12 current and former SETU students will pull on Deise jerseys with 5 current and former SETU GAA members representing the purple and gold this weekend
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship race for 2017 will become clearer after this weekend’s action when only four contenders will be left in contention for the coveted Liam McCarthy Cup.
The redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork which has a capacity of 45,000 will host the quarter-final ties with Clare taking on Tipperary on Saturday, 22 July at 3pm before Waterford meet Wexford on Sunday, 23 July, a game that has a 4pm throw in.
Waterford will again line out against Wexford in what is a very much anticipated encounter. In total 12 current and former SETU students will be pulling on Déise jerseys with five current and former SETU members representing the purple and gold.
With its Sports Scholarship programme for 60+ students and now the use of the facilities at the SETU Arena which opened in September 2016, SETU is a popular destination for GAA players in the south east at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Wexford’s Mark Fanning, says: “I’ve really enjoyed the last two years in SETU, despite results not going our way in the Fitzgibbon Cup. It’s a great college from both an academic and sporting point of view. What appealed to me most about SETU apart from its great hurling tradition and the amazing facilities at the SETU Arena is how close-knit it is. Everyone knows everyone.”
WIT GAA Club recently celebrated its 35th anniversary at a special ‘Gathering’ of many of its former players, club mentors/officials and members of the local community who have supported the club since its establishment.
Waterford players (12):
- Noel Connors: Current SETU PhD Business student (on club leadership within the GAA)
- Austin Gleeson: Current fourth year Business student and sports scholarship student in WIT
- Shane McNulty: Current third year Business student, Shane is also a SETU sports scholarship student
- Pauric Mahony: Former SETU Business Management Masters student. He won a Fitzgibbon Cup with SETU in 2014 as centre forward. Pauric was a sports scholarship student.
- Eddie Barrett: Former SETU Business Management Masters student. Eddie was a SETU sports scholarship student.
- Stephen O'Keeffe: Former SETU Business student who won the Fitzgibbon cup with SETU in 2014, playing in goal.
- Shane Fives: Former SETU Health Sciences student who, as a first year, won the Fitzgibbon Cup with SETU in 2008 on the half back line.
- Kevin Moran: Former SETU Fitzgibbon Cup winning captain in 2008
- Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh: Former SETU Business Masters student and three time Fitzgibbon Cup winner with SETU 2003, 2004, 2006.
- Jake Dillon: Former SETU Business Masters student, Jake won the Fitzgibbon Cup with SETU in 2014. He was named Man of the Match in the final against CIT.
- Shane O'Sullivan: Former SETU Sports Psychology Masters student, Shane won Fitzgibbon honours with SETU in 2008 playing in midfield.
- Stephen Roche: SETU Business Management Masters student. Stephen was a SETU sports scholarship student.
Waterford back up team (2):
- Stephen Barrett, Waterford Nutritionist, is a lecturer in the Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science. He is also a current PhD student at the institute.
- Gary Walsh, Waterford’s strength and conditioning coach, is a former SETU Health Sciences student.
Wexford players (5)
- Mark Fanning: Current second year Business student and sports scholarship student in WIT
- Simon O Donohue: Current fourth year Agriculture student and sports scholarship student in WIT
- Shaun Murphy: Former Exercise and Health Student and sports scholarship student in SETU. He won a Fitzgibbon cup with SETU in 2014.
- Eoin Moore: Former Exercise and Health Student and sports scholarship student in WIT
- Harry Kehoe: Former Business student and sports scholarship student in SETU. He won a Fitzgibbon cup with SETU in 2014 at number 10.
Wexford back up team (1):
Paraic Fanning: Wexford coach/selector and is currently Services Manager with SETU Diverse Campus Services and was a former SETU GAA Development Officer. Interestingly he was also a member of Davy Fitzgerald’s backroom team when he was in charge of the Déise between 2008 and 2011. He also captained SETU first Fitzgibbon Cup winning team in 1992.