CLARE footballers Brian McNamara and Tristan O’Callaghan have been named on the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education rising stars football team of the year.
UL’s historic achievement in winning a first-ever Sigerson Cup has resulted in them having seven players on the team of the year including McNamara and O’Callaghan.
Cree’s McNamara captained the UL side from midfield with St Breckan’s clubman O’Callaghan producing a man of the match display in the Sigerson Cup final when they defeated UCC by three points. It was the first time that the Sigerson was played in Croke Park in forty years.
UL dominate the 2026 Team of the Year with seven standout performers earning a spot. Runner’s up UCC have earned four spaces, with semi-finalists University of Galway and Queen’s receiving two spots each on the team. Notably, this year’s team contains players from the length and breadth of the country with nine counties represented.
Players selected on the team will receive a bespoke award crafted from the same renewable Beechwood material that was used in the Player of the Match awards, as part of Electric Ireland’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Player of the Year will also be announced at an awards ceremony on Monday March 30th. The hurling team will be announced Thursday March 26th and the camogie on Thursday April 2nd.
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”.
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
