Leitrim's Prior & McNulty recognised on Electric Ireland Higher Education Rising Stars Team of the Year

Leitrim’s Barry McNulty and Tom Prior have both seen their excellent Sigerson Cup campaigns recognised by being named as the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year.

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s Tom Prior helped guide DCU to the Sigerson Cup victory while Barry McNulty was an instrumental figure in UCD reaching the decider. Unfortunately the Glencar Manorhamilton clubman missed the Final due to an injury sustained when scoring in the penalty shootout semi-final win over TU Dublin, the injury which has subsequently seen him miss all but one game in Leitrim's Allianz NFL Division 3 campaign.

The Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year, the third level equivalent of the GAA All Stars, sees players from nine counties recognised for their performances. Dublin lead the way with four awards with Leitrim and Meath next with two apiece while Laois, Cavan, Fermanagh, Longford, Derry and Monaghan also pick up awards.

During this year’s Championship, which has shown undeniable strength and depth across college football, Dublin City University (DCU Dóchas Éireann) took home their sixth Sigerson Cup title, winning for the first time since 2020. This came after defeating Dublin County rivals University College Dublin (UCD) in the final at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan, Co. Mayo.

UCD reached the final after a penalty shootout win against a strong TU Dublin side, hoping to claim their first title since 2018. However, DCU DÉ's dominant defence stifled the UCD attack in the final. DCU DÉ, who overcame defending champions Ulster University (UU) in extra time of the semi-final, secured a 4-point victory after a cohesive, energetic and slick performance in the all-Dublin derby final.

After another season of thrilling talent and showstopping performances, champions DCU DÉ dominate the 2025 Team of the Year with seven players earning a spot. Runner’s up UCD cover four spaces, with semi-finalists TU Dublin and UU filling two places each on the star-studded squad.

2025 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championship Football Team of the Year

1. Killian Roche, UCD/Laois
2. Niall Carolan, TU Dublin/Cavan
3. Alex Gavin, DCU DÉ/Dublin
4. Bryan Masterson, DCU DÉ/Longford
5. Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan, DCU DÉ/Dublin
6. Fionan O’Brien, UU/Fermanagh
7. Ciarán Caulfield, DCU DÉ/Meath
8. Ethan Dunne, DCU DÉ/Dublin
9. Eoin McEvoy, UU/Derry
10. Greg McEneaney, DCU DÉ/Dublin
11. Barry McNulty, UCD/Leitrim
12. Ryan O’Toole, UCD/Monaghan
13. Tom Prior, DCU DÉ/Leitrim
14. Jordan Morris, TU Dublin/Meath
15. Cormac Egan, UCD/Offaly

This year, Electric Ireland have brought sustainability to the fore of their Camogie and GAA sponsorships, making the switch to sustainable awards. Over the course of the season, a total of 25 Player of the Match awards were presented across all competitions including the Ashbourne, Sigerson, and Fitzgibbon Cups. The Rising Star Team of the Year awards will be crafted from the same renewable Beechwood material, showcasing Electric Ireland's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, said: “My sincere congratulations to each player and their respective institutions on their successes in this season's Championship and for their well-deserved selection to the Football Team of the Year. The Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Championships provided immensely enjoyable viewing, thanks to the players' dedication and talent. Those named in the team are wonderful representatives of their third-level institutions, and we look forward to honouring their accomplishments at a formal event later in the year.”

Robert Crabbe, Group Sponsorship & PR Manager, Electric Ireland, commented: “We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year. It was a pleasure to watch the drama and excitement of college football unfold this season and we would like to commend all the Rising Stars on this year’s team! The Sigerson Cup and the #FirstClassRivals campaign exemplify both fierce competition and lasting camaraderie and it has been great to watch county rivals unite to achieve remarkable success with their colleges this football season. Electric Ireland is delighted to support a competition that provides such a valuable experience for these brilliant athletes.”