DCU Players Power Kildare to Historic Joe McDonagh Cup Title
Kildare hurlers with Joe McDonagh Cup
It was history for Kildare hurlers on Sunday in Croke Park, as they landed a first Joe McDonagh Cup in style as they beat Laois on a scoreline of 2-26 to 1-19. The Kildare team was helped by a real strong DCU contingent, with eight DCU students or Alumni starting and another three on the panel.
Rian Boran (captain), Simon Leacy, Daniel O’Meara, Cian Boran, Paul Dolan, James
Burke, David Qualter, Darragh Melville, Liam O’Reilly, Jack Higgins, and Conor Dolan
were all part of the panel.
Athletic Therapy and Training graduate, Maftei Ionut Tarmure
The Kildare team was also supported by Athletic Therapy
& Training graduate Maftei Ionut Tarmure (affectionately known to all as Johnny),
who was their physio. Johnny is Romanian born and invested himself fully in Hurling
in his time in DCU, working as support to Fresher hurling teams and our Fitzgibbon
Cup side, while also lining out with our Junior hurlers. His hurling knowledge no
doubt crucial to the success.
Joe McDonagh Cup 2025
While many factors have contributed to the success of the Kildare side, it is
important to acknowledge the role that third level hurling, not alone in DCU but
across other institutions has played in the success. Kildare men have been dominant
in the Fitzgibbon Cup in recent years and really highlights the role third level hurling
has to play alongside club and county in continuing to drive the national hurling landscape on further. It has been refreshing the affordances that Brian Dowling and
previous manger David Herity placed on allowing players to develop at Fitzgibbon
Cup level alongside their county commitments.
John Donnelly lifting the Bob O’Keeffe Cup
Well done to all involved under the guidance of Brian Dowling. Onwards and
upwards into the Leinster Championship next year, where they will be hoping to
dethrone Kilkenny, who themselves were captained by a DCU Alumni at the
weekend as Thomastown’s John Donnelly lifted the Bob O’Keeffe Cup.
