WIT News

WIT wishes both teams well ahead of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final Posted: Mon, August 31, 2009

Dr Derek O’Byrne, Registrar, Waterford Institute of Technology has wished both the Kilkenny and Tipperary teams well ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park – sending particular good wishes to the large cohort of players in both panels for the final who previously studied at the Institute where they also hurled with distinction.

Waterford alumni on the Kilkenny panel for Sunday’s decider are TJ Reid; Eoin Reid; John Dalton; Willie O’Dwyer; PJ Delaney; JJ Delaney; Michael Kavanagh; Henry Shefflin (winner of two Fitzgibbon Cup titles while studying at Waterford) and Derek Lyng.

Those on the Tipperary panel who have studied in Waterford are Brendan Cummins; Paul Curran (captain, Waterford Institute of Technology Fitzgibbon Cup winners 2003); Conor O’Brien; Hugh Maloney (winner of Fitzgibbon Cup with WIT in 2003, 2004 and 2006 when he was joint captain) and Willie Ryan who is team captain.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated final at Croke Park, Dr O’Byrne said: “In many respects, it is the classic final between old rivals and neighbouring southeast counties in Kilkenny and Tipperary. There’s also the added ingredient of Kilkenny’s pursuit of four-in-a-row and an even more distinguished place in GAA history.

“At Waterford Institute of Technology, we have the added interest of seeing 14 of those who have studied at and played for this Institute lining out for their county panels in a final with yet further significance in this, the GAA’s 125th anniversary year. Gaelic games are a particularly important aspect of student life at this Institute. Hurling in particular is part of the Institute’s heritage and we take great pride in the achievement of our students on the field of play, both while studying here and subsequently.

“We look forward to seeing so many of our graduates take part in what promises to be a very competitive final on Sunday. Sport is important to the southeast and this Institute is pleased to play our part in allowing many of the region’s highest achievers complete their higher education close to home rather than being lost to the southeast. Our programme of sports scholarships allows us to acknowledge and encourage excellence across all sporting disciplines.”