Four Dubs in U20 Top 20 Footballers of Year selection

Thu, 22nd August 2019

Four Dublin U20 footballers have been named on the ‘EirGrid 20 U20’ selection to honour the top 20 players of this year’s competition - Kieran Kennedy, .Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, James Doran and Ciarán Archer.

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, Ciarán 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 Seán 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, Cork’s emphatic All-Ireland winning manager, was named Munster and the overall EirGrid U20 Manager of the Year ahead of Leinster’s Tom Gray (Dublin), Connacht’s Pádraic Joyce (Galway) and Ulster’s Paul Devlin (Tyrone).

Cork 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.

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 Ciarán 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 U20s

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. Oisín Mullin (Mayo)

8. Conal Grimes (Tyrone)

9. Conor Quinn (Tyrone)