UL and UCC dominate Sigerson Team of the Year

Seven footballers from UL and four UCC players were included in the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year

PROMISING: Ruairi Murphy of UCC in action against Sean Morohan of UL during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final at Croke Park. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

First-time Sigerson Cup winners UL dominate the Electric Ireland Team of the Year with seven spots while runners-up UCC earned four spaces.

The line-up for the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year is rounded out with semi-finalists University of Galway and Queens receiving two places each.

There's an interesting mix of footballers from across the country, with three each from Kerry and Mayo, two from Clare and Cork, along with players from Tipperary, Sligo, Tyrone, Roscommon and Antrim. A Sigerson Cup Player of the Year will be announced at the end of the month.

The first Sigerson Cup completed under the new rules, this year’s competition culminated with UL making history, securing their first-ever title by defeating Munster rivals UCC by three points. 

This dramatic decider marked the Sigerson Cup's return to Croke Park for the first time in over 40 years.

In what was a semi-final for the ages, UL defeated a relentless Queen’s 3-23 to 2-21 after extra-time in an epic encounter at Abbottstown. While on the other side of the draw, UCC overcame University of Galway in a tense affair at The Mardyke, eventually coming out on top 1-11 to 1-8.

2026 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championship Football Team of the Year 

1. Tristan O’Callaghan - University of Limerick and St Breckan's, Clare 

2. Dan Peet - University College Cork and Clonakilty, Cork 

3. Liam Evans - University College Cork and Keel, Kerry 

4. Charlie King - University of Limerick and Ballina, Tipperary 

5. Conal Dawson - University of Limerick and Westport, Mayo 

6. Seán Morahan - University of Limerick and Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo 

7. Canice Mulligan - University of Galway and St Patrick’s, Sligo 

8. Brian McNamara - University of Limerick and Cooraclare, Clare 

9. Conor O’Neill - Queens University Belfast and Donaghmore, Tyrone 

10. Ruairí Murphy - University College Cork and Listry, Kerry 

11. Cathal Brosnan - University of Limerick and Currow, Kerry 

12 Eoin Colleran - University of Galway and Pádraig Pearses, Roscommon 

13. Ryan McQuillan - Queen's University Belfast and Con Magees Glenravel, Antrim

14. Cian McHale - University of Limerick and Moy Davitts, Mayo 

15. Ciaran Santry - University College Cork and Carbery Rangers, Cork 

TALTENED: Action from the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final match between University College Cork and University of Limerick at Croke Park. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Once again, this year Electric Ireland have kept sustainability at the heart of the Camogie and GAA sponsorships, by commissioning sustainable Player of the Match awards. Over the course of the season, a total of 25 Player of the Match awards were presented across all competitions including the Ashbourne, Sigerson, and Fitzgibbon Cups.

The players selected in each Rising Star Team of the Year will receive a bespoke award crafted from the same renewable Beechwood material that was used in the Player of the Match awards.

Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, said: “The 2026 Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup season was truly exceptional, culminating in a historic win for University of Limerick and a captivating final at Croke Park, a fitting return for the competition. 

The standard of football and the incredible skill on display throughout the championship were a testament to the talent within our higher education system. 

"On behalf of the GAA, I extend my warmest congratulations to UL on their first-ever Sigerson title and to each of the 15 players selected for the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year. These championships continue to play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of inter-county stars."

The Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Hurling Teams of the Year will be announced on Thursday, March 26, with the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Rising Stars Team revealed on Thursday, April 2.