University of Galway are set to return to top-flight camogie for third level education in 2025 after being crowned the 2024 Purcell Cup champions.
The club secured the promotion to the Ashbourne Cup competition after defeating SETU Carlow at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome on Sunday.
University of Galway had two teams competing as they hosted the Electric Ireland Third Level Camogie Championship at the venue in Bekan, Co Mayo.
2024 marked the third year in a row in which University of Galway Camogie Club reached the final in the Purcell Cup, after suffering narrow defeats in 2022 and 2023. From the throw-in University of Galway hit the ground running with a beautiful point from play from joint captain Tiffanie Fitzgerald within ten seconds and they never looked back.
University of Galway ran out winners, securing the promotion to the premier Ashbourne Cup competition for 2025 with a score-line of 5-27 to 1-09.
President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “We are thrilled to see the University’s Camogie team back in the top ranks of the sport. Our players have gone from strength to strength and shown great commitment and resilience in reaching three finals in a row and now breaking through to the Ashbourne Cup for next year. We speak of our values at the University and of the role that our students play in our university community and it is great to be able to celebrate such success and excellence from this inspirational group of players.”
Tiffanie Fitzgerald, joint captain of University of Galway Camogie Club, said: “I’m absolutely delighted on behalf of everyone involved to have lifted the Purcell Cup. It has taken a huge effort and commitment from the players, the team management and the club officers to get University of Galway camogie back to the Ashbourne and I’m already looking forward to competing at the top-level next year. We were also delighted to have Aerogen on board as our club sponsors this year and it is great to be able to show them the value of their investment. There is something really special about college camogie and we all get so much from it. I’ve made friends for life. It’s also a great distraction from the pressures of college and exams and a great experience playing with players that you’d normally compete against.”
John Power, CEO Aerogen, which sponsors the Camogie Club, said: “Over our 25-year history Aerogen, Ireland’s largest indigenous med-tech company, has proudly partnered with many local charities and sporting organisations. We have always been attracted to support teams and organisations that share our values of commitment, ambition and team spirit and in particular those who perhaps ‘punch above their weight’. This is why we were particularly proud to support the University’s camogie teams and the whole company are absolutely delighted with their achievements over the weekend culminating in the Purcell Cup victory. They have done their University and the West of Ireland proud.”
The University’s junior camogie team contested the Uí Mhaolagáin Cup Final on Saturday evening against UL, but narrowly missed out on victory by the finest of margins.
Speaking after the game, Camogie Club manager Louise O’Connor said: “We’re disappointed that our juniors lost out by a single point but we are so proud of this group of players and the commitment they have shown throughout the year. We’re already looking forward to next year and I know that some of these players will have an eye on breaking into the Ashbourne panel so this has been a great experience for them.”
