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11 February 2026; UL players celebrate with the cup after the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final match between University College Cork and University of Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE *** 11 February 2026; UL players celebrate with the cup after the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final match between University College Cork and University of Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

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Historic Sigerson Cup win for University of Limerick over UCC

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UL players celebrate with the cup after the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final match between University College Cork and University of Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

University of Limerick made history as they took home the Sigerson Cup for the first time in the university’s history

Frank Irwin, left, and Cian Mchale of UL celebrate with the Sigerson Cup following the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup final match between University College Cork and University of Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

University of Limerick made history on Wednesday night as they claimed their first-ever Sigerson Cup, fighting hard against a strong UCC team in what was a tightly contested final.

Going in at half-time level at 0-9 for UL to UCC’s 1-6, the University of Limerick players stepped up on the evening at Ireland’s greatest sporting stage, Croke Park, to take victory on the evening, running out winners 0-17 to 1-11 in a gripping game of football.

Having been close to Sigerson Cup glory in the past, having lost out in 2022 and another in 2023, where they were narrowly defeated by UCC, it was a poetic moment for UL captain, Brian McNamara who was the only player in the squad to face UCC in the 2023 final.


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The Sigerson Cup glory is part of what has been an incredible and historic period for the UL team, which won its first-ever Division 1 League Title this past winter under manager David Power.

UL came out of the blocks quickly, racing to a four point lead within the opening third of the game, but when a Ciarán Santry goal on the 30-minute mark meant the teams would be going in level at half time, it would have been easy to let nerves set in on an important stage.

UL captain Brian McNamara. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Both teams came out in the second half with high energy performances, both UL and UCC goalkeepers called into action, and UL again pulled four points ahead, despite UCC chasing a goal late on, UL held on under the pressure, the four point deficit too much for UCC to overcome in the second half, making history on the night as UL finished 0-17 to 1-11 winners.

Following the win, University of Limerick shared on social media, ” History made in Croke Park. Our first-ever Sigerson Cup, won on one of the most iconic stages in Irish sport. A night of belief, determination and pure magic. UL abú!”

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.