Longford's Bryan Masterson selected on the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Team of the Year

Electric Ireland is delighted to highlight 15 standout footballers from this year’s Higher Education Football Championship as it reveals the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year including Abbeylara and Longford defender Bryan Masterson. 

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

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

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

• Killian Roche, UCD/Laois

• Niall Carolan, TU Dublin/Cavan

• Alex Gavin, DCU DÉ/Dublin 

• Bryan Masterson, DCU DÉ/Longford

• Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan, DCU DÉ/Dublin

• Fionan O’Brien, UU/Fermanagh

• Ciarán Caulfield, DCU DÉ/Meath

• Ethan Dunne, DCU DÉ/Dublin

• Eoin McEvoy, UU/Derry

• Greg McEneaney, DCU DÉ/Dublin

• Barry McNulty, UCD/Leitrim

• Ryan O’Toole, UCD/Monaghan

• Tom Prior, DCU DÉ/Leitrim

• Jordan Morris, TU Dublin/Meath

• Cormac Egan, UCD/Offaly

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

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

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