Top Players from Higher Education GAA Championships Awarded in Dublin A selection of some of the country's finest up and coming GAA footballers and hurlers gathered in Dublin for the 2009 Ulster Bank Rising Star Awards. Victorious Cork colleges, Cork Institute of Technology (Sigerson) and University College Cork (Fitzgibbon), dominated the night which saw a total of 30 students honoured from the 2009 Higher Education Championships. The top students were presented with their award by GAA Director General Paraic Duffy at a reception held in Ulster Bank Group Centre in Dublin, which saw 12 Counties represented with awards. The Ulster Bank Rising Stars are selected from the 5,000 registered players across 57 colleges and seven senior level championships with the top 15 players in both football and hurling receiving the prestigious accolade. Cork IT's superb Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup victory on home soil has resulted in seven places in the Rising Star selection for the college; featuring two of their biggest stars, Cork's Daniel Goulding and Paul Kerrigan. Beaten finalists Dublin Institute of Technology took four honours. Following his Sigerson Cup success, Paul O'Flynn is one of three Cork under 21 players on the football selection who will be hoping to add to their medal haul this weekend. O'Flynn, defender Conor O'Driscoll and Shane McCarthy are on the Rebels squad who are aiming for a second All-Ireland success in three years where they meet Down in the decider. The Ulster Bank Rising Star hurlers featured a host of Cork men and Kilkenny men with five players from each county represented. Seven players from the Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup Champions are featured including Cork's Shane O'Neill and Anthony Nash. Sarah Dempsey, Head of Sponsorship and Corporate Responsibility, Ulster Bank said; "2009 once again saw a host of fantastic football and hurling skills displayed throughout the Higher Education Championships with a number of excellent team and individual performances as well as some brilliant games with some really tight and exciting finishes particularly in UCC's narrow late win over Waterford IT in the Fitzgibbon Cup Semi Final. The players should be very proud to have been selected as a Rising Star and is a reflection of their consistent performances in 2009 as well as their future potential on the inter-county scene. Ulster Bank continues to be delighted with its association with these competitions, in particular the Ulster Bank Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups which we are looking forward to again next year." John Devaney, Chairman, Higher Education GAA Council, added; "the Rising Stars award has become a much sought after prize for those who play in our competitions and for those who are lucky to be a recipient, it becomes an important part of their GAA CV. The scheme is a vital part of our ambitious partnership with Ulster Bank, who continue to be a major supporter of Gaelic Games within the higher education sector and beyond." Ulster Bank Rising Stars 2009 - Football 1. Eoin Sommerville (DIT and Dublin ) 2. Michael Burke (DIT and Meath) 3. Ray Carey (Cork IT and Cork) 4. Conor O'Driscoll (Cork IT and Cork) 5. Tom Waberton (UCD and Westmeath) 6. Aidan O'Sullivan (Cork IT and Kerry) 7. Gareth Bradshaw (NUIG and Galway ) 8. Paul O'Flynn (Cork IT and Cork) 9. Declan McKiernan (St Pats and Cavan) 10. John Connellan (NUIG and Westmeath) 11. Paul Kerrigan (Cork IT and Cork) 12. Shane McCarthy (Cork IT and Cork) 13. Daniel Goulding (Cork IT and Cork) 14. Paul Flynn (DIT and Dublin ) 15. Kevin McManamon (DIT and Dublin ) Ulster Bank Rising Stars 2009 - Hurling 1. Anthony Nash (UCC and Cork) 2. Conor O'Sullivan (UCC and Cork) 3. Kieran Joyce (UL and Kilkenny) 4. Conor Cooney (Waterford IT and Clare) 5. Martin Walsh (UL and Kilkenny) 6. Shane O'Neill (UCC and Cork) 7. Joe Jordan (UCC and Cork) 8. Seamus Hickey (UL and Limerick) 9. Jamie Nagle (MICL and Waterford) 10. Shane Burke (UCC and Tipperary) 11. Bill Beckett (UCC and Kilkenny) 12. John Mulhall (UCC and Kilkenny) 13. Timmy Hammersley (Waterford IT and Tipperary) 14. Matthew Ruth (UL and Kilkenny) 15. Tony Murphy (Cork IT and Cork) Tweet

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