Some of the country's finest up and coming GAA footballers and hurlers gathered in Dublin for the Ulster Bank Rising Star Awards. Having been selected from the 2008 Higher Education Championships, the best of the best were presented with awards by GAA President Nickey Brennan at a reception held in Ulster Bank's Group Centre in Dublin. The Ulster Bank Rising Stars are selected from the 5,000 registered players across 57 colleges and eight senior level competitions with the top 15 players in both football and hurling receiving the prestigious accolade. Limerick Institute of Technology hurler Joe Canning was once again honoured in this year's hurling selection. Although the scoring ace sent home 1-16 in the Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup final this year, it wasn't enough to lift the Fitzgibbon Cup, but the Portumna clubman gets some consolation as he picked up his second Rising Stars award. Canning was joined on the hurling selection by six of his LIT colleagues, as the Limerick College pick up the most awards in the small ball code, with reigning Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup champions Waterford IT closely following with six players honoured. UCC was the only other college represented on the hurling fifteen, with goalkeeper Anthony Nash and defender Shane O'Neill picking up Ulster Bank Rising Star Awards. Meanwhile UUJ's first Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup triumph since 2001 was honoured with 'the Poly' picking up six Rising Stars Awards. Goalkeeper Michael McAlister, defenders Paul McGuigan and Karl Lacey; along with Raymond Mulgrew, Patrick Cunningham and Mark Lynch in attack, were all honoured for their outstanding performances during the year. Garda College's historic march to their first final since 1999 didn't go unnoticed by the Rising Stars judging panel as the Templemore College picked up five awards. Meath's Cormac McGill and Darren Mullaghy of Galway were honoured in defence; Kerry's Aidan O'Mahony earned himself a midfield award, while Offaly's Rory Guinan and John O'Brien of Dublin scored with awards in attack. GMIT players Tom Cunniffe and Paul Conroy along with DIT's Eoin Naughton celebrated their first Rising Stars awards. Meanwhile Tipperary footballer George Hannigan is the only player to be honoured from the Ulster Bank Trench Cup competition, after he was an influential force in Mary Immaculate College's victory in the second-tier football championship this year. Sean Healy, Managing Director Sales Business Banking, Ulster Bank said; "Once again we have witnessed some fantastic football and hurling throughout this year's Higher Education Championships with a number of excellent team and individual performances. The players should be very proud to have been selected as a Rising Star. 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 next year." John Devaney, Chairman, Higher Education GAA Council, added; "Our partnership with Ulster Bank has allowed the GAA, within the higher education sector, to develop and prosper.  We are delighted that the Rising Stars scheme has become one of such high regard within Comhairle Ardoideachais and the Association, and that the awards themselves are taken as a real honour by the players who receive them." 2008 Ulster Bank Rising Stars - Football: 1.  Michael McAlister (UUJ and Down), 2.  Cormac McGill (Garda College and Meath), 3.  Eoin Naughton (DIT and Kildare), 4.  Tom Cunniffe (GMIT and Mayo), 5.  Paul McGuigan (UUJ and Monaghan), 6.  Darren Mullaghy (Garda College and Galway), 7.  Karl Lacey (UUJ and Donegal), 8.  Aidan O'Mahony (Garda College and Kerry), 9.  George Hannigan (MICL and Tipperary), 10. Paul Conroy (GMIT and Galway), 11. Rory Guinan (Garda College and Offaly), 12. Raymond Mulgrew (UUJ and Tyrone), 13. John O'Brien (Garda College and Dublin), 14. Patrick Cunningham (UUJ and Antrim), 15. Mark Lynch (UUJ and Derry) 2008 Ulster Bank Rising Stars - Hurling: 1. Anthony Nash (UCC & Cork), 2. Michael Walsh (Limerick IT & Cork), 3. John Dalton (Waterford IT & Kilkenny), 4. Shane O'Neill (UCC & Cork), 5. Pat Hartley (Waterford IT & Kilkenny), 6. Shane Maher (Limerick IT & Tipperary), 7. Kevin Moran (Waterford IT & Waterford), 8. Jonathan Clancy (Limerick IT & Clare), 9. Wayne McNamara (Limerick IT & Limerick), 10. TJ Reid (Waterford IT & Kilkenny), 11. Cyril Donnellan (Limerick IT & Galway), 12. Willie Hyland (Limerick IT & Laois), 13. Eoin Reid (Waterford IT & Kilkenny), 14. Joe Canning (Limerick IT & Galway), 15. Ray McLoughney (Waterford IT & Tipperary) Tweet

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