Combined Universities GAA explained

Combined Universities GAA was a Gaelic football and hurling team that was made up of players from the major universities of Ireland.[1] The players were taken from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, and University College Galway. In the 1980s Combined Advanced Colleges GAA (Combined Colleges) joined in to make the annual contests between Combined Universities, Army (Defence Forces) and Garda a quadrangular tournament.

History

The concept of a match between Combined Colleges of the National University of Ireland and the All-Ireland Champion teams in hurling and gaelic football was first mooted by University College Dublin during the 1929–30 season.[2] UCD argued that Combined Universities representative teams already competed against national sides in other sports such as rugby and hockey and that the introduction of like matches in Gaelic games would not only increase the profile of Gaelic sports in Universities but also the prestige of Gaelic games in the community. The Central Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association was initially cool to this proposal, particularly on financial grounds. However, in March 1931 a delegation from UCD went to Croke Park to advance this proposition. On this occasion, the Central Council approved the idea of an annual series of matches. Unfortunately, the first hurling match in April 1931 between an NUI Colleges Select team (6 from UCC, 5 from UCG and 4 from UCD) and the All-Ireland Champions Tipperary at Thurles was disastrous in terms of furthering the concept of an annual series of games. Tipperary proved far too strong for the NUI Select hurlers and won the match without a point being registered against them.[3] The football match between the All-Ireland Champions Kerry and the NUI Select did not take place. On the basis that such uncompetitive games would not be attractive to spectators, the idea was dropped.[2]

The next attempt to embrace representative games for the NUI Colleges Select team came in 1933 with an international hurling/shinty match between an Irish Universities team and the Southern Scottish Shinty League at Govan, Glasgow on 6 May. The Irish Universities won 1–0.[4] The game was deemed a great success as an exhibition of highly skilled use of two forms of club. However, the hope of an annual match died when the Camanachd Association, the shinty governing body, was advised of the GAA's anti-British political stance.[2]

The 1940s saw numerous inter-county standard players involved in intervarsity championships, the Sigerson Cup and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions. The 'Combined Universities' concept was again mooted on the grounds that such a representative team would positively advertise Gaelic games within and without universities. After the 1946–47 intervarsity tournaments representative football and hurling sides were picked to play the All-Ireland champions. The hurling match did not take place. The match between All-Ireland football champions Kerry and the Combined Universities Select at Tralee in May 1947, which was won by Kerry, was described as 'a very dull and uninteresting affair', possibly because there was nothing more than the winning of the match at stake[5] Both teams were below published strengths; almost one-third of the selected sides did not play.[6] Again hopes of an annual match faded.[2]

Despite these setbacks the Universities persevered with their attempts to establish representative matches for Combined Universities Select teams. In 1950 these efforts were rewarded with a Combined Universities v Rest of Ireland football match at Croke Park. The prize for this match was the Dr John Ryan Memorial Cup which was donated by Dr Joseph Stuart, a former UCD student who hailed from Ogonnelloe, County Clare and future President of the GAA (1958–61).[2] John Ryan was a student at UCD in the 1910s who led the UCD hurlers to two Fitzgibbon Cup victories and captained Dublin to All-Ireland Hurling success in 1917.[7] The 1950 match received extensive press coverage, was aired on radio and attended by over 20,000 spectators. Although the students lost by six points, they did the University sector proud in this high profile game. The match was praised as the kind of football that would throng Croke Park any Sunday. The Combined Universities v Rest of Ireland, sometimes called GAA Ireland, annual series of matches had had a joyous birth.

The Combined Universities team took part in exhibition games against the Rest of Ireland GAA or GAA Ireland team throughout the 1950s. These were halcyon days for University Gaelic sportsmen due to the high profile of these matches. From 1952 the annual match was a double-billed event of hurling and football. Many top players in both codes competed. While many games were well attended (15–20,000 spectators), these matches failed to arouse the same passion or allegiance associated with inter-club, inter-county or inter-provincial games. The Combined Universities hurling also suffered from a lack of highly talented players who could compete against the cream of inter-county hurling players. After the 1956 hurling game, this match was dropped. The Combined Universities versus GAA Ireland football games faded out in the 1960s despite attempts to spice up the annual series with matches against The Army and Inter-County sides.

The 1970s saw an expansion of the number of participating university colleges in both the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions. The removal of the GAA's Rule 27 in 1971 banning playing of 'foreign games' freed students to play sport in a much more open manner within the ethos of a broad university education and sporting life.[8]

The Combined Universities concept was revived in 1972 with the admission of elite selections from the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions to the inter-provincial Railway Cup competition in their respective codes. The Central Council of the GAA agreed to a proposal from Comhairle na nOllscoil on a trial basis. The inter-provincial series had been flagging in terms of public interest and it was thought that the introduction of a competitive 'fifth province' would revive the popularity of the Railway Cup competitions by adding a new element of spice. In hurling the Combined Universities team did not match the stronger provinces. In football, the Combined Universities won the Railway Cup in 1973 by beating Connacht in the final at Athlone. However, after three years the foray of the Combined Universities into inter-provincial competition ended.[2]

A further attempt to provide representative games emerged in 1976 when the Combined Universities played the Combined Services in both codes at The Mardyke, Cork.[9] Following on the classic encounter in the first Hodges Figgis Trophy match between the Sigerson Cup and Trench Cup winners in 1976,[10] the Advanced Colleges (a non-university combination) joined the football representative matches in 1977. The first football match between the Advanced Colleges Select and Combined Universities resulted in a win for the former.[11] In 1978, Advanced Colleges beat Combined Services to play Combined Universities in a final match.[12] With the Combined Services splitting into Garda and Irish Army teams in 1979, the football matches developed into a four-way mini-tournament format between these teams. Advanced Colleges joined the hurling tournament in 1981 to make this a four-team tournament. These series in varying formats continued until the mid-1990s.

Within the Universities and Advanced Colleges, selection for the representative teams carried considerable prestige, particularly for the smaller and less successful institutions. One of the major difficulties was finding dates for the matches that steered clear of inter-county and club fixtures. The last Combined Universities match took place in 2000 against a British Universities Select in Manchester to celebrate the Millennium.[2]

Gaelic Football

YearWinnersScoreAgainstScoreWhere PlayedDate
2000Combined Universities1-9British Universities0-9Manchester
1996Combined Colleges[13] 1–15Garda2–10Garda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (Final)
Garda[14] Combined SigersonGarda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (SF)
Combined CollegesDefence ForcesGarda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (SF)
1995Combined Sigerson[15] 1–18Garda0-8Garda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (Final)
Combined Sigerson[16] Defences ForcesGarda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (SF)
GardaCombined CollegesGarda Grounds, Westmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (SF)
1994Combined Sigerson[17] 2–14Garda2-5UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin20 April 1994 (Final)
Garda1–11Army1–10UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin20 April 1994 (SF)
1993Combined Colleges[18] 1–14Defence Forces2–10UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin29 April 1993 (Final)
Defence Forces[19] 2–14Combined Sigerson1-8UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin21 April 1993 (SF)
1992Defence Forces[20] 1–12Garda0–10UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin1 April 1992(Final)
Garda[21] 1–15Combined Sigerson1–12UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin25 March 1992 (SF)
Defence Forces0–11Combined Advanced Colleges0-8UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin25 March 1992 (SF)
1991Garda[22] 2–11Combined Sigerson1-9Parnell Park, Dublin3 April 1991 (Final)
Garda[23] 2-9Combined Colleges0-7TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin27 March 1991 (SF)
Combined Sigerson1–12Defence Forces0–10UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin27 March 1991 (SF)
1990[24]
1989Garda[25] 1–15Combined Colleges1–11St Vincent's, Dublin15 April 1989 (Final/ET)
Garda2-8Combined Sigerson0-7TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin15 April 1989 (SF)
Combined Colleges1–12Army1–11Glasnevin, Dublin15 April 1989 (SF)
1988Combined Colleges[26] 0–16Combined Sigerson1-7Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra30 April 1988 (Final)
Combined Sigersonw/oGardascrColáiste Phádraig, Drumcondra30 April 1988 (SF)
Combined Colleges2-5Army0–10Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra30 April 1988 (SF)
1987Combined Universities[27] 0–11Defence Forces0-7TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin8 April 1987 (Final)
Defence Forces[28] 2-8Advanced Colleges0-8TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin1 April 1987 (SF)
Combined Universities[29] 4–12Garda1–17Croke Park, Dublin1 April 1987 (SF)
1986Army[30] 0–13Combined Universities0-5Croke Park, Dublin23 March 1986 (Final)
Army[31] 1–12Allied Irish Banks[32] 1-5Army Grounds, Phoenix Park, Dublin22 March 1986 (SF)
Combined Universities2-9Advanced Colleges1-5Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra22 March 1986 (SF)
1985Advanced Colleges0-9Combined Universities0-8Croke Park, Dublin25 April 1985 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[33] 1–17Garda0-9TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin17 April 1985 (SF)
Combined Universities1-9Army0–12Devlin Park, Dublin17 April 1985 (SF)
1984Army[34] Combined UniversitiesPearse Stadium, Galway23 April 1984 (Final)
Combined Universities[35] 0–19Advanced Colleges0–12Renmore, County Galway22 April 1984 (SF)
Combined Universities[36] 1–10Garda1-7Croke Park, Dublin4 April 1984 (R1)
1983Advanced Colleges[37] 1–12Army1-9Croke Park, Dublin20 April 1983 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[38] 2-8Garda2-6Croke Park, Dublin6 April 1983 (SF)
Army1–14Combined Universities1-8Croke Park, Dublin6 April 1983 (SF)
1982Garda[39] 3-8Army0-5Croke Park, Dublin28 April 1982 (Final)
Army[40] 2–11Advanced Colleges3-5Croke Park, Dublin14 April 1982 (SF)
Garda2–13Combined Universities2-9Croke Park, Dublin14 April 1982 (SF)
1981[41] Advanced Colleges[42] 3–10Army2–12Croke Park, Dublin8 April 1981 Final)
Army1–12Combined Universities2-8Croke Park, Dublin25 March 1981 (SF)
1980Army v GardaCroke Park, Dublin(Final)
Army[43] 3–15Advanced Colleges1–12Croke Park, Dublin16 April 1980 (SF)
Garda0–11Combined Universities1-7Croke Park, Dublin16 April 1980 (SF)
1979Combined Universities[44] 2–11Garda1–11Devlin, Dublin29 April 1979 (Final)
Garda[45] 3–10Advanced Colleges1–11Croke Park, Dublin4 March 1979 (SF)
1978Combined Universities[46] 2-9Advanced Colleges0–11Croke Park, Dublin9 April 1978 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[47] 2–14Combined Services (Army & Garda)2-9Pairc Ciarán, Athlone26 February 1978 (SF)
1977Advanced Colleges[48] 2–14Combined Universities2-9Croke Park, Dublin27 March 1977 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[49] 2–10Combined Services (Army & Garda)1–11Croke Park, Dublin6 March 1977 (SF)
1976Combined Universities[50] 0–10State Services (Army & Garda)0-7The Mardyke, Cork19 April 1976
1974Combined Universities[51] 1-8Dublin1-7O'Toole Park, Crumlin, Dublin12 January 1974
1973Kildare[52] 2-8Combined Universities1–10Newbridge, County Kildare14 January 1973
1966Galway[53] 2-9Combined Universities0-7Tuam Stadium, County Galway1 May 1966
1965Galway[54] 2–12Combined Universities0–13Pearse Stadium, Galway4 April 1965
1964Abandoned[55]
1963Kerry[56] 4-7Combined Universities1-7Croke Park, Dublin24 March 1963
1962Combined Universities[57] 1–10Rest of Ireland0-6Croke Park, Dublin18 March 1962
1961Rest of Ireland[58] 3–13Combined Universities2-8Croke Park, Dublin19 March 1961 (Final)
Combined Universities[59] 2–10The Army1-7Croke Park, Dublin12 March 1961 (SF)
1960Rest of Ireland[60] 4-5Combined Universities3-2Croke Park, Dublin20 March 1960
1959[61]
1958Combined Universities[62] 0–12G.A.A. Ireland0–10Croke Park, Dublin4 May 1958
1957G.A.A. Ireland[63] 3–10Combined Universities3-6Croke Park, Dublin18 March 1957
1956G.A.A. Ireland[64] 2–14Combined Universities3–10Croke Park, Dublin18 March 1956
1955Combined Universities[65] 1–10G.A.A. Ireland2-5Croke Park, Dublin6 March 1955
1954Combined Universities[66] 2-8Rest of Ireland0-9Croke Park, Dublin7 March 1954
1953Rest of Ireland[67] 4–10Combined Universities0-7Croke Park, Dublin1 March 1953
1952Rest of Ireland[68] 2-4Combined Universities1-5Croke Park, Dublin2 March 1952
1951Rest of Ireland[69] 0–10Combined Universities0–9Croke Park, Dublin4 March 1951
1950Rest of Ireland[70] 1–12Combined Universities2-3Croke Park, Dublin26 February 1950
1947Kerry2–5Combined Universities1–5Austin Stack Park, Tralee4 May 1947

Hurling

YearWinnersScoreAgainstScoreWhere PlayedDate
1996Garda2–12Army0–10Westmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (Final)
GardaCombined FitzgibbonWestmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (SF)
ArmyCombined CollegesWestmanstown, Dublin3 April 1996 (SF)
1995Combined Colleges4–22Defence Forces0–10Westmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (Final)
Combined CollegesGardaWestmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (SF)
Defence ForcesCombined FitzgibbonWestmanstown, Dublin27 April 1995 (SF)
1994Combined Colleges4–17Army1-5UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin20 April 1994 (Final)
Combined CollegesCombined FitzgibbonUCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin20 April 1994 (SF)
1993Combined Fitzgibbon1–12Combined Colleges0–14UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin29 April 1993 (Final)
Combined Fitzgibbon4–17Defence Forces3–15UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin22 April 1993 (SF)
1992Combined Fitzgibbon2–18Combined Advanced Colleges0-9UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin1 April 1992 (Final)
Combined Fitzgibbon0–16Garda0-4Belfield, Dublin25 March 1992 (SF)
Combined Advanced Colleges2-7Army1-7UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin25 March 1992 (SF)
1991Combined Colleges3–11Defence Forces1–11Parnell Park, Dublin3 April 1991 (Final)
Combined Colleges1–12Garda1-9TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin27 March 1991 (SF)
Defence Forces0–13Combined Fitzgibbon1-8UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin27 March 1991 (SF)
1990Clare[71] 3–14Combined Colleges0-8Ennis, County Clare16 April 1990 (Final)
Clare2-9Combined Fitzgibbon1-6Ennis, County Clare16 April 1990 (SF)
1989Combined Fitzgibbon[72] 1–16Combined Colleges1–11UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin29 April 1989(Final)
Combined Colleges2-8Army0–10UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin29 April 1989 (SF)
Combined Fitzgibbon4–10Garda2–12UCD Grounds, Belfield, Dublin29 April 1989 (SF)
1988Combined Fitzgibbon3–13Garda1-9Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra30 April 1988 (Final)
Combined Fitzgibbon5-5Army0–11Army Grounds, Phoenix Park, Dublin30 April 1988 (SF)
Garda0–17Combined Colleges0–10Army Grounds, Phoenix Park, Dublin30 April 1988 (SF)
1987Defence Forces6-8Combined Universities3-9TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin8 April 1987 (Final)
Defence Forces3-9Advanced Colleges0–12TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin1 April 1987 (SF)
Combined Universities2–17Garda2–12Croke Park, Dublin1 April 1987 (SF)
1986Advanced Colleges3-7Army0-8Croke Park, Dublin23 March 1986 (Final)
Army3–15Allied Irish Banks1-9Army Grounds, Phoenix Park, Dublin22 March 1986 (SF)
Advanced Colleges3–13Combined Universities2-5Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra22 March 1986 (SF)
1985Garda[73] 1–17Combined Universities0–16Croke Park, Dublin25 April 1985 (Final)
Garda[74] 2–13Advanced Colleges1–12TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin18 April 1985 (SF)
Combined Universities2-6The Army1-7Devlin Park, Dublin18 April 1985 (SF)
1984Advanced CollegesGardaPearse Stadium, Galway23 April 1984 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[75] 2–14Combined Universities1-8Croke Park, Dublin11 April 1984 (SF)
Garda3–11The Army3-9Croke Park, Dublin11 April 1984 (SF)
1983Combined Universities[76] 5-5Advanced Colleges0–11Croke Park, Dublin28 April 1983 (Final)
Advanced Colleges[77] 1–18Garda1–12TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin21 April 1983 (SF)
Combined Universities[78] 2–16The Army1–17TCD Grounds, Santry, Dublin13 April 1983 (SF/ET)
1982Advanced Colleges v(Final)
Combined Universities v Garda[79] (SF)
Advanced Colleges[80] 5–12The Army2–15Croke Park, Dublin28 April 1982 (SF/ET)
1981Combined Universities4–12Advanced Colleges3-7Croke Park, Dublin8 April 1981 (Final)
Combined Universities[81] 3–15The Army1-6Croke Park, Dublin25 March 1981 (SF)
1980[82] Combined Universities[83] 1–11Garda2-6Croke Park, Dublin23 April 1980 (Final)
Combined Universities[84] 2-9The Army1–11Croke Park, Dublin9 April 1980 (SF)
1979Combined Universities[85] 2-7Garda0-9Croke Park, Dublin22 April 1979 (Final)
Garda[86] 6–10Army2-2Army Grounds, Phoenix Park, Dublin29 March 1979 (SF)
1978Croke Park, Dublin2 April 1978[87]
1977Combined Universities[88] 2–11Combined Services (Army & Garda)1-9Croke Park, Dublin3 April 1977
1976Combined Universities3–13Combined Services (Army & Garda)4-8Croke Park, Dublin19 April 1976
[89]
1956G.A.A. Ireland4–12Combined Universities3-6Croke Park, Dublin18 March 1956
1955Combined Universities & The Rest2-6G.A.A. Ireland2-4Croke Park, Dublin6 March 1955
1954G.A.A. Ireland3–13Universities & State Services1-4Croke Park, Dublin7 March 1954
1953Rest of Ireland5-9Combined Universities3-2Croke Park, Dublin1 March 1953
1952Rest of Ireland3–14Combined Universities1-6Croke Park, Dublin2 March 1952
1931Tipperary3-6NUI Colleges Select0-0Thurles, County Tipperary19 April 1931

Railway Cup

In 1971 the Universities Council of the GAA (Comhairle na nOllscoil) applied to the Central Council of the GAA for permission to compete in the Railway Cup football and hurling series.[90] The request had been studied by the Executive of the Central Council. The Universities Council estimated that there were about 70 inter-county players in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon competitions studying at U.C.D, U.C.G., U.C.C., Q.U.B., T.C.D., U.U. Coleraine and St Patrick's Maynooth. At the Central Council meeting held on 23 October 1971, the proposal of Comhairle na nOllscoil was approved unanimously.[91] While the idea was looked upon positively by some elements of the Press as a way of injecting life back into this inter-provincial tournament,[90] other feared that the public would tire of this innovation as they had in the case of the Combined Universities v (Rest of) Ireland tests long before they lingered to an unlamented death[92] and doubted whether the Combined Universities would revive the Railway Cup.[93] Pat McDonnell of UCC and Cork full-back, Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1969, had the honour of captaining the first Combined Universities team to compete in the Railway Cup against Ulster at Croke Park. The University hurlers defeated Ulster in the preliminary round,[94] but were narrowly beaten by Leinster in the semi-final,[95] while the University footballers did not survive the preliminary round of the football Railway Cup.

In 1973 the Combined Universities footballers beat Connacht to win the Railway Cup in a final replay at Athlone.[96] This is the only occasion in the history of the Railway Cup that it was not won by a provincial team. The hurlers again beat Ulster but were again beaten by Leinster in the semi-final. In 1974 both the University hurlers and footballers reached the semi-finals, losing to Munster[97] and Leinster,[98] respectively.

The Railway Cup experiment was meeting criticism from within the Universities sector because it was interfering with University League fixtures.[99] In May 1974 Comhairle na nOllscoil decided to opt out of the Railway Cup competition.[100] In lieu of Railway Cup participation, the Universities Committee proposed an annual match between Combined Universities and the Carrolls-sponsored All-Stars teams.[100] There were no representative matches in 1975. The Management Committee of the GAA arranged for games between Combined Universities and the Carrolls All-Stars in Limerick on 25 January 1976 in aid the Northern Ireland Relief Fund.[101] However, for a variety of reasons, these proposed representative games were abandoned.[102] In April 1976 Combined Universities v State Services (Garda & Army) games took place at the Mardyke in Cork. These matches developed into a triangular series, and then the quadrangular series with the addition of Advanced Colleges, that lasted into the 1990s.

Gaelic Football

YearWinnersScoreAgainstScoreWhere PlayedDateRound
1974Leinster0–12Combined Universities0-9Tullamore, County Offaly10 February 1974semi-final
Combined Universities[103] 1-7Munster1-4U.C.C. Grounds, Cork26 January 1974Preliminary
1973Combined Universities4-9Connacht1–11Páirc Ciarán, Athlone23 April 1973Final Replay
Connacht[104] 0–18Combined Universities2–12Croke Park, Dublin17 March 1973Final
Combined Universities[105] 0–11Leinster0-8Croke Park, Dublin18 February 1973semi-final
Combined Universities[106] 2-7Ulster0–12Breffni Park, Cavan28 January 1973Preliminary
1972Connacht[107] 1–15Combined Universities1-9Dr Douglas Hyde Park, Roscommon13 February 1972Preliminary

Hurling

YearWinnersScoreAgainstScoreWhere PlayedDateRound
1974Munster5–11Combined Universities2-7Limerick Gaelic Grounds17 February 1974semi-final
Combined Universities[108] 4–10Ulster2-7Croke Park, Dublin27 January 1974Preliminary
1973Leinster4–13Combined Universities0-9Croke Park, Dublin18 February 1973semi-final
Combined Universities6–13Ulster1-7Croke Park, Dublin28 January 1973Preliminary
1972Leinster3–12Combined Universities2–13Croke Park, Dublin20 February 1972semi-final
Combined Universities[109] 0–14Ulster1-7Croke Park, Dublin6 February 1972Preliminary

Notes and References

  1. News: Martin Donnelly GAA Interprovincial Championships 2012. Connacht GAA website. 13 March 2012. https://archive.today/20120729061119/http://www.connachtgaa.ie/news.php?storyid=656&s=rss&cat=24. 29 July 2012. dead.
  2. The Cups That Cheered: A History of the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Gaelic Games, Dónal McAnallen, 2012, The Collins Press, Cork, p. 345
  3. The Irish Times, 20 April 1931, p. 13
  4. The Irish Times, 8 May 1933, p. 11
  5. Irish Press, 5 May 1947, p. 10;Irish Independent, 5 May 1947, p. 7
  6. Irish Press, 6 May 1947, p. 8
  7. UCD and the Sigerson: UCD 100 years 1911–2011, Irial Glynn (edited by Paul Rose), 2011, Edition 1, University College Dublin
  8. Irish Press, 12 April 1971, p. 8; Irish Independent, 12 April 1971, p. 10; The Irish Times, 12 April 1971, pp. 1, 5, 8
  9. The Irish Times, 19 April 1976, p. 4
  10. Irish Independent, 7 April 1976, p. 13; Irish Independent, 12 April 1976, p. 8
  11. Irish Press, 28 March 1977, p. 11
  12. Irish Independent, 5 April 1978, p. 12; The Irish Times, 10 April 1978, p. 3
  13. Irish Independent, 4 April 1996, p. 19
  14. Munster Express, 26 April 1996, p. 10
  15. Irish Independent, 28 April 1995, p. 22; Irish Press, 28 April 1995, p. 43
  16. Irish Independent, 27 April 1995, p. 17
  17. Irish Press, 21 April 1994, p. 41
  18. Irish Independent, 30 April 1993, p. 12
  19. Garda withdrew because of clash with Dublin League game in football and insufficient notice of the match in the case of the representative hurling series – Irish Independent, 21 April 1993, p. 20; Irish Press, 22 April 1993, p. 39; ; Irish Independent, 22 April 1993, p. 14
  20. Irish Independent, 2 April 1992, p. 66
  21. Irish Independent, 26 March 1992, p. 18
  22. Irish Press, 4 April 1991, p. 48
  23. Irish Press, 28 March 1991, p. 63
  24. Defence Forces were on a hurling and football Australian tour in April 1990 – Irish Independent, 10 April 1990, p. 13; although the annual hurling quadrangular tournament took place with County Clare substituting for Defence Forces, the football tournament does not appear to have taken place
  25. Sunday Independent, 16 April 1989, p. 32
  26. Sunday Independent, 1 May 1988, p. 26; The Irish Times, 2 May 1988, p. 4
  27. Irish Press, 9 April 1987, p. 13; Irish Independent, 9 April 1987, p. 14
  28. Irish Press, 2 April 1987, p. 11
  29. The Irish Times, 2 April 1987, p. 4
  30. Irish Press, 24 March 1986, p. 13
  31. Sunday Independent, 23 March 1986, p. 26
  32. The Garda football and hurling teams withdrew from the annual representative games due to inability to field teams – the matches had originally been scheduled for the weekend of 12–13 April, but were brought forward to avoid a clash with quarter-finals of the National League; Garda was replaced by AIB; Irish Press, 21 March 1986, p. 25; Irish Independent, 21 March 1986, p. 11
  33. Irish Independent, 18 April 1985, p. 10
  34. Irish Independent, 23 May 1984, p. 11
  35. The Irish Times, 23 April 1984, p. 4
  36. The Irish Times, 5 April 1984, p. 3
  37. The Irish Times, 21 April 1983, p. 3
  38. The Irish Times, 7 April 1983, p. 3
  39. Irish Press, 29 April 1982, p. 12
  40. Irish Press, 15 April 1982, p.15
  41. The Garda did not compete in the 1981 representative series – Irish Press, 20 March 1981, p. 13; The Irish Times, 9 April 1981, p. 3
  42. Irish Press, 9 April 1981, p.13
  43. Irish Independent, 17 April 1980, p. 14
  44. The Irish Times, 30 April 1979, p. 4
  45. Irish Independent, 5 March 1979, p. 8
  46. Irish Press, 10 April 1978, p. 12; Irish Independent, 10 April 1978, p. 13
  47. Irish Press, 27 February 1978, p. 16; Irish Independent, 27 February 1978, p. 10
  48. Irish Press, 28 March 1977, p. 11; Irish Independent, 28 March 1977, p. 15
  49. Irish Independent, 7 March 1977, p. 10
  50. Irish Independent, 20 April 1976, p. 12; Irish Press, 20 April 1976, p. 12; The Irish Times, 20 April 1976, p. 4
  51. Sunday Independent, 13 January 1979, p. 22
  52. The Irish Times, 15 January 1973, p. 3
  53. The Irish Times, 2 May 1966, p. 4
  54. The Irish Times, 5 April 1965, p. 3
  55. Combined Universities were to have played the All-Ireland Champions Dublin in a representative match; due to Dublin's heavy programme of games in February and March and the GAA League semi-finals in April and May, the game was abandoned; The Irish Times, 4 February 1964, p. 3
  56. The Irish Times, 25 March 1963, p. 4
  57. The Irish Times, 19 March 1962, p. 4
  58. The Irish Times, 20 March 1961, p. 4
  59. The Irish Times, 13 March 1961, p. 4
  60. The Irish Times, 21 March 1960, p. 2
  61. In January 1959 the Central Council of the GAA took the decision to abandon the GAA Ireland v Combined Universities match because of the unavailability of Croke Park in March and April. The Sigerson Committee appealed this decision to the Central Council but to no avail; Irish Press, 12 February 1959, p. 9
  62. The Irish Times, 5 May 1958, p. 2
  63. The Irish Times, 19 March 1956, p. 2
  64. The Irish Times, 19 March 1956, p. 3
  65. The Irish Times, 7 March 1955, p. 2
  66. The Irish Times, 8 March 1954, p. 2
  67. The Irish Times, 2 March 1953, p. 3
  68. The Irish Times, 3 March 1952, p. 3
  69. Irish Press, 5 March 1951, p. 7; Irish Independent, 5 March 1951, p. 9
  70. Irish Independent, 27 February 1950, p. 6; Irish Press, 27 February 1950, p. 9
  71. County Clare hurlers replaced the Army who were on tour in Australia; Irish Independent, 17 April 1990, p. 13
  72. Sunday Independent, 30 April 1989, p. 33
  73. Irish Independent, 26 April 1985, p. 10; Irish Pres, 26 April 1985, p. 18
  74. Irish Independent, 19 April 1985, p. 12
  75. Irish Press, 12 April 1984, p. 17
  76. The Irish Times, 29 April 1983, p. 3
  77. The Irish Times, 22 April 1983, p. 3
  78. The Irish Times, 14 April 1983, p. 14
  79. The match was due to take place on 21 April 1982 at Croke Park, Dublin but was postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Eamon O Foighil, a prominent member of the UCG Hurling Club, given that seven UCG players were on the Combined Universities team – Irish Independent, 21 April 1982, p. 14
  80. The Irish Times, 29 April 1982, p. 4; Irish Independent, 29 April 1982, p. 11
  81. The Irish Times, 26 March 1981, p. 3
  82. At the 1980 AGM of the Gaelic Athletic Association's Higher Education Council, St Patrick's College Maynooth's motion that a fourth team be included in the hurling representative series was passed; it was expected that Advanced Colleges would fill this void in 1981; Irish Independent, 14 May 1980, p. 16
  83. Irish Independent, 24 April 1980, p. 18; Irish Press, 24 April 1980, p. 13; The Irish Times, 24 April 1980, p. 4
  84. Irish Independent, 10 April 1980, p. 15; Irish Press, 10 April 1980, p. 11; The Irish Times, 10 April 1980, p. 16
  85. Irish Press, 23 April 1979, p. 12; The Irish Times, 23 April 1979, p. 3
  86. Irish Press, 30 March 1979, p. 11
  87. The hurling match between Combined Universities and Combined Services was to have been played at Croke Park, Dublin on Sunday 2 April 1978, but was cancelled as neither team could field a representative side due to a clash with inter-county games; Irish Independent, 31 March 1978, p. 14; The Irish Times, 31 March 1978, p. 3
  88. Irish Independent, 4 April 1977, p. 11; The Irish Times, 4 April 1977, p. 3
  89. The Central Council of the GAA decided to replace the annual GAA Ireland v Combined Universities hurling fixture with an Ireland v The Rest hurling game – Irish Independent, 18 January 1957, p. 13; the first Ireland (5–11) v The Rest (3-07) hurling match was played at Croke Park on 10 March 1957 in aid of the Catholic Social Service Conference – Irish Independent, 11 March 1957, p. 11
  90. Irish Independent, 21 October 1971, p. 22
  91. Sunday Independent, 24 October 1971, p. 30; Sunday Independent, 31 October 1971, p. 29
  92. Irish Independent, 26 October 1871, p. 13
  93. Irish Independent, 29 October 1971, p. 18
  94. Irish Press, 7 February 1972, p. 15
  95. Irish Press, 21 February 1972, p. 15
  96. Irish Independent, 24 April 1973, p. 16
  97. Irish Independent, 18 February 1974, p. 11
  98. Irish Independent, 11 February 1974, p. 9
  99. Sunday Independent, 13 January 1974, p. 26
  100. Irish Independent, 19 May 1974, p. 28
  101. Irish Press, 27 November 1975, p. 14
  102. Irish Press, 15 January 1976, p. 14
  103. Sunday Independent, 27 January 1974, p. 22
  104. Irish Independent, 19 March 1973, p. 15
  105. Irish Independent, 19 February 1973, p. 13; Irish Press, 19 February 1973, p. 15
  106. Irish Independent, 29 January 1973, p. 12; Irish Press, 29 January 1973, p. 12
  107. Irish Press, 14 February 1972, p. 15
  108. Irish Independent, 27 January 1974, p. 8
  109. This match was scheduled on 30 January 1972 – it was abandoned after 13 min of play when a blinding snow shower made it impossible to see across Croke Park, the score being Combined Universities 0-05 Ulster 1-01 – Irish Press, 31 January 1972, p. 12

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