EirGrid, proud sponsor of the U20 All-Ireland
Football Championship, has today revealed through the ‘EirGrid 20 U20 Awards’
the top 20 players of this year’s competition.
The ‘EirGrid 20 U20 Awards’, now in their fifth
year, are run by EirGrid to recognise the outstanding talent at this age grade
and are selected by the Gaelic Writers Association. In addition, EirGrid has
named the U20 Player and Manager of the year, selected from the top player and
manager from each of the provincial championships.
Dublin sharpshooter, Ciaran Archer, was named both
Leinster and overall EirGrid U20 Player of the Year ahead of Munster’s Cathal
O’Mahony (Cork), Connacht’s Liam Costello (Galway) and Ulster’s Sean Og McAleer
(Tyrone), all of whom were named the top players from their provincial
championships.
In a new initiative for the 2019 season, Keith
Ricken, who masterminded Cork’s emphatic comeback against Dublin in the All
Ireland final, was named Munster and the overall EirGrid U20 Manager of the
Year ahead of Leinster’s Tom Gray (Dublin), Connacht’s Padraic Joyce (Galway)
and Ulster’s Paul Devlin (Tyrone).
Cork, who won their 12th U20 (formerly U21) title,
and first since 2009, when they overturned a seven-point deficit in the second
half against Dublin, have seven players selected in the EirGrid 20 U20’s. These
are: Josh O’Keeffe, Paul Ring, Peter O’Driscoll, Maurice Shanley, Brian
Hartnett, Cathal O’Mahony and Mark Cronin.
All Ireland finalists Dublin have four players
included (Kieran Kennedy, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Ciaran Archer and James
Doran) as do Ulster champions Tyrone (Conal Grimes, Conor Quinn, Darragh
Canavan and Sean Óg McAleer). Connacht champions Galway have three players
named on the panel (Oran Burke, Matthias Bairead and Liam Costello) with the
remaining slots going to Mayo (Oisin Mullin) and Laois (Diarmuid Whelan).
Speaking on behalf of the GAA, Uachtarán Cumann
Lúthchleas Gael John Horan said;
“My congratulations to all of those who have been
named on this prestigious list and to the families and clubs who they proudly
represent.
"The EirGrid 20 U20 awards acknowledges the
fact that a full panel of players is needed to be successful and is reflected
in the fact that players from six different counties are included here in
recognition of their excellence over the course of another high quality EirGrid
U20 Championship. "These players are following a well-worn and proven
pathway in making the step from underage to senior status and football's rich
history shows how these competitions help nurture and develop the senior stars
of tomorrow."
Valerie Hedin, External Communications Manager at
EirGrid commented;
“We are delighted to honour the top 20 performers of
the EirGrid GAA Football U20 All-Ireland Championship and extend our
congratulations to Dublin’s Ciaran Archer who has been awarded the EirGrid U20
Player of the Year. From what we saw of Ciaran in this year’s championship he
has a bright future ahead of him in the blue of Dublin. Our recognition of the
championship’s top performers has this year extended to those that manage and
develop the current U20 teams and prepare them for the future both on and off
the pitch. Cork’s Keith Ricken impressed with his stewardship over his young
side and was named EirGrid Manager of the Year. It is great to be able to
recognise and award the talent and character displayed by these young men in a
competition that nurtures and develops the stars of tomorrow. Well done to all
our winners and thank you for making the EirGrid GAA Football U20 All-Ireland
Championship such an outstanding competition.”
EirGrid
20 U20’s
Goalkeepers
1. Josh O'Keeffe (Cork)
2.
Oran Burke (Galway)
Defenders
3. Paul Ring (Cork)
4. Peter O'Driscoll (Cork)
5. Maurice Shanley (Cork)
6. Kieran Kennedy (Dublin)
7. Oisin Mullin (Mayo)
8. Conal Grimes (Tyrone)
9. Conor Quinn (Tyrone)
Midfielders
10. Brian Hartnett (Cork)
11. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin)
12.
Matthias Bairead (Galway)
Forwards
13. Cathal O'Mahony (Cork)
14. Mark Cronin (Cork)
15. Ciaran Archer (Dublin)
16. James Doran (Dublin)
17.
Liam Costello (Galway)
18. Darragh Canavan (Tyrone)
19. Sean Óg McAleer (Tyrone)
20. Diarmuid Whelan (Laois)
