McGrath and Kennedy help launch sponsorship of Higher Education GAA Championships
Footballers, Sean Powter (Cork) and Jack Kennedy (Tipperary), and Hurlers, Kyle Hayes (Limerick) and John McGrath (Tipperary and All Ireland Hurling Minor Winner in 2012), are best known for the rivalry that exists between them when lining up against each other for their respective counties.
Hayes and McGrath are also both students at the University of Limerick whilst Powter and Kennedy study at University College Cork. Over the next few weeks each of these players will put their traditional rivalries aside in an effort to win the coveted Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups, which are part of the Higher Education Championships sponsored for the first time this year by Electric Ireland.
The four players teamed up with Electric Ireland to launch its First Class Rivals campaign in support of Electric Ireland’s sponsorship of the Higher Education Championships. The campaign celebrates the unique trait of these historic GAA competitions that sees team composition, unlike in club and county Championships, determined by place of learning not place of birth allowing traditional rivals to form the most unexpected of alliances.
Electric Ireland, as part of their First Class Rivals campaign, will shine a light on the contribution these unlikely alliances provide to the compelling nature of the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships that are amongst the most sought after titles in GAA. Between now and the finals, Electric Ireland will show case the importance of rivalries in creating great competition and ensuring players fulfil their potential. To follow their stories, follow #FirstClassRivals.
Electric Ireland’s sponsorship of these Championships is part of their recently announced four-year partnership with the GAA which is further evidence of Electric Ireland’s commitment to investing in talented young Irish people and builds on the award-winning sponsorship of the GAA All Ireland Minor Championship under the platform This Is Major.
Over 7,000 students take part in the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Leagues and Championships that commence in November and culminate in the Electric Ireland Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup Finals being held on the 17th February in Trinity’s Sports Grounds Santry and on the 24th February in Mallow respectively. The draw for the competitions took place on December 7th and the full schedule of fixtures can be viewed athttp://www.gaa.ie/highereducation/
Jim Dollard, Executive Director, Electric Ireland said, “In GAA, it’s all about your place of birth. School against school, parish against parish, county against county. It’s all dictated by where you come from. That is until you get to the Higher Education Championships. The third level team is different with traditional rivals taking to the field as team mates. These rivalries and unexpected alliances are part of the reason the Higher Education Championships are so captivating. Over the coming weeks, we look forward to seeing some of the best the country has to offer take each other on in what will be a fantastic HE Championship.”
Speaking at the launch, University of Limerick and Tipperary’s left corner forward John McGrath said: “The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup is a trophy all hurlers want to win. The competition is unique in allowing you to play alongside great players you normally would find yourself playing against. It is a great opportunity to learn from the likes of Kyle Hayes at training and in games with the added bonus of making friendships that you know will last long after our days in UL have come to an end.”
Also commenting on the launch, University College Cork centre-forward Sean Powter said: “UCC has a great tradition in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup but it is now four years since we last won and the squad is really focused on trying to put that right. Playing in this competition allows me not just to represent the university but even more importantly to get to know players like Jack, both as a person and as a player. This pushes me on, drives me to get the best of myself so as not to let my friends down whilst giving me a unique opportunity to learn from some quality players that are normally on the opposing side of the pitch.”
The Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships, taking rivalries to the next level.