32 IT Sligo Students have been awarded new Sports Scholarships, which will develop their skills and make them ambassadors for the Institute in competitions at home and abroad.
They were presented to the students at a special ceremony on Wednesday. The first-time recipients include Donegal senior gaelic footballers Stephen McBrearty, Eoghan Bán Gallagher and goalkeeper Danny Rogers and five-time Irish women’s light welterweight boxing champion Ciara Sheedy from Co. Mayo.
Soccer goalkeeper Ali Alniyadi, originally from Oman and who has recently been part of the Sligo Rovers squad during their pre-season friendlies, is also a Sports Scholarship recipient.
While GAA and Soccer dominate the scholarship list this year with 24 awards, Athletics, Racquetball and Clay Pigeon Shooting also feature.
Irish international Colin Donegan from Cleveragh in Sligo is also making history as he is the first student from the Institute to receive a Scholarship in the sport of Lacrosse.
Congratulating all the students on their success, the Registrar of IT Sligo, Colin McLean, said: “Each of our Sports Scholarship students has excelled in their chosen sports activity and in so doing they have enhanced IT Sligo’s reputation as an academic setting that values and rewards sporting prowess.”
In addition to the first time recipients, a further 23 students had their existing sports scholarships renewed. These include reigning World Kickboxing Champion Desssie Leonard from Riverstow, golfer Declan Reidy, Northern Ireland women’s soccer international Catherine Hyndman and Sligo Rovers footballer Jake Dykes.
IT Sligo allocates a €50,000 fund for Sports Scholarships Scheme and all students are entitled to apply.
Since its introduction, the scholarships have benefited students involved in a wide range of sports including soccer (ladies/men), Gaelic football (ladies/men), basketball, athletics, surfing, boxing, camogie, hurling, golf and martial arts.
Photo caption:
Some of the new IT Sligo Sports Scholarship recipients 2016 with Registrar Colin McLean and Sports Scholarship Committee members.
New IT Sligo Sporst Scholarship Recipients:
Lauren Boles – Soccer
Ballintogher, Co Sligo
Course: BA in Accounting
Member of the Institute’s women’s Futsal team which reached the WSCAI final last week, losing to IT Carlow.
Mark Connaughton – Soccer
Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Course: Recreation & Leisure
Captain of the IT Sligo senior men’s soccer team. Has played for Ireland at Colleges representative level and played youth football with Longford Town and Shelbourne.
Christopher Flanagan – Soccer
Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Course: Human Nutrition
Has played at international level for Ireland from U15 to U19.
Rachel Kearns – Soccer
Crossmolina, Co Mayo
Course: Health Science & Physiology
Current member of the Ireland women’s U19 soccer squad
Gemma McDonagh – Soccer
Sligo
Course: Business L8
Member of the Institute senior women’s team who plays her club football with Castlebar Celtic.
Ali Alniyadi – Soccer
Oman
Former Omani National U18 goalkeeper. Part of theInstitute’s senior men’s team and with Manor Rangers in the Sligo/Leitrim league. Also training with the Sligo Rovers first team squad.
Anna Grant – Soccer
Ballinsloe, Co Galway
Course: Business L8.
Member of the Institute’s senior women’s team.
Una Higgins – Soccer
Ballymote, Co Sligo
Member of the Institute’s senior women’s team.
Keelan Kennoy – Soccer
Sligo
Course; Rec & Leisure – Year 1
Member of the Sligo Rovers U19 squad.
Stacy Muldowney – Soccer
Riverstown, Co Sligo.
Course: Rec & Leisure
Member of the IT Sligo women’s soccer and Futsal teams
Eoin Flanagan – Gaelic Football
Carraroe, Sligo
Course: Bachelor of Business L8
Member of the Sligo senior county football panel and Sigerson Cup footballer for the past three seasons.
Stephen McBrearty – Gaelic Football
Kilcar, Co Donegal
Course: Business
Member of the Institute’s Freshers gaelic footlall team, and along with his elder brother Patrick, a member of the Donegal senior football panel.
Cian Clinton – Gaelic Football
Dromahair, Co Leitrim
Course Health Science & Physiology
Member of the Institute’s Sigerson Cup team and Leitrim senior footballer.
Ray Connolly – Gaelic Football
Sligo
Course: Health Science & Physiology
Sigerson Cup footballer and member of the Sligo senior intercounty panel.
Sligo GAA Clu All-Star award winner in 2014.
Darren Curran – Gaelic Football
Dungloe, Co Donegal
Health Science & Physiology
Member of the Institute’s Freshers gaelic football team.
U21 county footballer with Donegal.
Fiona Doherty – Gaelic Football
Foxford, Co Mayo
Course: Medical Biotechnology
Forward on the IT Sligo senior girls team
Senior Footballer with Mayo in 2014
Has won four All-Ireland titles in gaelic football.
Darragh McConnon – Gaelic Football
Calry, Co Sligo
Course: Business
Member of the Institute’s Sigerson Cup team and Sligo senior intercounty football panel member in 2016.
Deirdre Regan – Gaelic Football
Oran, Co Roscommon
Course: Sport & Wellness
Captain of the Institute’s senior ladies football team. Roscommon senior footballer.
Danny Rogers – Gaelic Football
Burtonport, Co Donegal
Course: Quantity Surveying
Goalkeeper on the Donegal senior football panel, 2016.
Colin Donegan – Lacrosse
Sligo
Course: Games Development
First ever IT Sligo sports scholarship recipient in Lacrosse.
Senior Irish International – competed in last year’s World Lacrosse Championships in Denver. Previously played Olympic Handball for Ireland.
Eoghan Bán Gallagher – Gaelic Football
Killybegs, Co Donegal
Course: BA in Accounting
Member of the Donegal senior football panel In 2016. Son of John Bán who played with his county in the 1990s. Ulster minor football championship winner in 2014.
Cormac Reape – Gaelic Football
Knockmore, Co Mayo
Course: Health Science & Physiology
Member of the Mayo U21 football panel.
Diarmaid McGann – Gaelic Football
Strokestown, Co Roscommon
Course: Rec & Leisure
Connacht U21 Championship winner with Roscommon
Member of the Institute’s Freshers football team.
Dean McGovern – Gaelic Football
Ballinamore, Co Leitrim
Course: Finance & Investment
Leitrim U21 footballer & Connacht Minor League winner in 2014.
Adam Treanor
Truagh, Co. Monaghan
Course: Health Promotion
Member of the Monaghan Under 21 panel. Won an Ulster Minor championship and League double in 2013. All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship winner with Truagh Gaels, 2014.
Jack Galvin – Hurling
Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Course: Quantity Surveying
Westmeath senior hurler & member of the Institute’s senior hurling team. Captain of the IT Sligo freshers hurling team.
Barry Harkin – Boxing
Cootehill, Co Cavan
Course: Mechanical Engineering
Two-time Irish Amateur Middleweight Champion
Winner 15 Ulster titles to date. Hoping to represent the Institute at the World Intervarsity Boxing Championships in Thailand later this year.
Ciara Sheedy – Boxing
Swinford, Co Mayo
Course: Human Nutrition
Took up the sport at 15. Five-time Irish light welterweight Boxing Champion (63kg) and current holder. Silver medalist at the European Union Ladies Championships 2013.
Katie Kenny – Racquetball
Castlebar, Co Mayo
Course: Health Science & Physiology
Member of the Ireland senior racquetball squad which will compete at the World Championships in Colombia in July. European Doubles Champion in 2011.
Cian McLoughlin – Clay Pigeon Shooting
Edgeworthstown, Co Longford
Course: Mechanical Engineering
Has represented Ireland at U21 level.
Also plays hurling with the Institute and Longford senior team.
Declan Martin – Triathlon
Sooey, Co Sligo
Course: Software Development
Two-time lough Gill 10K open water swimming champion.
Competes in the Irish Triathlon series 2016.
Ali Mohammed – Athletics
Sligo
Course: Forensic Science L8
A native of Sudan, Ali took up Athletics in 2014.Finalist in the men’s 800 metres at the Irish Universities T&F Chps 2015.