WIT GAA Club Roll of Honour

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2 WIT GAA Club Roll of Honour Division 3 Hurling League Division 2 Hurling League Division 3 Football League Division 2 Freshers Football League Division 1 Hurling League Division 1 Hurling League Hurling Championship Division 3 Hurling League Division 2 Freshers Football League Munster Freshers Football Championship Division 1 Ladies Football Championship Fitzgibbon Plate Hurling Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Munster Freshers Hurling Championship Division 1 Ladies Football League Division 1B (Intermediate) Hurling League Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Freshers Camogie League Munster Freshers Hurling Championship Purcell Cup Camogie Division 2B (Intermediate) Football League Division 2B (Intermediate) Hurling League Purcell Shield Camogie Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Division 2 Trench Football League Fitzgibbon Cup Purcell Cup Camogie Division 1 Camogie League Division 1 Hurling League Purcell Cup Camogie Division 1 Camogie League Freshers Football League Handball League and Championship Ashbourne Shield Camogie Division 1 Hurling League Munster Freshers Hurling Championship Fitzgibbon Cup Division 2B (Intermediate) Football League Freshers Camogie League Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Division 2 Football League Handball Ladies Singles Open Ashbourne Shield Camogie Division 1 Hurling League Division 1 Ladies Football League Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Division 1 Hurling League Division 1 Camogie League Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Division 3 Hurling League Fitzgibbon Cup Ashbourne Cup Camogie O Connor Cup Plate Ladies Football Division 1 Camogie League Division 1 Ladies Football League Division 1 Freshers Football Championship Fitzgibbon Cup Division 1 Hurling League Division 1 Freshers Hurling League Ashbourne Cup Division 1 Hurling League Division 1 Freshers Ladies Football Shield Fitzgibbon Cup Division 1 Fresher Hurling League Division 2 Fresher Hurling League Division 3 Ladies Football Fitzgibbon Cup Intermediate Hurling Division 2 Fresher Hurling Intermediate Hurling League Fresher Camogie Cup Fitzgibbon Cup Division 1 Hurling League Fresher Camogie Shield Division 1 Fresher Hurling League Fresher Hurling Shield Fresher Camogie Shield Fitzgibbon Cup Division 1 Camogie League Fresher Ladies Football Shield Ashbourne Cup Division 1 Camogie League Freshers Ladies Football Plate Ashbourne Cup Division 1 Camogie League Freshers 1 Camogie League Munster Junior Football Handball : 60x30 A Team Open Mens A and Mens B Singles Ashbourne Cup Giles Cup Munster Junior Football Intermediate Hurling All Ireland Handball : 60x30 A Team Open Ashbourne Cup Munster Ladies Donaghy Cup Fresher 1 Camogie League Handball : 60x30 Mens A Singles/Team Open Ashbourne Cup Freshers Ladies Football Shield Handball: 40x20 Mens A Team Open, 60x30 Mens A Team Open Fitzgibbon Cup Munster Junior Football All Ireland Junior Football Munster Junior Hurling Handball: 60 x 30 Men s A Team Open

3 Céad Míle Fáilte! Welcome to another issue of Sidelines, the publication that provides all the information you need about the WIT GAA Club. This is the 21st year of Sidelines and inside you will find articles on all the college teams and their progress in all of last years competitions. You can find out about player profiles, blasts from the past, articles on current and past players and lots more about the GAA scene here in Waterford IT. The GAA office is located upstairs in the Courtyard Building on the main campus. It is open Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. so feel free to drop in if you have any questions or helpful suggestions. Also keep an eye on the display screen in the White Atrium for times and dates of training, matches and any club activities. Our website ( ie), Facebook page (WIT GAA) and Twitter page are updated regularly and feature information regarding all club activities. The GAA club in Waterford IT is the perfect opportunity to continue participating in Gaelic Games, keep fit and make new friends for life. So make sure to get involved this year by joining the club and becoming an active member on and off the field, whether its playing, coaching or organising social events. There is a team here for everyone who wants to play Gaelic Games with over 18 teams competing in 28 competitions each year in Gaelic Football, Hurling, Ladies Football, Camogie and Handball. We hope that you join the club and get the benefits of a regular exercise, great craic and many new friends made in a great club. We have had some great success and memories over the last year, winning the Fitzgibbon Cup for the 9th time, winning the Munster and All Ireland Junior Football titles, winning the Munster Junior Hurling and winning the 60x30 Handball All Ireland title. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to producing this publication of Sidelines and I wish all our teams every success for the coming year. Conor Phelan WIT GAA Development Officer / Telephone: (051) / Fax: (051) CONTENTS Roll of Honour Céad Míle Fáilte 3 Something Inside So Strong - Fitzgibbon Cup returns 4 Ashbourne Cup Report Unofficial Rules for Referees 7 The Cat that got the Cream - Collette Dormer 8 Mixing Sport and Modern Life 9 Stephen O Keeffe and That Save 10 WIT GAA Coaching Corner 10 Leave Inter-county Competitons to Inter-county Teams 11 The Sky s The Limit - Hon the WIT 12 Inter-county Footballers at WIT 13 33rd WIT GAA Awards Night 14 Fitzgibbon Cup glory - The Views of Pauric Mahony 15 Junior Hurling Report 16 Freshers Camogie 17 WIT GAA Club Officials 18 Off the Booze & On the Ball 18 Inter-county Camogie Players at WIT 19 Inter-county Ladies Footballers at WIT 19 No Ordinary Joe - Joe O Connor 20 WIT Handball Club 21 GAA Club County Colours Fundraising 22 The Daly News - Máiréad Daly 23 WIT Ladies Football Inter-County Hurlers at WIT 26 WIT GAA Scholarships WIT GAA & SVP WIT GAA Club will promote St Vincent De Paul on their GAA club training jerseys to help increase public awareness of the Society: Pictured are, back, from left: Conor Phelan GAA development officer in WIT, Margaret Conway Area President SVP, Colm Bonnar manager of the 2014 winning Fitzgibbon Cup team. Front: Kate O Donoghoe WIT Camogie player and Gavin O Brien WIT Hurler. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest, voluntary, charitable organisation in Ireland. Its membership of 11,000 volunteers throughout the country are supported by professional staff, working for social justice and the creation of a more just, caring nation. This unique network of social concern also gives practical support to those experiencing poverty and social exclusion, by providing a wide range of services to people in need. 3

4 Strong! Something Inside The Fitz comes home to the WIT As the clock ticked towards the 4th quarter of the Fitzgibbon Cup Semi Final between Waterford IT & Limerick IT Davy Fitzgerald s charges held a 1-15 to 0-8 lead and were seemingly cruising to a final appearance and all the doubters and naysayers about the hopes of WIT ending a six year wait for the Fitzgibbon were on track in the eyes of most observers. Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. Dale Carnegie Doubt, yes it was something that these fine WIT warriors had to face up to continuously during their 2013/14 campaign. The early pre-season league started well with an entertaining draw against reigning champions UCC. However this was to be a false dawn as they failed to win their next 9 matches suffering heavy defeats against UL, Cork IT, Kilkenny & Carlow IT in those matches. In their first Fitzgibbon Cup game they faced hot favourites UCC who eventually won on a score line of 0-14 to 0-9 on a muggy evening in the Mardyke. This would prove to be their last defeat of the campaign as action was taken. From the very first ball against St Pat s, Colm Bonnar s charges bossed the proceedings having 3-3 on the board after only six minutes play and comfortably won the game. The final game of the group stages was a winner-takes-all South East derby against Carlow IT. It was a close game for long periods of the opening half however WIT s forward unit proved stronger than Carlow s combined with two wonder saves from Stephen O Keeffe WIT overcame their south east neighbours, managed by DJ Carey, on a 0-26 to 1-15 score line. This victory set up a quarter final with Dublin IT. Waterford IT were on the road for the quarter final Eoin Murphy clears his line. 4 which was played in Parnells GAA club in Coolock, the fantastic surroundings witnessed a titanic battle, which went all the way to extra time. In the extra 20 minutes WIT really found the scoring touch and pulled away from DIT, in a game where Pauric Mahony really came of age, bombarding the DIT goal with 14 points during the game. DIT corner forward Sean McGrath missed two penalties one in each half as the sides finished level at the end of 60 minutes. WIT also had goalkeeper Stephen O Keeffe to thank for some superb saves. O Keeffe was beaten just once, in the first half when Diarmuid Horan netted for a DIT side inspired by Tipperary s Kieran Bergin, and that goal helped Joe Fortune s outfit to lead by a point at half-time, 1-6 to 0-8. The sides were level five times in the second half and McGrath saw his 54th minute penalty saved at a stage when DIT trailed by just a point. Liam McGrath netted with the first play in extra-time and the Tipp senior panellist s welltaken goal handed WIT some badly-needed breathing space. At half-time in extra-time, Colm Bonnar s side led by 1-17 to 1-12 and with Mahony calling the tune, WIT pushed on to set up a semi-final meeting with Limerick IT at Queen s. Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand. -Colin Powell. Liam McGrath celebrates after semi-final win. In that semi final it would have been very easy for the players and management to fold on several occasions instead they got busy, placed doubt in their opponents minds and turned the game into a battle which they were unwilling to lose. After scoring 1-7 without reply to draw level with LIT, Cathal McInerney got a sucker punch of a goal with only 30 seconds left till the hooter went. By the time LIT had finished celebrating their goal Harry Kehoe had sent the green flag

5 waving to bring the game to extra time. It was during this period that Colm Bonnar s charges finally floored the punch drunk LIT in a game that you had to see to believe. Fitzgibbon is all about, a team taking on responsibility Colm Bonnar Waterford IT legend and seven-time Fitzgibbon Cup winning manager. In the hours leading up to the final against Cork IT the level of support from past members inspired and galvanised the squad as they were largely being written off. In the final WIT were never behind over the hour s play and scored the first four points inside the opening seven minutes at Queen s University playing fields, Belfast. Although CIT, chasing their first Fitzgibbon Cup, drew level briefly in the early stages of the second-half at 0-10 a piece, WIT finished strong. Man of the match Jake Dillon and Harry Kehoe were instrumental in getting them over the line with stylish points from play to kill off CIT s hopes in the last quarter. Waterford started brightly and even though they had played extra-time against LIT in the semi-final on Friday, they showed no illeffects and were sharper in most of the exchanges. Cork IT s first score did not arrive until the 12th minute, through a free from near the sideline from John O Dwyer, who scored 0-11 in their semi-final victory over UCC. WIT maintained their cushion with further points from Cathal Kenny and Jake Dillon but CIT reeled off three in a row from Cooper and a brace from O Dwyer inside a minute to close the deficit to a single point. catches in the air. CIT got back to within 0-13 to 0-12 with ten minutes still remaining but WIT played with a lot of spirit in the closing stages with Johnny Hayes, a Kehoe brace and Jake Dillon steering them to a first Fitzgibbon Cup title since Eoin Scruff Murphy accepted the cup amid wild celebrations. The inspiration for this victory began in the ashes of the 2013 Fitzgibbon Cup semi final defeat to Mary Immaculate in a caravan in Ballyfoyle and ended with the players showing something inside so strong that they never lost sight of their goal and their dream of lifting the Fitzgibbon Cup. They join the legends of the past, JJ Delaney, Henry Shefflin, Brick Walsh, Rory Jacob to name but a few and showed all who doubted that it is what you do on the field that counts. Eoin Murphy, Captain, lifts the Fitzgibbon Cup for WIT s ninth time. Crucially, however, WIT scored the last two points of the half from Kenny and Dillon to hold a commanding 0-10 to 0-7 lead at the break, with the wind at their backs to come. CIT had their best spell in the third quarter with three points in a row from Conor Hammersley, John O Dwyer (free) and Mark Ellis to draw level for the only time in the match after 38 minutes. The next point was crucial and it was Harry Kehoe, the two-goal hero of their semi-final win, who got it in the 41st minute to give WIT belief again. Cork IT started chasing a goal too early and Daniel Dooley hit the side-netting from a very tight angle when a goal never looked on. The Cork side lofted a few balls into the square but WIT captain Eoin Murphy came out twice with the sliotar after making superb clean WIT Fitzgibbon Cup Panel 2014: Stephen O Keeffe (Waterford), Ger Teehan (Kilkenny), Pauric Gahan (Kilkenny), Jerome Maher (Waterford), Shaun Murphy (Wexford), Eoin Murphy (Captain, Glenmore), Thomas Hammill (Tipperary) Joe O Dwyer (Tipperary), Jack Langton (Kilkenny), Stephen Roche (Waterford), Harry Kehoe (Wexford), Pauric Mahoney (Waterford), Gavin O Brien (Waterford), Jake Dillon (Waterford), Liam McGrath (Tipperary), Cathal Kenny (Kilkenny) Kieran Hammersley (Tipperary), Andrew Kenny (Wexford), Tommy Kavanagh (Tipperary), Martin Power (Kilkenny), Johnny Hayes (Kilkenny), Martin Gaffney (Kilkenny), Luke O Loughlin (Clare), Luke Hickey (Kilkenny), Danny Murphy (Dublin), John Cahill (Kilkenny), Stephen O Keeffe (Waterford), Cormac Heffernan (Waterford) Tom Fox (Tipperary). Harry Kehoe scores the last minute goal v LIT 5

6 Ashbourne Cup Report 2014 After five triumphant years at the top in Third Level camogie, the cruel side of sport fell on WIT this year, as we ended up on the wrong side of a one point margin in the final of the 2014 Ashbourne Cup. In the 2013 final it was a last minute point by Trish Jackman that won the title for WIT after extra time, however UL won on a similar margin this year. With five stalwarts of the five-in-a-row winning teams, namely, Christina Kennelly, Lorraine Keena, Denise Gaule, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald and Katrina Parrock finished their studies in WIT, it was always going to be interesting to see how the 2014 team would shape together. WIT used the league campaign to form a strong panel and had the opportunity to look at some new players with several players involved in club action late into the year. Despite all this the league campaign saw WIT qualify for the semi-final. The opening round saw WIT beat UCC 3-15 to 1-9, before UL defeated WIT on a 0-18 to 1-9 score, meaning that WIT knew only a victory would suffice in their final group game against NUIG and the girls in blue delivered a fine performance to advance on a 0-16 to 1-7 score. This set up a semi-final clash with DIT who have put a lot of work into rejuvenating their camogie and with Denise Gaule lining out for the Dublin College after four years in the WIT jersey it added an extra interest in the game. DIT were the winners on the night by four points. After the league campaign a new manager came on board with WIT, as Ann Downey former Kilkenny stalwart for years took over the reins from Helena Jacob, who moved on from WIT for further study and Jacob also moved to take over the Wexford senior camogie team. With Downey in charge WIT set about their championship plan with a fresh impetus and the Ashbourne journey for 2014 began with a six point win over UCD in Bellefield on a 3-11 to 1-11 score line. The UCD girls on their home patch proved to be sticky opponents and it took three crucial goals from Laura Treacy (2) and Katie Power to decide the game, as three monster long range frees from Patricia Jackman also contributed greatly to the victory. A week later WIT really opened up as they out-thought, out-smarted and out-played NUIG in a 27 point win in WIT Sports Campus. Among the goal scorers in an 8-11 to 0-8 win were, Patricia Jackman, Marie Morrissey, Katie Power, Laura Treacy and Shelly Farrell, as WIT marched on to the semi-final in Queens University on Valentines weekend. The semi-final line up saw WIT take on DCU another college who have made serious inroads on the camogie scene in recent years and there was a certain element of the unknown about the opposition. Knowing this WIT went about their game in determined fashion and there was no lack of hunger and the five point winning margin was fair in the end as a Valentines weekend final renewal with UL was set up. There was little love in the air however as these two great rivals of 3rd level camogie in recent years went to war again in the Ashbourne Cup final. It was to be a day when UL finally realised their dreams in the Ashbourne Cup as they defeated WIT on a 0-12 to 1-8 score line in Queens University. Played in ideal conditions it was UL who got off to a flyer and scored the first four points of the game before an Emma Comerford free got WIT off the mark. It was all UL in the first fifteen minutes with Julia White and Captain Cait Devane setting the pace. WIT backs were under pressure with full back Collette Dormer immense throughout. WIT continued to battle and the switch of Katie Power to full forward proved to be a masterstroke with the Kilkenny star looking dangerous every time the ball was put in. WIT had begun to settle at this stage and a fine Katie Power goal brought them back into the game at 1-01 to 0-06, UL responded with a point from Cait Devane but it would prove to be their last score of the half and WIT ended the first half the stronger team adding further scores from Emma Comerford to leave the half time score 1-03 to WIT started the second half the same way they finished the first dominating the play and putting a good supply of ball into their full forward line. Katie Power continued to dominate and an excellent hand pass almost saw Shelly Farrell get through on goal before resolute defending from UL kept her at bay. WIT s pressure paid off though when Marie Dargan pointed from play to level the game before Emma Comerford pointed a free to put WIT in front for the first time in the match. The game was in the melting pot at this stage, two further points from a Cait Devane free and one from play put them two up and we were in for a frantic finish. WIT piled on the pressure and they were extremely unlucky not to get a goal when a Patricia Jackman free hit the bottom of the post. UL s backs were against the wall at this stage and they conceded three 45 s in quick succession which WIT had no choice but to lob the ball in and try to get a goal. UL defended resolutely and when WIT had another 45 Patricia Jackman put it over the bar and it was back to a one point game. Time was up though and from the resulting puck out referee Owen Elliott blew the final whistle and UL were crowned Ashbourne 6 Jean Brady Ruth Jones Shelly Farrell

7 Cup Champions for 2014 to send them into ecstasy and WIT were left heart broken. In defeat just as in victory WIT walked away with their heads held high after another fantastic campaign, as players move on once again from the 2014 panel, knowing that the WIT camogie spirit and seed has been passed on to the first and second year members of the panel, WIT can be sure that success will not be out of reach in WIT Ashbourne Cup Panel 2014: Aine Doran, Amanda Scallan, Ann Marie Lennon, Brid Quinn, Caroline Booth, Ciara Quirke, Collette Dormer, Deirdre Phelan, Emma Comerford, Jean Brady, Julianne Malone, Karen Mullins, Kate O Donoghue, Katie Flynn, Katie Power, Kelly Treacy, Laura Treacy, Louise Sinnott, Mairead O Connor, Marianne Murphy, Marie Dargan, Marie Morrissey, Meave Mansfield, Micheala Graham, Noelle Maher, Patricia Jackman, Ruth Jones, Sarah Crowley, Shauna Redmond, Shelly Farrell, Stefanie Beausang, Valerie O Brien, Vikki Falconer. Laura Treacy heads for goal. The nine unofficial rules of the GAA that referees must observe. New to the game? Puzzled with some refereeing decisions? We re here to help With the recent advent of Sky Sports covering GAA matches, we ve noticed (even more) puzzlement with some refereeing decisions. The problem is many of the rules of hurling and football are not in the official rulebook. They are handed from generation to generation. Here are 9 of the most important unofficial rules of the game that GAA referees traditionally observe. 1 If any team breaks a deadlock by scoring as time runs out, the referee shall give the losing side a chance to square the match. Should the winning team gain possession from the puck/ kick-out, it is okay to blow the full-time whistle. But it is seen as considered bad form to end the match if the losing side has the ball. Known as the... One for the road rule. 2 It is, of course, a foul for a player going up for a high ball to knee an opposing player in the back or elbow them in the face... unless they catch it. Then, well, fair play. Known as the... Machiavelli rule. 3 A player is not fouling the ball if an opposing player is fouling them at the same time. Therefore, a referee will not start counting steps a player takes with the ball in hand until the opposing player has let go of their jersey. Known as the... What s good for the goose rule. 3 A Subsection to the above rule: The more likely a player is to score a goal, the more steps the referee will allow them to take with ball in hand. Known as the... Forwards rule! rule. 4 One-on-one fights are the responsibility of the referee. However anything involving more than two or three players can be construed as a melee and the referee only has to note its occurrence for a later committee. Known as the... One death is a tragedy, 30 is a statistic rule. 5 The only thing on the ref s mind when throwing in a sliotar is not getting hit himself. Where it goes, or who else gets hit, is not his problem. Known as the... Every man for himself rule. 6 Players should try not to get on the wrong side of the umpires. Apart from them possibly having to make a call later in the game, one of them is probably the referee s lift home. Known as the... My mate s the boss rule. 7 Umpires can change their minds at any time. They may for example, put their hand up to draw the referee s attention to an off-the-ball incident. However, if the referee doesn t notice the signal inside a minute, it s perfectly acceptable to put their arm down and forget the incident ever happened. Known as the... My arm is getting sore rule. 8 If the crowd loudly complains that a free-taker has stolen a few extra yards before placing the ball, the referee will insist the player retreats even if he didn t see it happen. GAA referee s trust the crowd more than the player. Known as the... Home town benefits rule. From The Irish Times, June After awarding a free, the ref may bring the ball forward 13 metres for dissent. However, no referee is expected to know how far 13 metres is anywhere between five metres and half the length of the pitch is considered acceptable. Unlike soccer, no magic spray needed. Known as the... A piece of string rule. PROFILE Eimear Fennell Course: Criminal justice. Nicknames: A few of the girls on the team starting to call me fenno.. High Point in Sporting Career: Winning an all-ireland with my secondary school and playing in Croke Park Third Level Honours? Received fresher football player of the year, won the league and Intervarsity s plate with the soccer ladiess and hopefully more honors to come..!! Other Achievements? Had a few successful games of beer pong with Maria Dela this year. Looking for a new partner for next year though as she let me down in a few of the big games! Other Sports? Soccer, Camogie and Beer Pong. Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Angela Walsh. She also trained our secondary school team to All-Ireland victory! HERO My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Playing one of my first matches in a farmer s field. Funniest person in the WIT GAA Club is? Deníse Kenneally!! She is always having a lil giggle to herself. When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? Dream was to soon get married to Steven Gerrard. Don t see it happening anytime soon though. My Most Treasured Possession? Suppose it would have to be my phone. Biggest Insult? When people say I have a really funny/strange kick. My Signature food dish is? Shepherd s pie. Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? Phone, phone charger and some food to get me by. Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? James Corden as I could listen to him all day! Very funny man!! Favourite book? Not much of a reader so if we could change this question to movie, it would be The Shawshank Redemption. Never gets old! Toughest opponent? Michelle hopper McGrath. She would run all day!! 7

8 8 The Cat that got the cream COLLETTE DORMER by Randal Scally During her five years at WIT, Kilkenny star Collette Dormer enjoyed extraordinary success with the senior camogie team, winning a quartet of Ashbourne Cup medals and All Stars. Indeed, Collette would almost certainly have figured in WIT s five-in-a-row of Ashbourne Cup successes between 2009 and 2013 if she hadn t decided to take some time out from her Architectural Technology course at the Institute. Just three players have all five medals Offaly s Lorraine Keena, Sheena Ryan of Tipperary and Collette s fellow county-woman Áine Doran. Dormer came agonisingly close to joining that exclusive club earlier this year when WIT once again reached the Ashbourne Cup final, only to be denied a six-in-a-row by UL. It goes without saying that the camogie management will have big boots to fill in 2015 after the 25-year-old from Paulstown recently completed her studies at the south east Institute. I really enjoyed my time there, she says. I met so many great people and learned so much from playing alongside some of the leading players in camogie. It was a privilege to play on the same team as the likes of Ursula Jacob and Katrina Parrock from Wexford, Lorraine Keena from Offaly, Trish Jackman from Waterford, Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald from Laois and Anne Dalton, Katie Power and Denise Gaule, who I know well from playing on the same Kilkenny team as them. I don t think I would have got the opportunity to play with so many top-class players anywhere else. WIT is a great place to study and to play sport. Just like all of the other sporting organisations at the college, the camogie club is run very professionally and has the trophies to prove it. Collette s time at WIT coincided with the most successful period in the camogie club s relatively short history. In her first year, the Waterford girls lost the Ashbourne Cup final to UCD in Belfast, but the experience was to stand them in good stead as they bounced back to win a remarkable five on the trot. When I arrived in September 2007, camogie wasn t as strong as it is now, she recalls. UCD beat us in the 2008 final and I was one of several freshers to play that year. We learned a lot from that and gained revenge for that defeat to UCD the following year. That was a huge breakthrough for us and we went on to beat UCC in both 2010 and 2011, and UL in Collette wasn t involved last year when WIT completed the five-in-a-row by beating UL after two periods of extra-time in UL s own back yard. But she was back on board this season when UL avenged their 2013 reversal thanks to a 0-12 to 1-8 victory. The Limerick girls signalled their intent by racing into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead, but with Collette showing all her class and experience at full back, and Katie Power scoring a timely goal, WIT fought back to trail by the minimum, 1-3 to 0-7, at half-time. The holders resumed with points from Marie Dargan and Shelly Farrell (free) to take the lead for the first time, but UL were soon level through a point from wing back Debbie Flynn. Two further points from their captain Cait Devane had the challengers in the driving seat before they had a major letoff when Patricia Jackman s goal attempt from a free came back off the post. The Waterford star converted a 45 to make it a one-point game once more, but a determined UL held on to end WIT s six-ina-row dream. I lost my first and last Ashbourne final in Belfast, Collette says ruefully in reference to the venue. We had an extremely difficult semi-final against DCU the previous day which took a lot from us. But that s no excuse, though. UL were the better team on the day and fair play to them. I can t have any complaints about my time as a WIT camogie player. To have won four Ashbourne Cups is unbelievable. We had a great run under Helena Jacob (Ursula s sister and Wexford subgoalkeeper) and Conor Phelan (WIT GAA development officer) for five or six years. And this year Anne Downey (Kilkenny camogie legend) and James McGrath (Tipperary) picked up from where they left off. Both managements were great to play under. Collette s versatility is reflected in the fact that she won Ashbourne Cup All Stars in four different positions. She was picked at centre forward in 2009, wing back in 2010, corner back in 2011 and centre back in I ve played in nearly every position apart from goals at this stage, the affable Kilkenny woman laughs. The flame-haired camog already had two years of senior inter-county experience under her belt before she first passed through the doors at WIT. Having lost All- Ireland finals to Cork and Galway in 2009 and 2013 respectively, she s hoping it will be a case of third time lucky for the Cats this year. They showed their claws when dishing out a 1-15 to 0-4 drubbing to Clare in the National League final at the beginning of May. We re on a mission to make up for last year s final when we didn t perform in what was a poor game against Galway, she reveals. We re going well so far this year and won the league final more comfortably than we expected. Our management team of Niall Williams, Graham Dillon, John Joe Aylward and Tom Doheny are into their second year and, like the players, will have learned from last year. The All-Ireland will be very competitive five or six teams could win it. Growing up in a house with five brothers, there was no escaping the GAA for Collette who started out playing underage hurling with the boys. I played up until U14 with the boys because there was no underage camogie in Paulstown at the time. My older brothers Stephen, John and Patrick were all playing hurling and I just followed in their footsteps. My younger brother Martin played for Kilkenny at underage level, but is living in Australia now. Collette plays her club camogie with Paulstown-Goresbridge, which was formed in 2001 and is a sister club of Barrow Rangers GAA. One of her club-mates is her sister-inlaw, Orla Banbury, who lined out at midfield on the Kildare team that defeated Laois in last year s All-Ireland junior camogie final. Orla s husband (and Collette s brother) Stephen Dormer is currently managing the Lilywhites, having served as a selector last year.

9 Mixing Sport & Modern Life The Challenge for Our Student Athletes WIT Sport hosted a special forum on Thursday, 14th November with the aim to open the debate on all aspects of sporting life for a student athlete; from high performance athlete preparation to player health and well-being and facing up to the challenges of combining all of this with the demands of college life. The all-encompassing nature of the topics discussed was reflected in the event title Challenging Times: Striking the Balance for Active Students. The organisers amassed some very interesting guests who came from a variety of different sporting backgrounds, from international to current and former GAA stars. The forum was put together by Waterford IT Clubs and Societies Office, the Waterford IT GAA Club as well as the Department of Health Science here in WIT and it was all organised in conjunction with Colin Regan (GAA Community & Health Promotion Manager) and Stacey Cannon (GAA Health & Well Being Coordinator) from Croke Park. The event also marked the launch of the Off The Booze, On The Ball Challenge for sports clubs in Waterford Institute of Technology; a first for the Institute. The event is supported by WIT Clubs & Societies, the WIT Students Union, the WIT Health Science Department, the GAA and other relevant departments and personnel within the Institute. The event focused on athlete preparation and the challenge of juggling a sporting career with the demands of student life on and off the field. Master of Ceremonies for the event was WLR FM s Head of Sport Kevin Casey. Contributors and members of the panel included Colin Regan; the GAA s Community & Health Promotion Manager, John Mullane; former Waterford Hurler and 5 time All Star, Rachel Roberts; WIT Wildcats Basketball, Valerie Mulcahy, eight time All Ireland Ladies Football winner with Cork, Donnacha Ryan; former Munster & Ireland rugby international, Noel Richardson; senior lecturer in Carlow IT and former coach to the Kilkenny senior hurling team. The open forum nature of the event and the mixture of guests that were assembled, gave the audience several different views and opinions on the topics across many areas. The audience took the opportunity to ask great questions of the panel of guests on areas that interested them with fantastic responses, making it a wonderful evening in WIT Conor Phelan, WIT GAA Development Officer. Noel Richardson Colin Regan Donnacha Ryan Valerie Mulcahy Rachel Roberts John Mullane 9

10 WIT s Stephen O Keeffe s tweet about Stephen O Keeffe s charge and block on Anthony Nash s penalty in the Munster quarter-final replay heightened safety fears about penalties and 21 yard frees this year. It has originally thought that no rule change could be addressed until Congress next year and until then referees are prepared to allow O Keeffe-style charges off the line to block down penalty takers like Nash, who can advance so far because of the elevation they engineer with their lift. 1 THAT save! Referees seem satisfied that a striking action begins with the lift when initial contact is made and therefore players are free to advance at that point. That s why referee Johnny Ryan did not order a retake of the Nash penalty, which O Keeffe blocked, having got within a metre of his opposite number. But the GAA issued a statement soon after the game stating that the Management Committee will recommend to Central Council an interpretation of the rules before the weekend in respect of the taking of penalty pucks and free pucks from the 20-metre line. O Keeffe tweeted an image of Ron Burgundy of Anchorman fame, captioned I immediately regret this decision with the message: Me on the 13 yard line yesterday 3 1: On the way out 2 4 3: The Aftermath. 2: Out there. 4: The result!... and a point scored for Cork. Last year saw WIT GAA Club run a Foundation GAA Course online for the first time and a GAA Child Protection Course delivered in WIT Sports Campus in early October. Both courses in WIT went very well, with over 22 attending the foundation course which was delivered by Conor Phelan and Aoife Lane. We had another 22 young coaches attending the child welfare course which was delivered by John Quinn and Liam Cheasty The Foundation Award is the introductory award for coaches of Gaelic Games. The course is aimed at beginner coaches and will enable participants to assist a coach in the organisation of activities to develop hurling or football. The course is seven and a half hours in duration and covers four key modules, as well as introductory and conclusion modules Limited GAA Coaching places now available. GAA Foundation course ( 15), Child protection ( 5) and GAA Level 1 course ( 30) are subsidised by WIT for present and past students/coaches. Anyone interested in doing these should contact Conor Phelan- cphelan@ wit.ie, look on the WITGAA facebook page or visit Finally we would like to thank all the tutors who have delivered courses this year and we look forward to working with you all in WIT Corner GAA Coaching

11 Leaveinter-county competitions to inter-county teams The involvement of third level institutes and universities in subsidiary inter-county competitions such as the Waterford Crystal, Walsh, McGrath and O Byrne Cups has long divided opinion. Having seen it from both sides as manager of the Wexford and WIT hurlers, Colm Bonnar feels it s time to leave the inter-county competitions to the inter-county teams. Once a fan of the arrangement which has been in place for the past decade, the novelty factor has well and truly worn off for Colm, who led WIT to their sixth Fitzgibbon Cup triumph in 15 years last March, despite his team having had only one game in the Waterford Crystal Cup. When the college teams were first allowed into the pre-season inter-county competitions, I thought it was a great idea because the colleges had first call on county players, the former Tipperary All-Ireland winner recalls. One year, 2006, we reached the Waterford Crystal Cup final against Limerick (the Treaty County prevailed on a 1-19 to 3-10 scoreline) and found it to be great preparation for the Fitzgibbon Cup, which we went on to win. At the time, we were attracting a lot of players from Kilkenny and there was a loophole that allowed them to play in both the Waterford Crystal Cup and the Walsh Cup in Leinster. By Randal Scally We had the best of both worlds for a while, but things have changed in the meantime. Since I got reinvolved with WIT two years ago, I ve noticed a big change in attitude towards the college teams participating in the pre-season competitions. The country was struggling and a lot of people who had lost their jobs were going back to college. The knock-on effect was that inter-county managers were left with less of a pick. Derek McGrath (Waterford manager) was hit especially hard in that regard this year as most of his panel was in college and teams are getting younger. Where once the pre-season competitions provided excellent preparation for the college sides Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup campaigns, while also providing intercounty teams who were banned from training collectively in the months of November and December with the opportunity to blow off the cobwebs in January, Colm feels there is too much friction between managers nowadays for the status quo to remain. He also points to some very one-sided games as another reason why the colleges should get out. I don t think it is working anymore. It was a great idea at the start, but the growing number of one-sided games has diluted the competition. When the college teams don t have access to inter-county players, they just aren t able to compete, he says. The issue over who has first call on inter-county players can cause huge friction between managers. While the colleges are supposed to have first pick, we have never had a problem letting our players play with their county in the Waterford Crystal Cup or Walsh Cup because they are inter-county competitions first and foremost. We are also conscious that the start of the year is a very intense period for inter-county teams who are preparing for the National League, which counties are taking much more seriously than they used to. We are happy to release our players to them at the weekend because we will still get to see them and work with them during the week. He continues: I have found that you are better off working with inter-county managers rather than pulling against them. If you work with them, they will be more willing to allow the players to train with their college during the week. We could demand certain players, but the way I look at it is they are playing at a higher level with their county team and that can only benefit the college team. The Cashel native can see the inter-county manager s point of view, having been in charge of Wexford for three years from 2008 to He also served as physical trainer with both Tipperary and Waterford. I ve been on the other side and I know what it is like, he says. You see players getting pulled and dragged in every direction, and that can lead to them getting burnt out. Everyone is demanding their pound of flesh. But if managers are prepared to work together, allow for some leeway and use a bit of common sense, they will get a better performance from their inter-county players in the long run. WIT s 2014 Waterford Crystal Cup campaign was ended in the first round by UL, but it didn t stop them from going on to win the Fitzgibbon Cup at CIT s expense in Belfast a few weeks later. We got nothing out of it (the Crystal Cup), Colm claims. It didn t bother us because we had given over eight players, including Stephen O Keeffe, Pauric Mahony and Jake Dillon, to the Waterford panel and UL had all their county men playing. We went into that game with a skeletal team, but we had our inter-county players back for the Fitzgibbon and it worked out well in the end. The WIT supremo, who is currently managing Ballyhale Shamrocks along with fellow Tipp man Andy Moloney, regards this year s Fitzgibbon Cup victory as one of the most satisfying he s ever had in hurling. Last year I thought we had missed a big opportunity against Mary I (in the semifinal) and then we lost so many big name players, but we were very committed this year. They are a special group and they gave it everything, he concludes. Ross Brady in action v Cork in McGrath Cup,

12 The Sky s the Limit, Hon the WIT By Pierce Connell On a damp and dark September evening in 2013 we once again gathered and waited to see what new or existing players would show up for training at WIT Sports Campus. By 6pm we had 65 players consisting of the J1 visa sun tanned lads along with a good sprinkling of last year s First Years and a healthy addition of new Freshers waiting to impress us. beaten by this strong Team who went on to win the title with ease. Alas our Junior team which was a mix of non capped seniors and Freshers players started their campaign against CIT in Cork and we won impressively and the mind started wandering. Next up was Tralee IT in Cork in the Munster Final and after a very tough game we won by 2 points and won the Munster Trophy. In the All Ireland Semi Final we were drawn against GMIT and again we dug in and won by 3 points. All of a sudden we were in the All Ireland Final against Dublin IT in Maynooth who were going for 3 in a row. This was the game to see as we put the foot down and blew the Dubs off the pitch and won well 4.07 to to say the road trip home was great craic is an understatement but those lads who travelled that day will never forget the feeling. Absolutely delighted and proud moments for all. How will 2014/2015 pan out? Come along and get involved and let s get stuck in together. Paddy Kilkenny Man, Paddy Carlow Man and Paddy Waterford Man sitting at a bar joking and laughing. A stranger asks them why the craic is mighty, they said its because they are All Ireland football medal holders and also new friends for life... Hon the WIT. Footballers have bigger balls fact Pierce don t make me angry and have to come looking for you Connell We were excited to see the numbers who turned up and plans were afoot to make an impact in the 2014 Championships in Senior, Freshers and Junior grades. Between the weekly training sessions at WIT Sports Campus and sometimes a morning session in the Hall mixed in with a bonding session in a secret location, the path was clear to all involved what we wanted to achieve with these teams. We had high hopes of our senior team in the Trench Cup but unfortunately we came unstuck against a tough University of Coleraine in a cold and wet Dundalk in January. We didn t play to our potential and didn t click like we could. Our Fresher s Team had mixed fortunes in the League. We met IT Blanchardstown in the championship in Dublin and came away with an emphatic victory. In the next round we played University of Limerick in Limerick and were well 12 AJ Lehane in action during the year. Junior footballers take a selfie

13 WIT Trench Cup Panel 2014: Daniel Dawson, Andrew Forde, Willie Molloy, Gerard Malone, Eoin McGrath, Gavin Nugent, Shane Fox, Shane Murphy, Graeme Cullen, Sean Daffy, Adam Gray, Dean Higgins, Daniel Marsh, Colm Nolan, Dylan Hassett, Joseph O Connor, Sean Taylor, David Doyle Murphy, AJ Lehane, Jamie Malone, Luke Thomas, Patrick O Donnell, Steve Olohan, Niall Carolan, Cormac Flynn, Niall Harney, Art Lowry, Aidan Cash, Kevin O Brien, John O Brien, Mick O Toole, Graham Power, Shane Ryan, Conor Smith, Conor Sheedy, William Gleeson, Rory Galvin. WIT Junior Football Panel 2014: Aaron Considine, Aaron Mullins, Adam Gray, Art Lowry, Colm Nolan, Conor Sheedy, Conor Smyth, Daniel Marsh, Daniel O Connell, Dylan Moore, Eoin McGrath, Ger Malone, Graham Power, Jakob Koborsz, Jamie Snell, John O Brien, Ken Brazil, Kevin O Brien, Kevin Sheehan, Laurence Harney, Michael O Rourke, Nigel Murphy, Rory Galvin, Sean Daffy, Sean Roche, Sean Taylor, Stephen O Keeffe, Steve O Lohan, Willy Gleeson, Willy Molloy. PROFILE Clodagh McGovern Course: BA in Accounting Nicknames: Mango or Cheddar High Point in Sporting Career: Boston finals 2012, 2013 and hopefully Third Level Honours? MBA in Procrastination. Other Achievements? I once caught a trout with my bare hands, it was trapped behind a rock, in a lake, but I m still extremely proud of this achievement. Other Sports? Camogie, handball. tennis, rollerblading, swimming as hobbies. Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Any man in a Kerry jersey, and Tony Browne. My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Watching my uncle play in goal for the Junior B hurling team, in a day where a helmet was a foreign object. There was a penalty for the other team, my uncle saved it..with his eye. It wasn t a pretty sight excuse the pun. Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Oh wow, I don t know. Everyone is special in their own way but I give the honour to Eimear Fennel, be careful of her she will lower you to her level of humour. But a lot of the time is spent laughing at her too. When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? A farmer, when my parents told me this wasn t possible I decided I would be a farmer s wife. My Most Treasured Possession? My mother. Biggest Insult? It takes a lot to get into my head, people will always talk leave them off. What does get me going is when someone insults my friends. My Signature food dish is? Enchiladas with a salad of (raw) broccoli, purple grapes, bacon bits and (toasted) pine nuts with the dressing of your choice which is always going to be balsamic. Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? My dog, Tomás Ó Sé, my contacts. Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Well, if I m already there with Tomás Ó Sé then on the other side of the island I would have Novak Djokovic. Favourite book? Any book about Steve Jobs life. Toughest opponent? Sinead McAleer from Tyrone. Came up against her twice, she could read what I was doing before I knew myself. I spent more energy trying to lose her than to gain possession. WIT Inter-County Footballers Evan Costello (Laois) Evan is one of those classy forwards that is able to take a score from all positions on the pitch. He is also an accurate free taker off both the right a left foot, a huge addition to any team. After Evan s displays with his club and county under 21 s he has been called into the Laois senior squad. Gavin Nugent (Waterford) The Rathgormack man has been a big player for WIT this year. His attitude to training is top class. Gavin is one of those top class forwards that no back would like to mark as he has pace to burn and has a keen eye for goal. Gavin is also one of those players that is a versatile forward in that he can play in all six positions with ease. Graeme Cullen (Wexford) Graeme has been an ever present with WIT in recent seasons and has shown huge dedication to the club, his drive and determination with college and his home club Gusserane have earned him a place in the Wexford senior football panel and he made his competitive debut for Wexford in the National League this year. AJ Lehane (Wexford) AJ has shown huge dedication to the WIT football team during his time in the college, with his positive attitude and skill set being a huge bonus for the team. AJ lined out at midfield for the Wexford Under 21 team in the Leinster championship against Offaly in February and is sure to progress to the senior fold in the near future. Niall Harney (Wexford) Niall is in his first campaign with WIT after returning to college as a mature student. Niall made an immediate impact and broke into the senior team. This breakthrough corresponds with his breakthrough into the Wexford senior football panel after getting a call up from Wexford manager Aidan O Brien during the winter. Graham Power (Carlow) Graham showed his leadership skills both on and off the field during the past season in his fresher year with WIT. The Carlow under 21 captain from this year is a huge addition to the WIT football panel and his inter county career is progressing in impressive fashion also, and this is a player who is comfortable in attack or defence. 13

14 WIT GAA club celebrated its achievements for the seasons in style on Monday 7th of April with the hosting of the 33rd Annual GAA Awards night in the Dome Bar. In what was a very successful year for the college sporting wise, it was a memorable year for WIT GAA club with the Institute winning its first Fitzgibbon Cup crown in 6 years, while also capturing the All Ireland and Munster Junior Football titles, the Munster Junior hurling title and a fifth 60x30 A team handball title in a row. The special guest on the night has a great loyalty and passion for WIT GAA club, as former All Star and past Fitzgibbon Cup winner Ollie Moran attended to present the medals and player of the year awards. Ollie spoke of how he holds great memories and love for WIT GAA and feels that there is a unique bond in WIT compared to other 3rd level colleges, and he noticed this again in the triumphant 2014 winning Fitzgibbon team. Each year WIT acknowledges those who excelled across the various codes, with the criteria for player of the year awards covering performances, dedication and commitment to their respective teams. This year s players of the year are. 33rd WIT GAA Awards Night Senior Ladies Football: Clara Donnelly Senior Camogie: Patricia Jackman Fresher Camogie: Laura Tracey Fresher Football: Jamie Snell Junior Hurling: Tom Doheny Senior Football: A J Lehane Senior Hurling: Paraic Gahan Fresher Hurling: Ciaran O Brien Fresher Ladies Football: Eimear Fennell WIT Junior Football Panel, Junior Football: Ger Malone Awards presented by Ollie Moran WIT GAA club has over 630 registered players who competed on 17 different teams in the past year in a total of 147 games across five codes. GAA Development Officer, Conor Phelan, closed the night by thanking all the managers and coaches of each of the teams, while he also thanked the people who work behind the scenes in WIT: the GAA Club Executive, the bus drivers, physios and the ladies who wash the jerseys, without this help it would be impossible to field teams each year. WIT Fitzgibbon Cup Panel,

15 Fitzgibbon Cup glory The views of Pauric Mahony By Jackie Cahill At just 22 years of age, Waterford IT student Pauric Mahony already boasts a hurling CV that is the envy of many. He s won two county senior hurling titles with his club Ballygunner and is a former Harty Cup and All-Ireland colleges medallist with the De La Salle nursery. Mahony is also an interprovincial medallist with Munster and he captured a Munster minor medal with Waterford in Mahony finds it difficult to pick a medal that stands out above all others but he admits that helping Waterford IT to Fitzgibbon Cup glory last year was special. Mahony explains: Nobody gave us much of a chance but we believed ourselves that we had a right chance of winning it. It was just ourselves that believed that and when it happened, it made it a bit more special. We lost 9 games in a row before we won a game, between League, challenge games and everything. The first game we won was the second group game but it s always the case with us we pull it together when it matters. Mahony, preparing for his final year as a business studies student, had already won a Fitzgibbon Cup title in 2012, with University College Cork, alongside his brother Philip. He smiles: To be honest, I didn t like the course that I was doing in UCC, simple as. I had so many friends in Waterford IT and I remember I rang up Noel Connors first and asked him what do I do? I came up to Conor Phelan s office and I knew straight away that I d be happy here. I m into my final year so there s one big year to put down, hopefully I ll get a good degree and move on from there. Mahony is eligible again for Fitzgibbon Cup hurling in 2015, when WIT aim to retain their title. And the unique family bond that exists on campus could see them go all the way again. In an epic 2014 semi-final that was pockmarked by 43 scores, Limerick IT were nine points ahead with 21 minutes left before WIT launched an epic fightback. WIT won after extra-time and Mahony, a renowned forward on the Waterford senior team, collected a personal haul of 0-16, all but one point from placed balls. Mahony was again to the fore in the final against Cork IT in Belfast, scoring four frees as WIT ran out 0-17 to 0-12 winners. And Mahony recalls: The fact that we were nine points down in the semi-final and to come back the way we did makes that one of the most exciting games ever to be a part of. We thought we d lost it but Harry Kehoe (Wexford) scored a crucial goal and in the final, he got a couple of crucial scores near the end of the game. But Waterford IT must plan without a couple of key names as they prepare for the defence of their crown, with goalkeeper Stephen O Keeffe and free-scoring forward Jake Dillon now left. The likes of Mahony himself, Joe O Dwyer, Jerome Maher and Gavin O Brien will still be available, however, and with former Tipperary All-Ireland senior hurling medallist Colm Bonnar in charge, anything his possible. Mahony says: He makes it. My view on the Fitzgibbon is that if you have a manger coming in and he wants to flog you, I don t think that s gong to work. Lads are training so hard with county teams but Colm knows that he won t get anything in return by flogging lads. That s what made our team last year, the spirit we built up, and as Colm always says, a good bonding session is better than any hurling session! Hurling is obviously a huge part of Mahony s life but he s an ambitious guy and impressed Dublin employers Ernst and Young while on a recent placement in the capital. The offer of a three-year contract is on in Dublin after he completes his studies but Mahony will weigh everything up before deciding on the right move for him. He explains: I m really enjoying the course. Business studies is a broad course but there would be a bit of everything in it, anything from law to business finance to quantitative methods. It s just about getting into a good routine right from the off. You might have hours a week in college so there is plenty of time to get in the gym sessions, with training in the evenings. For the summer, I m working in my mother and uncle s business, Woodpecker floors and tiles, picking up a few bob there working two or three days a week. Mahony, a young man who can turn his hand to almost anything, is preparing for a day with clubmate Fergal Hartley at his recruitment agency on Manor street in Waterford when we speak. But it won t be long before he s back in the college routine and Mahony smiles: I m living at home, 15 minutes from the college, so that s dead handy. I drive in and out every morning. I was delighed to get to Dublin for a spell. It s like a different world up there. There s no recession up in Dublin and it s great experience to get too, working for a big firm as well. The world is Pauric Mahony s oyster but no matter what path life takes him on, WIT will always remain close to his heart. He says: There s never a day when there s nobody around, to meet up for lunch with the lads. There s a good buzz around the place and it s a really friendly college. It s one that I d definitely recommend to anyone thinking of coming here. 15

16 J unior HURLING Report This year was a very successfully year for the Juniors albeit a very fortunate year, this team won the Munster Junior Hurling Championship teams include all the Munster Third Level Colleges and DIT. We received a bye into the semi-final where we would play DIT at home in Carriganore. The night in question wasn t for the faint hearted due to the adverse weather conditions, there was strong wind and rain from the outset and throughout the game. Our lads put in a battling performance in the bad conditions, our backs kept things tight and didn t give the DIT forwards and room to move, best of the backs were Joe Fennelly, Philly Lavery and Conor Brophy. At the other end of the field, on a terrible night for shooting, the forwards managed to notch up 1-8 with Tom Doheny and Finbarr Butler leading the way, this was great shooting in the poor conditions. The final score was WIT 1-8 DIT 1-4. This set us up with a final spot against UCC, however after three attempts to play the final UCC conceded the game as they could not field a team. By default leaving WIT as Munster Champions!!!! WIT Junior Hurling Panel 2014: Adam Kennedy, Aaron Considine, Alan Lagrue, Barry Whelan, Bryan Power, Conor Brophy, Craig Burke, Damian Delaney, Finbarr Butler, Gray Cronin, James Doyle, James Gittins, Joe Fennelly, John Good, Kelvin Lynch, Kevin O Brien, Kieran Cahill, Leo Curtin, Liam Corry, Martin Hennessy, Michael O Dwyer, Oisin Royston, Oliver St. John, Paddy Dowling, Philip Lavery, Robert O Leary, Sam Johnston, Shane Seymour, Tom Doheny. PROFILE Emma Comerford Course: Exercise and Health Studies Nicknames: I don t have one really only Em or Comerford High Point in Sporting Career: Winning my first Ashbourne Cup in 2012 Third Level Honours? 2 Ashbourne Cups, Div 1 League and an Ashbourne all star Other Achievements? U16 and minor All Irelands with Kilkenny, All Ireland colleges with Loreto and under age county titles with my club Young Irelands Other Sports? Hockey Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? DJ Carey My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Winning the primary schools Roinn B final in Nowlan Park. Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Aine Doran. When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? I always wanted to be a Guard My Most Treasured Possession? My phone My Signature food dish is? Chicken stir fry Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? My phone, food, and a blanket to keep me warm Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Bear Grylls, I d hopfully survive with him! Favourite book? The few books I have read, the Hunger Games Toughest opponent? She s from my own County but someone you wouldn t like to mark too often, Edwina Keane PROFILE Laura Treacy Course: General Nursing. Nicknames: Laur, Lols. High Point in Sporting Career: Winning the Minor Camogie County Final 2012 with my club Killeagh and receiving player of the match. Shortly after I was asked to join the Cork Senior ew weeks!!! Third Level Honours? Receiving the Bronze Sports Scholarship Camogie Fresher of the year Runners up in Ashbourne Runners up in the Fresher s Blitz Playing alongside some outstanding players in WIT. Other Achievements? Member of the Cork Senior Camogie Panel. Inter-county Intermediate league winners Senior Munster Inter-county Winners Minor Inter-county All Ireland Runners Up Various underage medals with both club and school. Other Sports? Football and Surfing. Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Joe Deane, Mary O Connor, Tommy Walsh and Orla Cotter. My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? I was about 8 and it was my first u10 Camogie match. I was so excited for the whole day I just couldn t wait to get going. I ll never forget when I arrived at the field that evening and opened the boot of the car 16 to find that I had forgotten to bring both my hurl and helmet. Safe to say I haven t forgotten them for a game since! Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Has to be Aine Doran with Valerie O Brien not far behind When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? A Vet and I was frightened of dogs?? My Most Treasured Possession? iphone. Biggest Insult? Being kicked off a field for our Minor League Semi Final so that the u12 boys could train on it. My Signature food dish is? Pasta Dish. Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? Plane, Pilot and a one way ticket back home! Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Harry Styles. Favourite book? The Hunger Games. Toughest opponent? Katrina Parrock or Caoimhe Costello they are both outstanding players.

17 Freshers Camogie The WIT Fresher Camogie team travelled to Galway on March 12th for the All-Ireland 7-a-side blitz. The panel of twelve, including eight of the Ashbourne Cup panel, were among six teams that travelled to NUIG in pursuit of the Fresher s All-Ireland title. NUI Maynooth provided the opposition in the opening group game and despite a slow start, the ability of the forward division to score goals proved the difference, as WIT ran out winners on a score line of 6-1 to 0-3, with Denise Ryan, Laura Walsh and the pacey Casey Tobin, impressing upon their introduction. In the second group game, IT Carlow started well and had 1-1 on the board without reply inside the opening minute. Despite creating numerous goal chances, three WIT chances hit the upright in the opening half, while IT Carlow continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, meaning WIT went into to the break trailing by one point. The second half was a different affair though, and with all players becoming more accustomed to the unique tactics of seven-a-side. WIT fought their way into the lead and a last minute goal, in combination with strong displays by Marianne Murphy and Laura Dowling, cemented a 6-1 to 4-2 win, and set up a semi-final clash with UL. In the semi-final WIT began slowly again, as UL backboned by a large contingent of their Ashbourne Cup winning team, hitting 1-2 without reply in the two minutes. However, captain Laura Treacy led by example in midfield and Valerie O Brien dictated the line of attack with a series of clever puck outs which allowed the dangerous Ciara Quirke to find space midway through the first half and score a brace of goals to ensure that the sides went in level at the break. The second half continued with both sides going from end to end in pursuit of goals. Julianne Malone s ability to deliver precision passes ensured that WIT continued to keep the points ticking over, whilst Valerie O Brien s ability to time her move off the goal line in one-on-one situations prevented the concession of two almost-certain goals, saw us lead by three points with thirty seconds left on the clock. However, one last effort by UL resulted in an equalising goal which resulted in the need for extra time. WIT Freshers Camogie Team, 2014 With over 60 minutes of 7-a-side camogie already in their legs, both teams began to fatigue, but their desire to come out on top did not diminish. Sarah Crowley s unrelenting work rate continued to be rewarded with the creation of scoring chances, with Ciara Quirke and Marie Morrissey capitalising on any chance that came her way. WIT took a three point lead into the final minute of extra time before Michaela Graham, revelling in her defensive role soloed up the field to score a great point from midfield to extend the lead to four. Despite a late UL goal, another score was not forthcoming and WIT was victorious in a most compelling game of camogie, on a score line of 5-10 to 5-9. The effects of the enthralling semi-final resulted in a team reshuffle for the final against DIT. Despite these changes it was clear that the semi-final had taken too much out of the team to compete with their opposition, who were spearheaded by a strong Kilkenny contingent, including eventual player of the tournament Miriam Walsh. DIT s supremacy was unquestionable and despite the best efforts of Laura Treacy, Michaela Graham and Ciara Quirke, the Dublin-based College ran out comfortable winners, 4-9 to 2-2. Although defeated in the final by a stronger DIT team, WIT can take great heart from the determination and character shown on the day and can look forward to the Senior campaign. WIT Fresher Camogie Panel 2014: Aisling O Halloran, Casey Tobin, Ciara Quirke, Eileen Byrne, Julianne Malone, Laura Treacy, Laura Walsh, Laura Dowling, Lauren Barcoe, Marianne Murphy, Marie Morrissey, Michaela Graham, Niamh Kelly, Soracha Phelan, Valerie O Brien, Eimear Mooney, Sarah Crowley. Michaela Graham in action 17

18 18 GAA CLUB EXECUTIVE Eugene McKenna, Sinead Nealon, Sheila O Donohoe, Kate Kelly GAA Development Officer: Conor Phelan Elected Officers Camogie Officers: Chairperson: Jean Brady Secretary: Patricia Jackman Hurling Officers: Chairperson: Tommy Kavanagh Secretary: Kieran Hammersley Football Officers: Chairperson: Stephen Prendergast Secretary: Luke Thomas Ladies Football: Chairperson: Stephanie Beausang Secretary: Clara Donnolly Handball Officers Chairperson Dan Breen Secretary William Quail Football Management Senior : Emmet Doherty, Pierce Connell Captain: Shane Murphy Junior: Emmet Doherty, Pierce Connell Captain: Colm Nolan PROFILE Harry Kehoe WIT STUDENT GAA CLUB OFFICIALS 2013/2014 Fresher: Pa Kearny, Sean Quirke Captain: Graham Power Course: BBS (H) Marketing Nicknames: Wobbles, Haz, Har. High Point in Sporting Career: Winning the 2014 Fitzgibbon Cup Third Level Honours? All Ireland Fresher League Winner, Fitzgibbon Cup Winner Other Achievements? Wexford Hurler 2009 present, Fitzgibbon All Star 2014, National Hurling League Div 2 Winner 2010, u21 club winner Numerous underage medals. Other Sports? Play Golf and follow Formula 1. Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Rory McCarthy My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Playing indoor hurling in my local hall and feeling very sore after it! As far as I can remember there were basically no rules or ref. Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Goalie Sock he s crazy When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? Wexford Hurler and Formula 1 driver! My Most Treasured Possession? ipad Biggest Insult? Being called Lazy My Signature food dish is? Homemade pizza Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? Company, a knife to help build/hunt and a lighter to start a fire. ( I watch Bear Grylls) Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Margot Robbie Favourite book? Roy Keane s Autobiography. Toughest opponent? Darren Stamp Hurling Management Senior : Colm Bonnar, Alan Roche, Patrick O Flynn, Fintan O Connor Captain: Eoin Murphy Intermediate: Patrick O Flynn, Alan Roche Captain: Luke O Loughlin Junior : Richie McNamara, Kieran Hammersley, Tommy Kavanagh Captain: Finbar Butler Fresher: Ray O Brien, Shane Dunphy, Barry John Kennedy, Richie McNamara Captain: Seanie Barry, Fresher: Richie McNamara, John Kennedy Captain: Adrian Buckley Camogie Management Senior: Ann Downey, James McGrath, Conor Phelan Captains: Trish Jackman, Kate O Donoghue Intermediate: Leonard Ryan, Jennie Simpson Captain: Maeve Mansfield Fresher: Gary Cronin, Trish Jackman Captains: Laura Treacy Ladies Football Management Senior: Noel Holohan, Stephen O Keeffe, Aaron Considine Captains: Clara Donnelly, Onora Mulcahy Fresher: Danielle Downey, Stephen O Keeffe, Aaron Considine Captain: Máiréad Daly Off the Booze & On the Ball WIT GAA challenged its members to stay Off the Booze & On the Ball & abstain from alcohol for 4 weeks to give their New Year a healthy kick-start. The campaign started from the 27th of Jan to 24th Feb. 166 WIT GAA members signed up this year for this challenge. Driven by the GAA s ASAP programme, The Challenge offered participants the opportunity to press pause on their hectic social calendar. For some clubs, The Challenge was also used as an opportunity to fund raise in a fun and healthy way everyone who registered received an information pack with practical tips on how to implement a healthier lifestyle as well as a sponsorship card. The results from a physical and financial perspective can be substantial! This year nine colleges across the four provinces including WIT have backed the challenge and are promoting it amongst their wider student populations and their GAA clubs. The time of year you choose to take up The Challenge doesn t matter all that matters is that it benefits your health in a lasting way. To take up The Challenge complete the registration form online to receive your automated Information Pack and sponsorship card. If you are registering as a club member please click on the Club tab above the registration form before completing it. If you are registering as a student please click on the University College tab. For more information on Off the Booze and On the Ball or to request a resource pack, please asap@gaa.ie.

19 WIT WIT Inter-County Camogie Players Patricia Jackman (Waterford): Trish is a role model on and off the field. She is the holder of 4 Ashbourne Cup medals and 4 Ashbourne All Star awards. She can play in multiple positions in both attack and defence. She has also won the Poc Fada for the last 5 years in a row. Jean Brady (Offaly): Jean has been a member of the Offaly panel for the last few years. Jean has been a revelation for WIT since coming on the scene. This is a player that can play anywhere, this year she played in the forwards, midfield and backs showing how veritable she is. Her work rate and ability to come out of a ruck with the ball in fantastic. Katie Power (Kilkenny): Katie was also a member of the Kilkenny squad for the last number of years. Katies score taking and ability to make space for others with her vision was second to none. Playing anywhere in the forward line she has given a master class in attacking play over a number of years. Shelly Farrell (Kilkenny): Shelly is also a member of the Kilkenny senior camogie squad. She has pace to burn and can play anywhere from midfield to corner forward. She was flying it after Christmas and is the focal point of WITs attacks. Emma Comerford (Kilkenny) Emma is another member of the current Kilkenny Senior camogie team and plays a pivotal role WIT s game plan. Her free taking ability under pressure has been a big reason why WIT has been successful over the last 3 years. Michaela Graham (Tipperary): This was Michaela s first year on the panel. She is one of those players if she gets the ball in her hand she makes things happen. She is a player who always has a good word to say about everyone and has the banter in the dressing room. Inter-County Ladies Footballers Clara Donnelly (Wexford) Clara has been a stand out player for the WIT team again this year. She can play in both defence and attack. She is noted for her long runs and taking the right option at the right time. Katie Redmond (Wexford) After a tough injury last year Katie has been one of WIT stand out players this year. Her forward minded thinking led to a lot of scores in this year s campaign. As a result of her performances on the field she was awarded senior player of the year this year. Laura Tracey (Cork) Laura was a huge addition to the panel this year as a fresher. She fitted in straight away into the Ashbourne team with her pace and her strength to win the dirty ball a huge advantage. This is another girl that has a big future ahead in the coming years. Ciara Quirke (Carlow) Ciara is member of the Carlow camogie team and plays a pivotal role WIT s game plan. At corner forward/half forward she has the strength, skill and speed to win games on her own. She has a great ability to get goals and take on her attackers. Collette Dormer (Kilkenny) Since Collette has come to WIT she has been one for the driving forces of the Ashbourne Cup team. She is a role model to fellow players and always performs on the big stage. She has a great versatility to play in many positions, this year it was full back. Collette received an Ashbourne All Star for her performances this year. Sarah Crowley (Kilkenny) A Kilkenny native who had an excellent first year on the Ashbourne Cup team. Sarah is a player that every manager wants in that she leaves everything out on the field doing it in style. She is a player that has a big future ahead of her as she can play in a number of positions with ease. Bríd Quinn (Tipperary): This was Brid s second year on the panel. She is a work horse setting up scores over the campaign. She has been outstanding all year no matter who she marked and is a player with a big engine at midfield. Valerie O Brien (Waterford) Valerie s vision and ability to read the game is second to none making a big addition to the squad. She has made a huge impression since joining the panel this year for both the Div 1 and 2 teams. Aisling Murphy (Wexford) Aisling was back in WIT last year after a one year break and made her presence felt on the field and the score board with some great showings. She is one of the best players in ladies football to catch and field ball, and has a great scoring record. Mairead Daly (Offaly) Injury robbed Mairead of the chance to play championship for WIT last year, however she did manage to score 14-6 in five games at the fresher blitz in November before hurting her knee. The Ladies Football Junior player of the year 2013 will certainly be one to watch for WIT in

20 No In a year when their hurling counterparts won the Fitzgibbon Cup for a ninth time, the WIT senior footballers weren t as successful, but it wasn t for the lack of trying according to GAA scholarship recipient and rising Offaly dual star Joe O Connor. Joe, who is halfway through his four-year Sports Coaching & Performance honours degree course, was awarded a GAA scholarship at the start of last term and was a key member of this year s WIT football team. The Waterford students reached the semifinal of the Higher Education League, only to lose narrowly to Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, while their interest in the Trench Cup was ended at the first round stage by University of Ulster, Coleraine. It didn t happen for us on either day, Joe ruefully reflects. We had trained hard under Emmett Doherty and Pierce O Connell, and had high hopes of winning the Trench Cup. We trained two nights a week and the two boys had us doing strength and conditioning work as well. We had strong players on our team like Aidan Cash of Wexford and Evan Costello from Laois. It was my first year on the team I hadn t played the previous year because of a back injury and I was anxious to do well. But it just wasn t to be. Hopefully, we ll be able to make amends next year. The St. Rynagh s clubman, who broke into the Offaly senior football panel this year, is full of praise for the staff and facilities at WIT. I ve really enjoyed my time here so far, enthuses Joe, who will celebrate his 21st birthday at the end of August. The college provides opportunities for players of all standards to play Gaelic football. It has two fresher teams, an intermediate team and a senior team. The top-class facilities and coaching I ve received have undoubtedly helped to improve my game. I m playing for the Offaly seniors now and I owe a lot to the GAA club in WIT for that. Emmett and Pierce were very accommodating to me when things like college and county training clashed. The people in the scholarship office Cathy and Ursula were also a pleasure to deal with throughout the year. Whatever I needed be it sports or academic-related they looked after it for me. Joe is well on his way to becoming Offaly s latest dual star, having represented his county in senior football, U21 football and U21 20 ordinary Joe hurling this year. This was his second year to feature for the Offaly U21 footballers who recorded excellent away victories over Wexford and Kildare in the Leinster championship before being denied a place in the final by Meath. He was also a regular starter at corner back for the Offaly senior footballers in their O Byrne Cup and National League campaigns, but had to make do with a place on the subs bench for the Leinster championship first round loss to Longford. And, at the time of writing, Joe was training with the Offaly U21 hurlers ahead of their Leinster championship clash with either Kilkenny or Wexford. I m in with the U21s hurlers at the moment along with Niall Wynne, Sean Dolan and Simon Lyons who are also from St. Rynagh s, he explains. We play the winners of the Kilkenny v Wexford first round tie, which is going to be a seriously tough game. We had a good run in the Leinster U21 football championship, but after beating Wexford and Kildare, it was disappointing not to go on to play in a Leinster final. I was also disappointed not to get some game-time for the senior footballers against Longford, but I m still young and the experience I ve gained this year should stand to me in the years ahead. Offaly s defeat to Longford means they have now gone seven years without a win in the Leinster football championship. The Faithful County also failed to pick up a win in a disappointing National League campaign which culminated in relegation back to Division 4 but, in spite of this, Joe remains hopeful for the future. The past few years have been frustrating for Offaly and the supporters are wondering if they will ever see the good times come around again. I d like to think they will. Our manager Emmett McDonnell is building a new team that just hasn t clicked yet. When it does, I m sure there will be no looking back. There is a lot of potential in this team, he maintains. Joe, whose family home is situated between Banagher and Cloghan in west Offaly, has enjoyed huge success with his local club, St. Rynagh s. In football, he has won U12, U14 and U16 A championship honours as well as a minor B championship and an intermediate championship. He also played in a minor A championship final against Rhode a few years ago. In hurling, Joe has the full collection of medals from U12 upwards. All that s missing is a senior championship. We lost the 2012 senior final to Kilcormac/Killoughey and were beaten by Birr in last year s semi-final. Hopefully, it will be a case of third time lucky this year, he says. We re not as strong in football. Having said that, we ve been holding our own at senior level since winning the intermediate championship in 2010 which was my first year on the team. While he played his county football at corner back this year, Joe usually lines out in attack for his club. He lines out at midfield for the St. Rynagh s senior hurlers. The affable student hopes his Sports Coaching & Performance degree course at WIT will lead to a career in performance analysis, which is the analysis of data or information to help sports teams / individuals improve their performance. Performance analysis is something that s only catching on in the GAA now, and ideally, I d like to work in that area when I graduate. I will be doing a full year s placement next year and we ll see where that takes me, he concludes. Joe, in action v Shane Murphy (both WIT)

21 WIT Handball Club Waterford institute of Technology s 60 x 30 handball team continued their domination of the big alley team competition for a fifth year in a row as they produced another superb weekend s play last October to win the title. This year s team included two of the old reliables Patrick Funchion and Ger McGrath both from Kell s handball club in county Kilkenny, and they were joined by two new first year students Jason Cahill from Tipperary and also Daniel Breen a club mate of both McGrath and Funchion. Once again the team event was based in handball courts around the Marble City of Kilkenny and it was a fantastic weekend for WIT. In the quarter final DCU were the victims of the WIT boys, while in the semi-final a strong UCD team were beaten. The final saw WIT play UL and after beating them in last year s semi-final comfortably WIT did not really know what to expect from their opponents, however once again it was a dominant WIT display that saw off the challenge of the Limerick College. Both Ger McGrath and Patrick Funchion have played on all five of the winning teams over their years in WIT and this season represented the college in their year s grace, showing the commitment that they had for the college. The college acknowledge their achievements along with others at this year s GAA Awards night, while the two new members of the team will hopefully pick up the mantle of handball in the college over the coming years and their first job next October will be to hopefully make it a sixth title in succession for WIT. Jason Cahill also had the great accolade of winning a USHA Junior Nationals title last December. While everyone was enjoying their Christmas at home in From left: Dan Breen, Brendan Burke, Anthony Ireland Cahill Martin, Diarmuid Burke and absent from photo is travelled with Ger McGrath his club Ballyporeen to the USA for the championships. Jason competed in the 19 and under singles and doubles and he collected a one wall title in this grade which was a fantastic achievement for him. WIT Handballers win Junior Club All Ireland On the 12th July Kells Junior Handball team travelled to Kingscourt, Co Cavan to compete in the All Ireland series of the 60x30 Interclub championships having beaten Crinkle of Offaly in the Leinster final. The team was made up of Brendan Burke, Diarmuid Burke, Dan Breen (WIT), Anthony Martin and Ger McGrath (WIT). In the semi final the Kilkenny team met Brackey of Tyrone who had recent Irish Open One Wall champion Conor McElduff on board. Incidentally Brackey beat the Kells lads in the 40x20 All Ireland final six months previously. A Jason Cahill, Noel Holohan, Patrik Funchion, Ger McGrath, Peter Funchion and Dan Breen with the 60x30 Men s A Team Open All-Ireland Cup strong performance throughout saw Kells beat Brackey on a comprehensive scoreline of to qualify for the final later that day. Their opponents were Fenagh from Leitrim who had received a walkover from Mallow in the other semi final. Another great performance from the Kells lads saw them overcome the Connacht champions to claim the All Ireland Junior title. Following on from their double Junior B All Ireland success of 2013 this was a fantastic result for the lads and the club in the highly competitive Junior grade and gives them their 3rd club All Ireland title in two seasons and next season sees them move on to compete in the Intermediate grade. Dan Breen and Ger Mc Grath have been huge drivers in handball in WIT over the past numbers of years and we are delighted to see them have more success with their club. PROFILE Gavin Nugent Course: Sustainable Civil Engineering Nicknames: Nuggiebear High Point in Sporting Career: Winning U21 A club Championship in 2011 Third Level Honours? Scholarship student Other Achievements? Playing county at all levels, Winning U21 A club championship in 2013, Captaining U21 county in 2012 and 2014, Boston Intermediate football champions in 2012, Boston hurling and north American champions in 2012, San Francisco hurling champions in Other Sports? Hurling Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Colm Cooper My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Ireland playing in the 2002 world cup Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Pierce O Connell When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? Jockey My Most Treasured Possession? iphone (which I found on my travels) Biggest Insult? Being mistaken for Channing Tatum My Signature food dish is? Chicken tikka kebab Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? iphone, a female and tequila Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Rihanna, Charlie Sheen and Susan Boyle Favourite book? 50 Shades of Gray Toughest opponent? Mark Griffin (Kerry) 21

22 Fundraising W.I.T. GAA club has been successful over the past number of years but all this success comes at a price. The club fields over 18 teams throughout the year. These include Hurling, Football, Ladies Football, Camogie and Handball. Between all the codes the club organises over 120 games a year. Sadly, any club or society needs money to survive and flourish. The WIT GAA club is no exception in this regard. It s a dirty job, but someone has to do it, and in this case, someone means its members. Remember, running a GAA club costs money and lots of it if we are to provide games for all our members, from the intercounty senior player to the club junior performer. Expenses for buses, meals, gear, facilities and equipment all adds up. Add in the cost of weekend competitions and you get some idea of the difficulties in keeping the WIT GAA club on the financial straight and narrow. As a result members are asked to fund raise to help the running of the club by selling tickets for the various nights and draws through the year. At the end of the day its your club, built around you, built for you. Or to put it another way the club needs you!! 22

23 The Daly News By Randal Scally Fresh from her goal-scoring heroics for Offaly in last September s All-Ireland junior ladies football final, Mairead Daly commenced a three-year Batchelor of Business in Recreation & Sport Management degree course at WIT and duly linked up with the Institute s ladies football club. Sadly, her involvement with the club was short-lived due to a cruciate ligament injury she sustained in last October s All-Ireland Fresher s Blitz in Athlone IT, on a day she had scored 14-6 in four 15 minute games. The medal-laden 18-year-old, who was chosen as the Junior Ladies Footballer of the Year for 2013 at the Ladies Football All Stars banquet in Dublin s City West Hotel last November, suffered the serious knee injury during the Blitz Shield final against Mary I, and underwent surgery at the Santry Sports Clinic on January 21 last. Typically, the recovery period after cruciate surgery is nine months, so Mairead who is also an accomplished camogie player is resigned to being out of action until October at the earliest. The physio said that if I follow the rehab programme I ve been given, I should be back playing within nine months, she explains. While club and inter-county football is out for me this year, I hope to be in a position to start back playing with the college in October. It s tough to miss out on a year s football, but I have to be patient and let nature take its course. I don t want to run the risk of suffering a recurrence of the injury by going back too soon. Coincidentally, Mairead s Offaly team-mate and former WIT camogie star Lorraine Keena is also currently recovering from cruciate ligament surgery. The dual player, who studied Agricultural Science for four years and Land Management for one, was one of only three players to figure in WIT s five-in-a-row of Ashbourne Cup successes between 2009 and I m in good company! Mairead jokes. Lorraine did her cruciate around the same time as me and has also been ruled out for the year. I never realised how common an injury it was until I did mine. Needless to say, Mairead is itching to get back playing and make up for lost time with WIT. The ladies club has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with the historic 2011 Giles Cup success being the obvious highlight. WIT had the honour of hosting the finals weekend of the prestigious third level ladies football competition in 2013 and, while silverware proved elusive, the Institute could take satisfaction from reaching the last four and its successful staging of the event. WIT didn t qualify for this year s Lynch Cup finals weekend in Belfast, despite no effort being spared by manager Noel Holohan in preparing the team. I wasn t involved because of the injury, but I know that they lost their last group match and that s what cost them, the St. Rynagh s clubwoman continues. I was looking forward to playing in the Giles Cup and getting to know my new team-mates better, but it wasn t to be. From my short time involved with the team, I could see that Noel Holohan had a very professional set-up in place. We have a very active ladies club which fields fresher, junior and senior teams. One of the great things about the club is it caters for players of all abilities. Everyone is welcome to get involved and the facilities, such as the Sports Campus, are top-class. Mairead, who hopes to become a PE teacher, was attracted to WIT by her St. Rynagh s and Offaly team-mate Emma Corcoran, who also studied Recreation & Sport Management at the Waterford centre of learning. Mairead and Emma were part of the Offaly team which defeated Wexford in last year s All-Ireland junior ladies football final at Croke Park. A pacey corner forward, Mairead stole the show by scoring 2-1 in a 2-11 to 0-12 victory. Ironically, Mairead was marked by fellow WIT student Clara Donnelly, who she ended up living next door to during her first college year. Clara is an excellent footballer who I d rather play with than against! she smiles. Daly s All-Ireland final performance saw her hold off the challenge of the aforementioned Lorraine Keena, who was also nominated for a Camogie All Star, to claim the Junior Ladies Footballer of the Year award. It was the culmination of an incredibly successful year for the bubbly teenager who also won National League Division 4 and Leinster honours with the Faithful County, as well as Player of the Match Awards in the Leinster and All-Ireland finals. Mairead was also selected on the Division 4 Team of the League. The dual star already had an impressive haul of titles to her name before her successes with Offaly last year, including an All-Ireland Feile, county medals at all grades including three U16 and four minors, two senior club titles, one schools camogie title, two junior camogie titles, two All-Ireland camogie titles and one All-Ireland schools camogie title. Hailing from Cloghan in West Offaly, Mairead is the middle child in a family of five. She has two sisters, Aoife and Ann (who is on this year s Offaly minor ladies football team), and two brothers, Conor and Gearoid. Mairead started her football career at the age of seven under the watchful eye of mentor Mary Kelly, who manages the St. Rynagh s ladies team. She developed her football skills in Cloghan National School and was just 16 when she made her debut for the Offaly junior team in Whereas St. Rynagh s had eight players on last year s all-conquering Offaly team, they now only have four as Mairead explains: The survivors from last year s team are Laura Devery, Sinead Daly, Ciaran McCormack and Emma Corcoran. Last year s captain Siobhan Flannery and Linda Sullivan have both opted to concentrate on camogie this year, Elaine Sullivan has retired from inter-county and I m out injured. There are a lot of new faces involved with Offaly and our joint-managers Greg Farrelly and Alan Ennis (both are from Edenderry) are trying to integrate them as quickly as possible. We had a disappointing league, which ended in relegation straight back to Division 4, but hopefully we ll have better luck in the championship. We re playing London in the first round of the intermediate championship and our season could take off if we were to win that one. Máiréad celerates All-Ireland win. 23

24 WIT Ladies Football 2014 It is four years since WIT ladies football collected the Giles Cup title on a glorious day in 2011 in UL against Tralee and since that day it has been a tale of frustration and near misses, with the latter being the case again in 2014 as CIT denied WIT a place in the Lynch Cup semifinals in March. A decision was made in December for WIT to be regraded down to the Lynch Cup as the numbers playing Ladies football in the college have almost halved in the last two years and has seen WIT go two years without a league win. It may be pointed out however that when championship come around the players who have back-boned the team in recent years rise to the occasion and know how to get the job done. The league campaign this year began away to Tralee and a high scoring game saw Tralee IT take the spoils, however some fresh players that stood out for WIT on the night were Westmeath goalkeeper Christine Warburton, All Ireland Junior player of the year Mairead Daly from Offaly, Eimear Fennell from Waterford and Rebecca Bowes from Carlow. WIT s second league encounter was another very exciting game away to IT Carlow where the game ebbed and flowed before IT Carlow took the spoils with Christine Warburton again in brilliant form on the night making some fantastic saves while, Clara Donnelly, Aisling Murphy and Mairead Daly excelled out the field. Next up was the Fresher s All Ireland seven a side blitz in Athlone. It proved to be a day of mixed emotions for WIT after a superb opening to the tournament against Athlone IT where WIT won with Mairead Daly and Stacey Farrell to the fore while Christine Warburton once again made some blinding saves. Next up was a win against UL and a draw against UCD before losing out by a point to Mary I. The results ended with WIT having to face Mary I in the shield final. The game was all going to plan for WIT as they held a four point lead entering the final stages before disaster struck as Mairead Daly picked up a season ending injury and Mary I hit WIT for six with two goals in the last minute to win. It was a couple of weeks later that the news that Mairead Daly had suffered a cruciate ligament injury was confirmed and so ended her WIT football for the year, however she was not the only player never to play with WIT again in the season as sadly girls decided that they could not commit to the team for the year leaving the team management very frustrated. 24 WIT Ladies Football Team, 2014

25 However huge credit must go to the panel of players who knuckled down to the side and during a Christmas training camp a great bond was formed within the team. After a long run of winless games WIT finally began to show signs of improvement with games against Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary. It was decided that WIT would compete in the Lynch Cup this year and the draw was made in early January and it set up a group of death with four teams all well capable of progressing, namely DCU (2), DIT and CIT. WIT opened their campaign with a home tie against DCU (2) in WIT Sports Campus in glorious sunshine in February and it was a fantastic open free flowing game of football. Clodagh McGovern played her first competitive match in goal and gave a fantastic performance as she controlled the backs well and made some crucial saves and set up many attacks with impressive kick outs. With the game very close at half time it was a ten minute spell after half time that WIT took control of the game as Marie Dargan and Aisling Murphy had the goal scoring touch that punished DCU (2) numerous times. However WIT faded towards the end of the game and allowed the DCU girls to close within two points but WIT s defensive unit of Mairead O Connor, Onora Mulcahy and Aisling Greene making numerous telling blocks while Karen Mullins and Clara Donnelly worked tirelessly in midfield to secure the win on a 5-8 to 4-9 score line. Stefanie Beausang The following Tuesday there was a road trip to St Margaret s GAA grounds near Dublin airport for the WIT girls for a second round clash against DIT. For the neutral this was a great advertisement for attacking football as once again the scorers came freely. DIT began well but once WIT settled they quickly got into their stride with Katie Redmond having the golden boot as she hit two goals in quick succession which set up WIT for a four point half time lead, however WIT did lose influential wing back Emma Sergeant Kelly to an injury before the break. WIT began well in the second half as Clara Donnelly, Karen Katie Redmond Mullins, Eimear Fennell and Danielle Downey packed serious punch in the middle areas of the field, and Amanda Scallan at wing forward won key possession from opponents kick outs to set up Katie Redmond for some crucial scores. DIT were not going to lie down and they had a storming last fifteen minutes and closed to within a point at one stage and it looked like the home side might grab the win, before substitute Pamela Martin got her hand to a high ball floated into the square and she palmed it to the net to guarantee the win for WIT on a 5-9 to 2-14 score. This win set up a winner take all battle against CIT in Bishopstown a week later. However it proved to be one step too far for WIT as a very strong CIT side were unbeatable on the night as they raced into an early lead and despite a great effort by WIT they were never able to close the gap and were always chasing the game. The future of WIT ladies football however looks a lot brighter at the end of the year than it did in October with commitment and dedication the main ingredient needed for 2015 as there is plenty of talented players within the college. WIT Lynch Cup Panel 2014: Clodagh McGovern, Onora Mulcahy, Mairead O Connor, Aisling Greene, Emma Sergeant Kelly, Clara Donnelly, Rebecca Bowes, Danielle Downey, Eimear Fennell, Karen Mullins, Aisling Murphy, Amanda Scallan, Stefanie Beausang, Marie Dargan, Katie Redmond, Denise Kenneally, Nicole Murphy, Abby Yusuff, Eimear Bryant, Aisling Loughman, Elaine McCarthy, Ciara Dunican, Denise Ryan, Casey Tobin, Pamela Martin, Louise Dickenson, Anna Louise Duggan, Brid Kerrisk, Eadaoin Miskella, Claire Roche, Siobhan Cloake, Mairead Daly (Inj). 25

26 WIT 26 Inter-County Hurlers Andrew Kenny (Wexford) This is the Buffers Alley man s first year on the Fitzgibbon panel having made the step up from being the WIT freshers captain. Andrew is a very talented prospect and one to watch out for in the coming years. Andrew came off the bench on a number of occasions throughout the campaign and made a huge difference every time. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) The Glenmore man has been on the Kilkenny panel for the last 3 years and has already picked up 2 All Ireland medals. The sharpshooter excelled in this years Fitzgibbon cup giving some fantastic performances in the forwards and at centre back. He is Kilkennys number one goalkeeper. Gavin O Brien (Waterford) This is the Roanmore man s 3rd year as a Waterford panel member. Playing on the half forward line and midfield Gavin turned in some fine performances for WIT on the way to the Fitzgibbon Cup win. Gavin is one of the rising stars in the Waterford set-up and one to watch for the future. Harry Kehoe (Wexford) The Cloughbawn man is a member of the Wexford panel for the last couple of years, he has made an impact for the Model county as a midfielder with an eye for a score. This was Harry s second year with WIT after transferring from DIT and he made an instant impact into the team with some outstanding performances on the way to Fitzgibbon Cup glory. Harry scored the goal to draw the game in normal time versus LIT and will go down in history of one of the best goals the WIT s history. Jake Dillon (Waterford) This is Jake s third year on the Waterford panel, having put in some outstanding performances for his club De La Salle and for Waterford at underage level it was inevitable that he would make the step up to senior level. His performances for WIT this year in the Fitzgibbon cup really showed his quality and leadership. Jake was man of the match the Fitzgibbon Cup final scoring points at will from all angles. Martin O Neill (Waterford) The Mount Sion sharpshooter has been a member of the Waterford panel for a few years now. Martin was unlucky this year with injury which ruled him out for the year unfortunately. Great to see Martin back with his club and county. Pauric Mahony (Waterford) The Ballygunner sharpshooter won a Fitzgibbon Cup with UCC in 2012 and now has won one with WIT. He has been a key member in the Fitzgibbon panel final this year leading from the front and being WITs top scorer, including 16 points versus LIT in the semi-final. Pauric has been also a key player in the Waterford setup for the last number of years. Shaun Murphy (Wexford) Shaun has been a member of the Wexford panel for the last number of years after impressing with his club Oulart The Ballagh, Shaun is a very talented defender/ midfielder. Shaun was one of WIT s best players this year and was unlucky to miss the final with a pulled hamstring in the Semi Final. Stephen O Keefe (Waterford) The Ballygunner shot stopper has given some top class performances for WIT and Waterford. A hugely talented goalkeeper he loves the one on ones and his puck outs hit the target. Stephen was the goal keeper that charged down Anthony Nash penalty in the Munster Championship replay versus Cork. Tomas Hamill (Tipperary) This is Tossy s second year on the Tipperary panel, he has made the step up after being an outstanding performer for Tipperary minors at centre back on their way to winning the All Ireland in He made a huge impression this year on WIT Fitzgibbon Cup run and won a Fitzgibbon Cup All Star in the process Stephen Roche (Waterford) Through his performances with WIT Fitzgibbon cup team and Mount Soin earned him a call up to the Waterford Hurling panel earlier this year. A man who possesses great vision as well as work rate is sure to give a few corner backs/ midfielders trouble over the summer. Liam McGrath (Tipperary) Liam has been a huge addition this year to the WIT panel. For a small man he finds a target every time he plays on the full forward line. With his ball winning abilities and good eye for goal makes him a hard man to mark. Eoin Moore (Wexford) Eoin was unlucky this year with injury which ruled him out for the year unfortunately. Great to see him back with his club and county. PROFILE Graham Power Course: Sport and Rec Management Nicknames: Moocher Power High Point in Sporting Career: Captaining Carlow against Dublin in the Leinster U21 football championship Third Level Honours? Munster and All Ireland junior football champions Other Achievements? Individual Bronze medal representing Ireland in the schools tri nations international cross country championships in Wales 2009 Other Sports? Athletics, Soccer and Golf Favorite Player to Watch Growing Up? Former Carlow footballer Mark Carpenter. Club mate of mine, he is an incredibly clever forward and excellent score taker. My Earliest Sporting Memory Is? Stitching penalties against my Father in the back garden Funniest person is the WIT GAA Club is? Mick O Rourke by a mile. When You Were Growing Up What Did You Want To Be? Always wanted to be a professional Soccer player My Most Treasured Possession? My Phone Biggest Insult? Someone getting brought on as a sub with only a minute remaining wrecks my head My Signature food dish is? Pasta and Chicken Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items? A knife, Flint, Water bottle Stranded On An Island, Who Would You Most Like To Keep You Company? Mila Kunis for the banter Favourite book? The Bible Toughest opponent? Ciaran Kilkenny. Super all round player.

27 WIT GAA Scholarships 2014 The Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Scholarship Programme offers an athlete-led development programme aimed at supporting the overall development of high performance athletes in a wide range of sports. The aim of WIT Sports Scholarship Programme is to give talented athletes the opportunity to develop their sporting and academic career by offering a network of support services and expertise which is tailored around the specific needs of each individual athlete. Waterford Institute of Technology Sports and Recreation Department along with the GPA, Munster and Leinster Councils awarded a total of 39 GAA student scholarships during the 2013/2014 academic year. These were split across all years and all GAA codes. The Munster Council sponsored a total of 9 scholarships this year and the Leinster Council awarded one Waterford Institute of Technology Sports and Recreation Department along with the GPA, Munster and Leinster Councils awarded a total of 39 GAA student scholarships during the 2013/2014 academic year. These were split across all years and all GAA codes. The Munster GAA Council sponsored a total of 9 scholarships this year and the GPA (Gaelic Players Association) awarded a total of 15 scholarships. Munster GAA Scholarships: Each year the GAA Munster Council part-fund a number of GAA Scholarship Awards which have specific conditions attached. These awards are available in hurling, men s and ladies gaelic football and camogie. Application forms for these are available through the WIT GAA Office or from the Clubs and Societies Office. For further information, visit GPA Third Level Scholarships: The GPA Scholarship supports members in third level institutions pursuing undergraduate or post graduate courses on a full-time or parttime basis. Applications will be accepted from the start of January with a closing date at the end of January each year. To apply, log on to your account on and access the Scholarship Grant Application Form. Note: Only eligible members can apply. The GAA Scholarship Recipients for 2013/2014 are outlined below: Hurling Andrew Kenny, Wexford Cormac Heffernan, Waterford Eoin Moore, Wexford Eoin Murphy, Kilkenny Gavin O Brien, Waterford Harry Kehoe, Wexford Jack Langton, Kilkenny Jake Dillon, Waterford Jerome Maher, Waterford Kieran Hammersley, Tipperary Kieran Power, Waterford Liam McGrath. Tipperary Martin O Neill, Waterford Pauric Mahony, Waterford Shane McNulty, Waterford How to Apply: Shaun Murphy, Wexford Stephen O Keffee, Waterford Stephen Roche, Waterford Tom Fox, Tipperary Tomas Hamill, Tipperary Gaelic Football Darragh Doyle, Wexford Evan Costello, Laois Gavin Nugent, Waterford Jamie Snell, Wicklow Joe O Connor, Offaly Shane Fox, Limerick Shane Murphy, Laois Stephen Prendergast, Waterford Ladies Gaelic Football Clara Donnelly, Wexford Eimear Fennell, Waterford Katie Redmond, Wexford Marie Dargan, Kilkenny Stefanie Beausang, Cork Camogie Brid Quinn, Tipperary Emma Comerford, Kilkenny Jean Brady, Offaly Kate O Donoghue, Cork Laura Treacy, Cork Patricia Jackman, Waterford Vikki Falconer, Waterford To apply to WIT Sports Scholarship Programme, please send your completed application form to WIT Sport and Recreation Department, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Road, Waterford. Alternatively, you can sport@wit.ie or Tel:

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