*Emmet McMahon kicks a point for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
KILDYSART’s Emmet McMahon has been named at centre-forward on the Electric Ireland GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year.
Fresh from making his first start for Clare in this year’s Allianz National Football League, Emmet has been acknowledged for a strong Sigerson Cup campaign for the University of Limerick by his inclusion in the Higher Education team of the year.
McMahon was key to UL reaching the Sigerson decider with his point scoring from distance aiding them on their run and also making the wider football following aware of his talents which have been evident at club level and the county underage ranks for many years.
With the marquee name of David Clifford joining him in the UL forward line, Emmet certainly proved his ability and it is why he is included on the team of the year. Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Ciaran Downes (Kilmihill) and Oisin Looney (St Joseph’s Miltown) were also part of the UL outfit which lost out to NUIG in the Sigerson Cup final.
A third year Physical Education and Maths student teacher, Emmet was joint captain of the Cill Cúil Gaels amalgamation which defeated Éire Óg in the 2021 U21A football final. With his native Kildysart, they experienced the devastation of coming out at the wrong side of a pulsating conclusion to the Clare IFC final against Corofin.
Although he is the only Clare representative on the team, there are plenty Banner connections to Roscommon’s Cathal Heneghan who is named at corner forward. Man of the match in the Sigerson Cup final, Cathal’s mother is from the GAA-mad Guilfoyle family from Feakle with relations in Bodyke, Barefield and Newmarket-on-Fergus.
1. Conor Carroll – NUIG, Oranmore-Maree, Roscommon
2. Eoghan McLaughlin – UL, Westport, Mayo
3. Shea Ryan – DCU, Newbridge Sarsfields, Kildare
4. Fionán Mackessy – MTUK, Ardfert, Kerry
5. Sean Powter – UL, Douglas, Cork
6. Eoin Kelly – NUIG, Moycullen, Galway
7. Sean Kelly – NUIG, Moycullen, Galway
8. Red Óg Murphy – DCU, Curry, Sligo
9. Matthew Tierney – NUIG, Oughterard, Galway
10. Fionn McDonagh – NUIG, Westport, Mayo
11. Emmet McMahon – UL, Kildysart, Clare
12. Gavin Burke – NUIG, Corofin, Galway
13. Cathal Heneghan – NUIG, Glaveys, Roscommon
14. David Clifford – UL, Fossa, Kerry
15. Tony Brosnan – MTUK, Dr. Crokes, Kerry
