A host of captains and players of past and present Fitzgibbon Cup winning teams have been celebrated at University of Limerick.
Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins hosted a special reception at Plassey House to honour this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup-winning team and celebrate the University’s proud tradition – which extended to nine titles following the recent victory over DCU, UL’s third win in the last four seasons.
Players, management, past captains and representatives from across UL Sport, the University’s four academic faculties, and UL GAA were present to celebrate UL’s nine Fitzgibbon Cup triumphs and the legacy of outstanding hurling achievement at the institution.
In attendance alongside this year’s winning captain Colin Coughlan and his team were three former Fitzgibbon Cup-winning captains - Dan Treacy from Clare, who led UL to its first title in 1989, Darragh O’Neill from Limerick, captain of the 1994 champions, and Kieran Joyce from Kilkenny, who guided the team to victory in 2011.
Speaking at the event, Professor Kilcommins praised the dedication and commitment of UL’s student-athletes, acknowledging their ability to balance both sporting and academic excellence.
“Sport at UL is about much more than trophies, it’s about character, resilience, and the friendships forged along the way. The Fitzgibbon Cup is the pinnacle of hurling championships in higher education, where students push themselves to be the best they can be, on and off the pitch.”
Professor Kilcommins spoke about the strong bonds formed through sport and teamwork, the support from the nine counties represented in the team, and the thriving sporting community at UL, despite the University’s relatively young age.
Professor Kilcommins also emphasised the crucial role of providing the resources and support needed for student-athletes to reach their full potential.
“As a University, we take great pride in fostering an environment where sporting talent is nurtured alongside academic ambition. The success of this Fitzgibbon Cup team reflects that balance and the strong support network in place for our students.”
Professor Kilcommins also referenced “the Corinthian spirit” present within UL’s Fitzgibbon Cup team and quoted an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech The Man in the Arena: “Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
Speaking after the win over DCU, team captain Colin Coughlan, a fourth-year student in PE with Maths, said: “The Fitzgibbon Cup is a special competition because you only have a limited number of years to play in it, and even the time we spend together is so short. It creates a special bond—it’s the craic, and it ties in with college life, playing alongside people from other counties. I saw somewhere on the programme for the Fitzgibbon Cup final that it said: ‘Four months friends, eight months enemies.’ It’s great, and it’s something different.”
Dan Treacy, who captained UL’s first-ever Fitzgibbon Cup-winning side in 1989, spoke about the significance of that milestone victory and his pride in seeing the UL continue to thrive in the sporting arena.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here today and to see the success continuing in the college, the hard work that’s been put in by the players, the management, and the team in UL GAA, UL Sport, and the University.”
The 1989 captain also spoke about the lifelong connections formed through the Fitzgibbon Cup experience.
“The bond we formed as teammates is something very special. Even now, after all these years, we still get together every few years, and it feels like no time has passed at all. The craic, the banter, and the friendships we built are as strong as ever. That’s what makes the Fitzgibbon Cup so memorable, it’s not just about the winning, it’s about the lasting connections that come with it,” he added.
The reception was a fitting tribute to past and present achievements and a reminder of UL’s commitment to sporting excellence. It served as a testament to the University’s rich sporting heritage and the enduring friendships that define its sporting tradition.
