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Image: Fantastic end to the season for the University of Galway Ladies Hockey Club with the Irish Hockey Trophy in the books after a hard-fought match against Omagh Hockey Club.

2023 in Sports

Image: Fantastic end to the season for the University of Galway Ladies Hockey Club with the Irish Hockey Trophy in the books after a hard-fought match against Omagh Hockey Club.

SDG Champion

2023 in Sports

24 August 23

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2023 has been a memorable year for sport at University of Galway. Cois Coiribe takes a look back at our most treasured moments.

Indoor Nationals – 1st Place Club. In March the Archery Club hosted the Archery Ireland Indoor National Championships. The club ranked 1st, coming away with more medals than any other club. A massive accomplishment to achieve this as well as playing hosts.

Thomas McStay at European XC. Thomas McStay was part of the men’s U23 team that secured bronze at the European Cross Country Championships.

Women’s Basketball U20 National Cup Champions. In January, our Women’s Basketball team became U20 National Cup Champions.

Men's Intervarsity Champions. A tough, defensive game against ATU Donegal; we came out on top with a final scoreline of 65-54.

IUAA Track & Field – Fiona Everard Win. At the Irish University Athletics Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Fiona Everard gave a standout performance, earning 1st Place in the 5000m and breaking the college record with a time of 17.11.

University of Galway Maree National Cup Champions. A great win over DBS Éanna 74–69 sees us win the first ever National Cup in Galway’s history.

Connacht League Winners. Our Ladies Hockey Team won the Connacht League.

Irish Hockey Trophy. Fantastic end to the season for our Ladies Hockey Club with the Irish Hockey Trophy in the books after a hard-fought match against Omagh Hockey Club. A nil-all draw after full time led went to shuttles where Ailbhe Folan, Hannah Kelly, Ciara Dunne and Jenny Buttimer all scored and a standout performance from goalkeeper Anna O’Donoghue who only conceded one goal throughout.

Women’s Basketball NBCC Division 1 Champion. Our Women's Basketball team clinched the NBCC Division 1 Championship in March. 20 points from Kara McCleane and 17 from Emma Glavin helped them overcome UCC 80–51.

University Championships - 11 Medals. Tough conditions on the water at the University Championships meant that some events had to be cancelled but we claimed 11 medals in a massively strong showing from the club.

Lagan Cup Win. March saw us take home the Yoplait Ladies HEC Lagan Cup after a great game under the cover of the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome.

Women's Volleyball SSI League Champions. A big result to beat Trinity College Dublin in the final to become SSI Intervarsity League Champions.

Men's Volleyball Varsity Champions. An intense final against UCD in the Mardyke Arena in Cork and our Men’s Team are Varsity Champions 2023.

Women's Rugby SSI Tier 2 Cup Final Final. It wasn’t to be for us in the final of the Student Sport Ireland Tier 2 Cup but a fantastic season to get to the final.

Men’s J1B Winners. Our Men’s Rugby Team won the J1B League and are promoted to J1A for next season.

WSCAI Intervarsity – Kelly Cup Winners. One of the most memorable moments of the year was when University of Galway Women's Soccer brought home the Womens Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland Kelly Cup. The Kelly Cup is awarded to the winners of the Intervarsity League.

Liam Nolan – English Amateur Open Winner. Liam Nolan became the the fifth Irish winner of the Brabazon Trophy at Sunningdale New. Liam showed all his short game qualities as he edged Zach Little in a pulsating three-hole play-off.

Naoise O'Donnell – U19 World Champion & U24 European Champions. In November, Naoise O’Donnell became Triathlon U19 World Champion in Abu Dhabi. Naoise has followed that up with a win in Madrid in June by becoming U24 European Champion.

Fresher Hurling Win. The Fresher Hurling team ended an 18-year drought by bringing home the Electric Ireland Fresher 1 Title, after overwhelming a strong UL team in Dangan.

Fitzgibbon Final. A second successive Fitzgibbon Final unfortunately didn’t end our way but stands as a testament to the skill on offer here in University of Galway.

Jill McGettigan who has been selected to represent University of Galway and Ireland at the Student Rider Nations Cup World finals in France. Jill has already proven very successful in these competitions achieving an individual gold medal for Ireland at the Student Rider Nations Cup Sweden in August 2023.

The outcomes of the 2023 Sailing League were determined with the University of Galway Alumni Team clinching the top spot, followed by the University of Galway Gold Fleet in second place, and the University of Galway Silver Fleet securing the third position.

The outcomes of the 2023 Sailing League were determined with the University of Galway Alumni Team clinching the top spot, followed by the University of Galway Gold Fleet in second place, and the University of Galway Silver Fleet securing the third position.

The outcomes of the 2023 Sailing League were determined with the University of Galway Alumni Team clinching the top spot, followed by the University of Galway Gold Fleet in second place, and the University of Galway Silver Fleet securing the third position.

The University of Galway Kayak Club took part in Coldvember 2023.

The 2023 Irish Kayaking Intervarsity was hosted by TU Dublin Canoe Club in February.

In the Xtreme Pantin European Championships, Megan Gamble, one of our esteemed club and committee members serving as the Safety Officer, secured an impressive 2nd place in Surf Kayaking. Megan exhibited exceptional skill and dedication while representing the Irish Team in September 2023. With plans to compete again next year, her achievements contribute significantly to our club’s success in the realm of extreme kayaking.

The Men’s Gaelic Football team achieved a historic victory by winning the Division 1 League for the first time since 1979. Photo L-R Coach Maurice Sheridan with Ryan O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy, Conor Dunleavy and Cillian Goulding after the Electric Ireland Higher Education Division 1 Football League final victory. Picture: Mayo GAA.

The Men’s Gaelic Football team achieved a historic victory by winning the Division 1 League for the first time since 1979. Photo L-R Coach Maurice Sheridan with Ryan O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy, Conor Dunleavy and Cillian Goulding after the Electric Ireland Higher Education Division 1 Football League final victory. Picture: Mayo GAA.

On November 29th 2023, the Women’s Soccer team achieved a historic milestone by being crowned Premier Division League champions. They secured the title with a 2-1 victory over Ulster University in the final, which took place at Athlone Town Stadium.

The second leg of the ISAA Indoor League on November 25th 2023, University of Galway Archery Club continued its impressive performance with 27 archers. Notable achievements included Aaron Burke securing the top position in Recurve Advanced Open, Dominik Pazdan claiming the top spot in Recurve Beginner Open, Kate Grehan achieving the 2nd position in Recurve Beginner Female, Eveline Nee taking 1st place in Compound Female, and Natalie Cheng emerging victorious in Barebow Beginner Female.

Fiona Everard, performed exceptionally well at the recent National Cross-Country Championships in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, taking the Senior Women’s title. Fiona will travel to Brussels with the Irish team to compete in the European Cross-Country Championships in December 2023. Best of luck to Fiona and the Irish Team. Image by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

Women’s Climbing Nights: Throughout this semester, the mountaineering club organised four dedicated women’s climbing nights to foster greater participation among female climbers.

To finish off 2023 year of hiking the club completed the annual ascent of Mweelrea. As Connaught’s tallest mountain (814m), the hike is always a challenge. Both the Intermediate group and the beginner group of hikers, led by our hike leads made it to the summit and capping off a semester of great hiking.

Brian Colsh winning a gold medal in the World U23 competition. Congratulations to Brian Colsh on this significant accomplishment!

The University of Galway Men’s Volleyball team won the Varsity competition and securing the opportunity to represent University of Galway in an international competition in the UK. Congratulations to the University of Galway’s Volleyball team for their impressive achievements!

The University of Galway Men’s Volleyball team won the Varsity competition and securing the opportunity to represent University of Galway in an international competition in the UK. Congratulations to the University of Galway’s Volleyball team for their impressive achievements!

The University of Galway Men’s Volleyball team won the Varsity competition and securing the opportunity to represent University of Galway in an international competition in the UK. Congratulations to the University of Galway’s Volleyball team for their impressive achievements!

The Judo Club won 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at the Connacht Judo Championships on Saturday, October 20. Congratulations.

Photographed at the National Age Grade Championships on October 23rd 2023, the Weightlifting club is pictured alongside Coach Aleks Kosnik. Additionally, last year’s Club Captain, Yan Leydon, is captured representing Ireland at the Celtic Nations Weightlifting Championship.

Last year’s Club Captain, Yan Leydon, is captured representing Ireland at the Celtic Nations Weightlifting Championship.

Team successes — University of Galway Mystics secure their first win this season against Portlaoise Panthers by 75–61. Congratulations to our Basketball Team.

Team successes — University of Galway Mystics secure their first win this season against Portlaoise Panthers by 75–61. Congratulations to our Basketball Team.

Kara McCleane who was presented her game jersey by Ireland captain Edel Thornton and on-court captain Claire Melia.

Liam Nolan displayed exceptional skill and determination, emerging victorious in two matches during the Walker Cup. Representing University of Galway Golf Club, Nolan played a crucial role at the Old Course in St Andrews, making him the first golfer from a Galway club to participate in this prestigious amateur team competition.

The University of Galway Taekwondo Team students, Vickie Popoola, Sapphire Guilfoyle, Admir Music and Aoife McKeagney played in the World Championships in Birmingham July 2023, winning three silver medals, Admir Music and Aoife McKeagney won silver in patterns and Vickie Popoola won silver in sparring. Huge congratulations to the team.

Pictured is Sapphire Guilfoyle. The University of Galway Taekwondo Team students, Vickie Popoola, Sapphire Guilfoyle, Admir Music and Aoife McKeagney played in the World Championships in Birmingham July 2023, winning three silver medals, Admir Music and Aoife McKeagney won silver in patterns and Vickie Popoola won silver in sparring. Huge congratulations to the team.

Pictured with the Irish flag is Giulia Comini, participating in the Unified World Championships held in Carrara, Italy. Giulia secured 4 gold medals in low kick light -60kg, K1 light -60kg, low kick light -65kg, and K1 light -65kg. She also won a bronze medal in K1 full contact -60kg. Giulia engaged in 7 fights and emerging victorious in 6 of them. Congratulations to Giulia Comini on her impressive performance at the Unified World Championships.

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