TWO West Cork footballers have been named on the 2026 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team of the Year.

Clonakilty footballer Dan Peet, who lined out with University College Cork, and Carbery Rangers’ Ciarán Santry, also UCC, were selected as two of the 15 standout footballers from this year’s Higher Education Football Championship.

With this being the first year that the Sigerson Cup was played under the new rules, this year’s competition culminated with University of Limerick (UL) making history, securing their first-ever Sigerson Cup title by defeating Munster rivals UCC by three points. This dramatic final marked the Sigerson Cup's return to Croke Park for the first time in over 40 years.

Champions UL dominate the 2026 Team of the Year with seven standout performers earning a spot. Runner’s up UCC have earned four spaces, with semi-finalists University of Galway and Queen’s receiving two spots each on the team. Notably, this year’s team contains players from the length and breadth of the country with nine counties represented.

2026 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championship Football Team of the Year:

Tristan O’Callaghan - University of Limerick and St. Breckan's, Clare

Dan Peet - University College Cork and Clonakilty, Cork

Liam Evans - University College Cork and Keel, Kerry

Charlie King - University of Limerick and Ballina, Tipperary

Conal Dawson - University of Limerick and Westport, Mayo

Seán Morahan - University of Limerick and Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo

Canice Mulligan - University of Galway and St. Patrick’s, Sligo

Brian McNamara - University of Limerick and Cooraclare, Clare

Conor O’Neill - Queens University Belfast and Donaghmore, Tyrone

Ruairí Murphy - University College Cork and Listry, Kerry

Cathal Brosnan - University of Limerick and Currow, Kerry

Eoin Colleran - University of Galway and Pádraig Pearses, Roscommon

Ryan McQuillan - Queen's University Belfast and Con Magees Glenravel, Antrim

Cian McHale - University of Limerick and Moy Davitts, Mayo

Ciaran Santry - University College Cork and Carbery Rangers, Cork