# Fergal Maher Cup

The Fergal Maher Cup is a hurling cup competition for Third-level Colleges. The Cup is awarded to the winners of the Tier 3 Championship (the Fitzgibbon Cup and Ryan Cup are the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Higher Education Hurling Championships).
The Fergal Maher Cup Championship is administered by Comhairle Ard Oideachais Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (CLG), the Gaelic Athletic Association's Higher Education Council which oversees Third-Level GAA championships. The GAA Higher Education Cup Championships are currently sponsored by the Electric Ireland following on from the Irish Daily Mail, Ulster Bank, Datapac, Bus Éireann and Independent.ie.

## History

The Cup is named in memory of Fergal Maher, a student and hurler at Dublin City University who hailed from Leixlip. Fergal was fatally injured when struck by a car near The Sheaf O'Wheat at Bracetown, Clonee, County Meath on 22 March 1998. At the time of his death Fergal Maher was a 2nd year engineering student at DCU and was Honorary Secretary of the DCU Hurling club. He played Ryan Cup hurling for DCU and at age 18 he captained the Kildare U21 hurling team.
The Cup was first presented for the Third Division Championship in 2002, the inaugural winner being Athlone Institute of Technology. In 2002/03 IT Tallaght achieved its maiden hurling title in this competition. King's Inns hurling club was launched in 2005 and in its first season won the trophy. The first President of the King's Inn Hurling Club was the President of the High Court (2001-2006), the Honourable Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan. In 2007/08 Edinburgh Napier University, winners of the British University Hurling Championship in both 2006/07 and 2007/08, became the first overseas winner of the Fergal Maher Cup.

## Fergal Maher Tournament 2018-19
### 2018-19 Group A Qualifying

| Round | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Score | Where Played | Date |
| Rd1 | Letterkenny Institute of Technology | 0-05 | St Mary's University College Belfast | 10-23 | O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny | 11 February 2019 |
| Rd1 | Ulster University Magee | CC | Ulster University Coleraine | W/O | University of Ulster Magee | 30 January 2019 |
| Rd2 | St Mary's University College Belfast | W/O | Ulster University Magee | CC | St Mary's University College | 6 February 2019 |
| Rd2 | Ulster University Coleraine | 5-12 | Ulster University Magee | 5-05 | Owenbeg, Dungiven, Derry | 6 February 2019 |
| Rd3 | Ulster University Coleraine | 0-0† | St Mary's University College Belfast | 0-0† | Owenbeg, Dungiven, Derry | 18 February 2019 |
| Rd3 | Letterkenny Institute of Technology | W/O | Ulster University Magee | CC | Letterkenny Institute of Technology | 13 February 2019 |
* †Match never played
* Qualifiers: St Mary's University College Belfast, Ulster University Coleraine

### 2018-19 Group B Qualifying

| Round | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Score | Where Played | Date |
| Rd1 | Institute of Technology Tallaght | 1-12 | Marino Institute of Education | 2-14 | Thomas Davis All Weather Pitch | 31 January 2019 |
| Rd2 | Institute of Technology Blanchardstown | 3-11 | Marino Institute of Education | 7-15 | TIT Blanchardstown GAA Pitch | 6 February 2019 |
| Rd3 | Institute of Technology Blanchardstown | CC | Institute of Technology Tallaght | W/O | IT Blanchardstown GAA Pitch | 25 February 2019 |
* Qualifier: Marino Institute of Education

### 2018-19 Group C Qualifying

| Round | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Score | Where Played | Date |
| Rd2 | Mary Immaculate College Thurles | 7-18 | Galway-Mayo IT Letterfrack | 0-13 | UL Grounds | 7 February 2019 |
* Cadets were drawn in this Group, but did not compete
* Qualifier: Mary Immaculate College Thurles

### 2018-19 Finals

| Semi-finals 22 February | Semi-finals 22 February | Semi-finals 22 February | Final 23 February | Final 23 February | Final 23 February |
| St Mary's University College Belfast | St Mary's University College Belfast | 0-10 | | | |
| Mary Immaculate College Thurles | Mary Immaculate College Thurles | 0-06 | St Mary's University College | St Mary's University College | 0-20 |
| Ulster University Coleraine | Ulster University Coleraine | 2-07 | Galway Mayo IT Letterfrack | Galway Mayo IT Letterfrack | 3-7 |
| Marino Institute of Education | Marino Institute of Education | 3-13 | | | |

## Roll of honour
### Colleges by wins

| Team | County | Wins | Last win |
| IT Tallaght | Dublin | 3 | 2014 |
| Cadet School | Kildare | 3 | 2020 |
| St. Mary's University College/ Belfast Metropolitan College | Antrim | 2 | 2018 |
| ATU Sligo | Sligo | 3 | 2025 |
| St. Patrick's College, Thurles | Tipperary | 2 | 2013 |
| Edinburgh Napier University | Scotland | 2 | 2010 |
| Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach | Dublin | 2 | 1996 |
| Dundalk IT | Louth | 2 | 1997 |
| GMIT Letterfrack | Galway/Mayo | 1 | 2017 |
| Galway/Roscommon ETB | Galway/Roscommon | 1 | 2015 |
| LIT Tipperary | Tipperary | 1 | 2012 |
| King's Inns | Dublin | 1 | 2006 |
| GMIT Castlebar | Mayo | 1 | 2004 |
| NUI Maynooth | Kildare | 1 | 2003 |
| Athlone IT | Westmeath | 1 | 2002 |
| UU Coleraine | Derry | 1 | 1998 |
| Mary Immaculate College, Limerick | Limerick | 1 | 1995 |
| Tralee IT | Kerry | 1 | 1989 |
| NIHE Dublin/DCU | Dublin | 1 | 1988 |

### Fergal Maher Cup Champion Colleges

* 1987/88 N.I.H.E. Dublin
* 1988/89 Tralee RTC
* 1989/90 Dundalk RTC
* 1990/91 Cadet School
* 1991/92 Cadet School
* 1992/93 Sligo RTC
* 1993/94 Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach
* 1994/95 Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
* 1995/96 Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach
* 1996/97 Dundalk RTC
* 1997/98 UU Coleraine
* 1998/99 Not held
* 1999/00 Not held
* 2000/01 Not held
* 2001/02 Athlone IT
* 2002/03 NUI Maynooth
* 2003/04 GMIT Castlebar
* 2004/05 IT Tallaght
* 2005/06 King's Inns
* 2006/07 IT Tallaght
* 2007/08 Napier University, Edinburgh
* 2008/09 St Mary's Univ.Coll./BMC
* 2009/10 Napier University, Edinburgh
* 2010/11 St Patrick' College, Thurles
* 2011/12 LIT Tipperary
* 2012/13 St Patrick's College, Thurles
* 2013/14 IT Tallaght
* 2014/15 Galway/Roscommon ETB
* 2015/16 IT Sligo
* 2016/17 G.M.I.T. Letterfrack
* 2017/18 St Mary's University College, Belfast
* 2018/19 St Mary's university College, Belfast
* 2019/20 Cadet School

### Captains of winning teams

| Year | Captain | College | County |
| 1987/88 | | NIHE Dublin | |
| 1988/89 | Gerard Galvin | Tralee RTC | Limerick |
| 1989/90 | Diarmuid McCarthy | Dundalk RTC | Louth |
| 1990/91 | | Cadet School | |
| 1991/92 | | Cadet School | |
| 1992/93 | | Sligo RTC | |
| 1993/94 | | Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach | |
| 1994/95 | | Mary Immaculate College | |
| 1995/96 | | Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach | |
| 1996/97 | | Dundalk RTC | |
| 1997/98 | | UU Coleraine | |
| 1998/99 | No Championship | — | — |
| 1999/00 | No Championship | — | — |
| 2000/01 | No Championship | — | — |
| 2001/02 | | Athlone IT | |
| 2002/03 | | NUI Maynooth | |
| 2003/04 | Michael Donohue | GMIT Castlebar | Galway |
| 2004/05 | | IT Tallaght | |
| 2005/06 | James McDonald | King's Inns | Wexford |
| 2006/07 | Michael Griffin | IT Tallaght | Dublin |
| 2007/08 | Conor Delaney | Edinburgh Napier University | Kilkenny |
| 2008/09 | Ciaran Clifford | St. Mary's/BMC | Cuchulainns, Armagh |
| 2009/10 | Shane Bennett | Edinburgh Napier University | Waterford |
| 2010/11 | Michael Lawlor | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | |
| 2011/12 | Séamus Lawlor | LIT Tipperary | Waterford |
| 2012/13 | Barry McLoughlin | St Patrick's College, Thurles | Tipperary |
| 2013/14 | Eric Finn | IT Tallaght | Dublin |
| 2014/15 | Joseph Mooney | Galway/Roscommon Education & Training Board | Galway |
| 2015/16 | Damien Golden | Westmeath |
| 2016/17 | Tom Rigney | GMIT Letterfrack | Tipperary |
| 2017/18 | | | |
| 2016/17 | Tom Rigney | GMIT Letterfrack | Tipperary |
| 2017/18 | Conor Johnston | St Mary's University College, Belfast | Antrim |
| 2018/19 | Paul Gunning | St Mary's University College, Belfast | Westmeath |
| 2019/20 | Dean Riley | Cadet School | Galway |

### Man of The Match awardees

| Year | MOTM | Top Scorer | College | County | Points scored |
| 1987/88 | | | NIHE Dublin/DCU | | |
| | | | NIHE Dublin/DCU | | |
| 1988/89 | | | Institute of Technology, Tralee | | |
| | | Gerard Galvin | Institute of Technology, Tralee | Limerick | 0-9 |
| 1998/99 | No Championship | — | — | — | — |
| 1999/00 | No Championship | — | — | — | — |
| 2000/01 | No Championship | — | — | — | — |
| 2001/02 | | | Athlone Institute of Technology | | |
| | | | Athlone Institute of Technology | | |
| 2002/03 | | | NUI Maynooth | | |
| | | | NUI Maynooth | | |
| 2003/04 | Gavin Keary | | GMIT Castlebar | Galway | |
| | | | GMIT Castlebar | | |
| 2004/05 | | | IT Tallaght | | |
| | | | IT Tallaght | | |
| 2005/06 | | | King's Inns | | |
| | | | King's Inns | | |
| 2006/07 | | | IT Tallaght | | |
| | | F. Rabbittee | IT Tallaght | | 2-3 |
| 2007/08 | Andy Coen | | Edinburgh Napier University | Galway | |
| | | | Edinburgh Napier University | | |
| 2008/09 | Declan Coulter | | St Mary's UC/BMC | Armagh | 0-11 (4f) |
| | | Declan Coulter | St Mary's UC/BMC | | |
| 2009/10 | Tony Boyle | | Edinburgh Napier University | Tipperary | |
| | | | Edinburgh Napier University | | |
| 2010/11 | | | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | | |
| | | | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | | |
| 2011/12 | Séamus Lawlor | | LIT Tipperary | Waterford | 0-2 |
| | | James Logue | LIT Tipperary | Tipperary | 1-2(1f,1/'65) |
| 2012/13 | Rory Hickey | Rory Hickey | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | Kilkenny | 4-5(1-0 pen,3f) |
| 2013/14 | Aodhán Clabby | Aodhán Clabby | IT Tallaght | Dublin | 0-14 (6f,2/'65) |
| 2014/15 | David Mangan | | Galway/Roscommon Education & Training Board | Galway | 0-3 |
| | | Joseph Mooney | Galway/Roscommon Education & Training Board | Galway | 1-1 |
| 2015-16 | Jack Galvin | | IT Sligo | Westmeath | |
| 2016-17 | Sean Claffey | | GMIT Letterfrack | Galway | |
| 2017-18 | Conor Johnston | | St Mary's University College, Belfast | Antrim | |
| 2018-19 | Tiarnan Murphy | | St Mary's University College, Belfast | Antrim | 3-0 |

## Finals listed by year

| Academic Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1979/80 | Cork RTC [Cork IT] | | Galway RTC v Northern Ireland Polytechnic | | | |
| 1980/81 | | | | | | |
| 1981/82 | Limerick Technical College | | N.U.U. | | Drumcondra, Dublin | 6 March 1982 |
| 1982/83 | | | | | | |
| 1983/84 | | | | | | |
| 1984/85 | | | | | | |
| 1985/86 | | | | | | |
| 1986/87 | | | | | | |
| 1987/88 | NIHE Dublin | | Dundalk RTC or Magee College | | | |
| 1988/89 | Tralee RTC | 1-13 | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | 0-02 | | 5 April 1989? |
| 1989/90 | Dundalk RTC | | Army Apprentice School v Air Corps | | | |
| 1990/91 | Cadet School | | UU Coleraine v Tralee RTC | | | |
| 1991/92 | Cadet School | | Mary Immaculate College, Limerick | | Newbridge | 8 March 1992 |
| 1992/93 | Sligo RTC | 6-07 | Cadet School | 3-08 | Naas | 17 February 1993 |
| 1993/94 | Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach | | | | | |
| 1994/95 | Mary Immaculate College, Limerick | | | | | |
| 1995/96 | Coláiste Phádraig Droim Conrach | | | | | |
| 1996/97 | Dundalk RTC | | | | | |
| 1997/98 | UU Coleraine | | | | | |
| 1998/99 | No Div 3 championship | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999/00 | No Div 3 championship | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000/01 | No Div 3 championship | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001/02 | Athlone Institute of Technology | | | | | |
| 2002/03 | NUI Maynooth | | | | | |
| 2003/04 | GMIT Castlebar | 3-13 | GMIT Letterfrack | 1-05 | Garrycastle, Athlone | 6 March 2004 |
| 2004/05 | Institute of Technology, Tallaght | 1-08 | Dundalk Institute of Technology | 1-05 | LIT, Limerick | 5 March 2005 |
| 2005/06 | King's Inns | 2-13 | IT Tallaght | 1-14 (AET) | Mardyke Sports Ground, Cork | 4 March 2006 |
| 2006/07 | IT Tallaght | 4-14 | King's Inns | 0-05 | Carlow IT, Carlow | 10 March 2007 |
| 2007/08 | Edinburgh Napier University | 3-08 | GMIT Letterfrack | 1-10 | CIT, Bishopstown, Cork | 1 March 2008 |
| 2008/09 | St Mary's University College/ Belfast Metropolitan College | 3-14 | Edinburgh Napier University | 2-16 | TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin | 7 March 2009 |
| 2009/10 | Edinburgh Napier University | 3-16 | Dundalk Institute of Technology | 1-10 | Dangan Sports Grounds, Galway | 6 March 2010 |
| 2010/11 | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | 2-11 | Cork Colleges of Further Education | 1-04 | WIT, Carraiganore, Waterford | 26 February 2011 |
| 2011/12 | LIT Tipperary | 2-06 | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | 0-08 | The Farm, Curraheen, Cork | 3 March 2012 |
| 2012/13 | St. Patrick's College, Thurles | 4-19 | St. Mary's University College (Belfast) | 1-07 | Carnmore GAA Club, Galway | 2 March 2013 |
| 2013/14 | IT Tallaght | 0-28 | Cork Colleges of Further Education | 2-20 | The Dub, QUB, Belfast | 1 March 2014 |
| 2014/15 | Galway/Roscommon Education & Training Board | 2-10 | Cork Colleges of Further Education | 1-09 | Limerick IT Grounds | 28 February 2015 |
| 2015/16 | IT Sligo | 4-12 | GMIT Letterfrack | 0-13 | CIT, Bishopstown, Cork | 27 February 2016 |
| 2016/17 | GMIT Letterfrack | 5-12 | Marino Institute of Education | 4-09 | Dangan Sports Grounds, Galway | 25 February 2017 |
| 2017/18 | St Mary's University College (Belfast) | 0-20 | Galway-Mayo IT Letterfrack | 3-09 | Mallow, County Cork | 24 February 2018 |
| 2018/19 | St Mary's University College (Belfast) | 4-12 | Marino Institute of Education | 1-08 | WIT Sports Campus | 23 February 2019 |