Brian McNamara lifts the Sigerson Cup. Photograph: Seb Daly / Sportsfile
BRIAN MCNAMARA has been selected as the Sigerson Cup footballer of the year.
Cree’s Brian who captained UL to win a first-ever Sigerson Cup has been honoured for his displays by being named as the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Player of the Year.
UL’s Aidan O’Connor a member of the Limerick senior hurling team has received the hurling equivalent.
Brian was midfield on the UL side and was also named on the Rising Stars team of the year with Tristan O’Callaghan of St Breckans chosen as the goalkeeper.
McNamara became the third Clare footballer to captain a college to Sigerson Cup success following in the footsteps of Seamus Gardiner with UCD (1924) and Eamonn O’Doherty with UCD (1927 & 1929). Earlier in the season, the midfielder also led UL to win the Division 1 league in November.
From the Cooraclare club, Brian had a powerful campaign with UL, kicking a point in their 0-17 1-11 final win over UCC. In the semi-final, he once again had an influential role for David Power’s side, dominating as their main target from kickouts and also chipping in with a point.
Speaking in Croke Park on Monday, Brian said of UL’s success, “It was very special, at the start of the year we set out to win the Sigerson and then we got news halfway through the year that the final would be on in Croke Park and that was an added bonus when we actually made the final but to get the opportunity to go up the steps of the Hogan Stand and win it there was extra special”.
“My highlight in UL was definitely winning the Sigerson but the bond you make with the lads on the team in a very short season which is only a couple of weeks you can go from barely knowing a fella to them being one of your best mates so the amount of lads you get to meet and know is another highlight,” he added.
