The Electric Ireland Higher Education Rising Stars hurling team of the year has been named, with Fitzgibbon Cup Champions UL predictably dominating, with seven of their players honoured.
Having lost the 2024 final to cross-city rivals Mary, UL regained their crown when overcoming MTU Cork in the semi-final before dispatching of DCU in the final.
UL won the decider with five points to spare, with Tipperary star Gearoid O'Connor inspiring them to glory with a man-of-the-match display, scoring 0-10 as he won his third Fitzgibbon Cup medal.
O'Connor is joined on the Rising Stars team by his UL team-mates Darach Fahy, Mark Fitzgerald, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Patrick Crotty and Jack Leahy.
15 February 2025; UL captain Colin Coughlan with the cup after his side's victory in the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup final match between DCU Dóchas Éireann and University of Limerick at the GAA Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Beating DCU saw UL lift their ninth Fitzgibbon Cup, with the side managed by Brian Ryan showing their class in the final in the Connacht centre of excellence at Bekan.
Paul Carney's DCU enjoyed a fine campaign, beating Mary I in the quarter final before taking UCC in the semi-final. They had five players on the team including Kilkenny duo Paddy Langton and Padraic Moylan in defence.
Offaly's Donal Shirley made the team in midfield having scored one of the goals of the competition against UCC in that semi-final clash in SETU Carlow. Up front, Kildare's Cian Boran is corner forward while Dublin's Joe Flanagan also makes the team from the Glasnevin college.
15 February 2025; Joe Flanagan of DCU DÉ in action against Colm O'Meara of UL during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup final match between DCU Dóchas Éireann and University of Limerick at the GAA Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Beaten semi-finalists UCC and MTU Cork both had corner backs on the team, in Cork duo Darragh O'Sullivan and Ciaran Doolan while Daire O'Leary was the Garda College's sole representative, having helped them to Ryan Cup glory in their final victory over TU Dublin.
It's been a successful year for the Watergrasshill club-man, having won the All-Ireland intermediate title with his club. He hit 0-2 from midfield in the Garda College's 0-19 to 1-13 win over TUD.
The 2025 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Hurling Team of the Year:
- Darach Fahy, UL/Galway
- Ciarán Doolan, UCC/Cork
- Paddy Langton, DCU DÉ/Kilkenny
- Darragh O’Sullivan, MTU/Cork
- Pádraic Moylan, DCU DÉ/Kilkenny
- Mark Fitzgerald, UL/Waterford
- Colin Coughlan, UL/Limerick
- Donal Shirley, DCU DÉ/Offaly
- Adam English, UL/Limerick
- Gearóid O’Connor, UL/Tipperary
- Daire O’Leary, Garda College/Cork
- Patrick Crotty, UL/Clare
- Joe Flanagan, DCU DÉ/Dublin
- Cian Boran, DCU DÉ/Kildare
- Jack Leahy, UL/Cork
