Many of Ulster University's finest Gaelic footballers will be on opposing sides in Sunday's semi-final as neighbours Tyrone and Monaghan battle to reach the September decider.
Both teams are set for what promises to be one of the highlights of the GAA summer following their respective quarter-final defeats against Donegal and Galway, when some of this year's students had a massive impact on the outcome of the games last weekend, including Ryan Mc Anespie, Lee Brennan, Rory Brennan, Ronan Mc Namee, Mark Bradley and Frank Burns.
This will be Monaghan’s first All-Ireland semi-final in 30 years, with the Monaghan GAA county panel including current student Ryan Mc Anespie and 8 former students / graduates Rory Beggan, Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes, Dermot Malone, Neil Mc Adam, Conor Mc Manus, Dessie Moan and Colin Walsh.
The Tyrone panel members include 11 current students Mark Bradley (recipient of Sigerson rising star in 2018), Lee Brennan, Rory Brennan, Frank Burns, Mattie Donnelly (captain), Peter Donnelly (athletic development coach and captain of Sigerson winning team in 2008), Ben Mc Donnell, Ronan Mc Hugh, Michael Mc Kernan (recipient of Sigerson rising star in 2018), Ronan Mc Namee and David Mulgrew, along with 8 former students / graduates Colm Cavanagh, Richie Donnelly, Padraig Hampsey, Conor Mc Aliskey, Tiernan Mc Cann, Ronan Mc Nabb, Padraig Mc Nulty and Ronan O'Neill. The Tyrone team for the semi was announced this morning (10/08/18) with 11 of the starting 15 having an association with Ulster.
Paul Rouse, Gaelic Games Development Co-ordinator at Ulster University, said:
“On behalf of the University, I would like to wish all our current and former students on the Monaghan and Tyrone panels all the best for this weekend’s semi-final showdown.
“At Ulster, we aim is to promote and develop all aspects of the GAA within the University and to have an impressive 28 former and current students involved in this weekend’s semi-final match, many of whom played on the university team and in the Sigerson cup, is an outstanding representation from Ulster.”
The GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship takes place on Sunday12 August with throw-in at 15:30 from Croke Park and will be broadcast live on RTÉ Sport and Sky Sports, with live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster MW and the BBC Sport website from 15:03