, Galway); Red Óg Murphy (DCU, Curry, Sligo), Matthew Tierney (NUI Galway, Oughterard, Galway); Fionn McDonagh (NUI Galway, Westport, Mayo), Emmet McMahon (UL, Kildysart, Clare), Gavin Burke (NUI Galway, Corofin, Galway); Cathal Heneghan (NUI Galway, Glaveys, Roscommon), David Clifford (UL, Fossa, Kerry), Tony Brosnan (MTUK, Dr. Crokes, Kerry).