2017 has proved to be another memorable year for both Gaelic Football and Hurling in Ireland, and this weekend sees the inaugural Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of this year’s crop of Minor Stars, with an expert four-man panel deciding on the final 15 for both Hurling and Gaelic Football.
The four-man awards selection panel is made up of former Cork hurler and current Clare hurling selector, Dónal Óg Cusack; former Armagh All-Ireland football winner, Oisín McConville; former Galway hurler and AIB All Ireland Club hurling championship winning manager, Mattie Kenny, and Meath Senior football manager, Andy McEntee. It’s fair to say we’ve amassed an expert panel to decide on the winners of this year’s Minor Star Awards, and the guys certainly had a difficult task ahead of them.
The Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards emphasise that there is ‘nothing minor about playing Minor’, and on Saturday 7th October we will honour the best individual performers from the entire season. The Awards will also recognise the crucial and admirable part played by families, clubs and communities who have helped players get to this point in their sporting career.
Dónal Óg Cusack, Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards Judge, said: “To be named on the Hurling Team of the Year is a real honour for these players, their families, counties, schools and clubs. There is some serious talent in the team and we are looking at the future of hurling there.
“They deserve recognition for the commitment and quality they gave to their teams this year - both on and off the pitch -and it gives their team mates and players across the minor championships something to strive for. Only one team can win the All-Ireland but these great players can be celebrated.”
Introducing the 2017 Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the year
1. Darrach Fahy - Galway (Ardrahan)
2. Caimin Killeen - Galway (Loughrea)
3. Sean O’Leary Hayes - Cork (Midleton)
4. Darren Morrissey - Galway (Sarsfields)
5. Aidan McCarthy - Clare (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. James Keating - Cork (Kildorrery)
7. Lee Gannon - Dublin (Whitehall Colmcilles)
8. Daire Connery - Cork (Na Piarsaigh)
9. Conor Fahey - Galway (Padraig Pearses)
10. Brian Roche - Cork (Bride Rovers)
11. Sean Currie - Dublin (Na Fianna)
12. Adrian Mullen - Kilkenny (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Sean Bleahene -Galway (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
14. Jack Canning - Galway (Portumna)
15. Brian Turnbull - Cork (Douglas)
While the hurling team of the year included six players from Galway and five from Cork (the winners and runners-up respectively), there were unfortunately no Ulster players to make this team. That wasn’t to be the case in the Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year, with four Derry stars and one player from Cavan making the list. This is a testament to the run that both sides enjoyed in 2017, with Derry winning the Ulster title and making it all the way to Croke Park for the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Football final.
Oisín McConville, Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards Judge said, “These awards are a major event for young players and will stand as a landmark in their playing careers. It is a real honour to be named on the Team of the Year, not just for the players themselves but also for their families, counties, schools and clubs who have played a crucial part in these young players’ careers to date. It is just incredible to see such dedication in such young athletes, but it really is a testament to them and they should be celebrated and that is what these awards are all about.”
Introducing the 2017 Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year:
1. Deividas Uosis - Kerry (Dingle)
2. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne - Dublin (Cuala)
3. Conor McCluskey - Derry (Magherafelt)
4. Cian Gammell - Kerry (Killarney Legion)
5. Michael Potts - Kerry (Dr Crokes)
6. Padraig McGrogan - Derry (Newbridge)
7. Niall Donohue - Kerry (Firies)
8. Barry Mahony - Kerry (St.Senan’s)
9. Oisin McWilliams - Derry (Swatragh)
10. Ross McGarry - Dublin (Ballyboden St Enda's)
11. David Clifford - Kerry (Fossa)
12. Donal O’Sullivan - Kerry (Kilgarvan)
13. Oisin Pierson - Cavan (Gowna)
14. Lorcan McWilliams - Derry (Swatragh)
15. Fiachra Clifford - Kerry (Laune Rangers)
What was Your Favourite Moment From the 2017 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships?
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