Irrespective of who takes this year’s Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire Cups, there’s already one clear winner on the GAA’s biggest stage – because GMIT has twelve current students and graduates on this year’s All-Ireland final teams.

The Institute has four graduates on the Mayo football team, three students and two graduates on the Galway hurling team, and one student and two graduates on the Donegal football team.

Galway hurlers David Collins and Damien Hayes are both Engineering graduates, while Ger O'Halloran is a current student of Science, and Tadgh Haran and Paul Huban are current students of Business. Selector Mattie Kenny is also a graduate of Galway RTC.
The Mayo team boasts Business graduates Donal Vaughan, Richie Feeney, Michael Conroy and Aidan Campbell, while team manager James Horan is also a graduate of Galway RTC.

And Donegal’s footballers include GMIT Engineering graduates Paddy McGrath and Stephen Griffin, along with Anthony Thompson, currently studying Engineering at GMIT.

GAA Officer Damian Curley has helped train and coach the GMIT GAA players since 1997, while other staff who have been involved in GAA activities over the years include Sean O’Dea, Michael Geoghegan, Liam Noonan, Larry Elwood, Bernard O’Hara, George Clancy, Ray Connolly, John Sherry and Michael Murray.

“We would like to wish all our current and former players and management the very best of luck in the finals. Our dream would be to see both the Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire Cups visit us in GMIT in the near future,” said Damian.