Three Galway players have been named in U20 All-Ireland Football Championship's top 20.
Oran Burke, Matthias Bairead and Liam Costello make it into the top 20 players of this year's competition, which was won by Cork this season.
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.
And in a new initiative, Keith Ricken, who masterminded Cork’s 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 ).
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.
Cork, who won their 12th U20 (formerly U21 ) title, and first since 2009, have seven players selected in the top 20; All Ireland finalists Dublin have four, as do Ulster champions Tyrone, with Mayo and Laois having one each
EirGrid 20 U20s: Goalkeepers, Josh O'Keeffe (Cork ), Oran Burke (Galway ); Defenders, Paul Ring (Cork ), Peter O'Driscoll (Cork ), Maurice Shanley (Cork ), Kieran Kennedy (Dublin ), Oisin Mullin (Mayo ), Conal Grimes (Tyrone ), Conor Quinn (Tyrone ). Midfielders, Brian Hartnett (Cork ), Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin ), Matthias Bairead (Galway ). Forwards, Cathal O'Mahony (Cork ), Mark Cronin (Cork ), Ciaran Archer (Dublin ), James Doran (Dublin ), Liam Costello (Galway ), Darragh Canavan (Tyrone ), Sean Óg McAleer (Tyrone ), Diarmuid Whelan (Laois ).
