*Emmet McMahon of UL and Kildysart, Clare, right, receives his 2023 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year Award from Chair of the GAA Higher Education Committee Michael Hyland during the 2023 Electric Ireland GAA HEC Rising Star Awards at the Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.
CLARE DUO, Emmet McMahon and Ciaran Downes were honoured as part of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year.
Both McMahon and Downes played central roles for the University of Limerick as they reached the Sigerson Cup final for the second year in a row.
It took extra time to crown UCC as champions for the twenty fourth time when they edged off UL in a dramatic contest, winning on a scoreline of 1-16 0-16. NUIG who have since been named University of Galway overcame UL in the 2022 decider. The Clare duo kicked timely points when UL gained their revenge by defeating the Galway college in this year’s quarter-final.
Emmet of Kildysart captained the UL side this season and continued to demonstrate his ability to kick scores from a multitude of distances. He is in the final year of his course to become a PE and Maths teacher.
Kilmihil’s Downes was a vital member of the UL attack at wing-forward, indeed his semi-final showing where he contributed 1-03 from play was a standout from their win over DCU Dóchas Éireann. Lissycasey’s Aaron Griffin also chipped in with 1-01 on that occasion. Ciaran is concluding his third year on a mechanical engineering course.
At Monday’s ceremony at The Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick, Cork’s Daniel O’Mahony was named Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Star Footballer of the Year with Waterford’s Mikey Kiely taking the hurling equivalent.
