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22nd Sep 2015

Five footballers who lit up this year’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship

Major promise

Kevin McGillicuddy

Remember these names because you will be hearing much more about them.

After a summer of wonderful football Kerry claimed the ‘double double’ of Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship titles on Sunday with a devastating 4-14 to 0-6 display in Croke Park at the expense of Tipperary.

Jack O’Connor’s side led from beginning to end on a day when their big name players stood out on the biggest stage of all.

The season has seen wonderful performances from Kildare, Tipperary and the All-Ireland champions among others and we’ve picked out the five of most exciting teenage footballers we’ve seen this year.

Conor Geaney (Kerry)

Electric Ireland GAA Football All Ireland Minor Championship Final, Croke Park, Dublin 20/9/2015 Kerry vs Tipperary Kerry's Conor Geaney scores a penalty Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Not too many Kerrymen have grabbed a hat-trick of goals in All-Ireland finals (Bomber Liston in 1978 springs to mind) but there’s been one more added to the list after the corner-forward scored 3-4 on Sunday afternoon.

A star at schools level as well as the intercounty stage, the Dingle man lit up the championship with his pace, ability on the ball and eye for goal.

A cousin of senior stars Paul and Mikey, Kerry’s top-scorer throughout their Munster campaign carried that red-hot form through to Croke Park.

He will team up with Jack O’Connor at Under-21 level where the West Kerry man will hope to continue his impressive journey towards senior stardom.

Mark O’Connor (Kerry)

Electric Ireland GAA Football All Ireland Minor Championship Final, Croke Park, Dublin 20/9/2015 Kerry vs Tipperary Kerry captain Mark O'Connor lifts the cup Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

Kerry’s senior midfield may have malfunctioned against Dublin, but in the minor decider O’Connor, a survivor of last year’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland success, was outstanding over the course of the hour.

Physically powerful, he dovetailed with John Mark Foley to provide the platform for Kerry’s progress to their 13th Electric Ireland All-Ireland title and first back-to-back titles since 1934.

He helped himself to a point as the county’s tradition of producing strong, rangy midfielders continues anon.

The experience gained last year by O’Connor was a major help in his role as captain and the Dingle teenager was a figure of authority on and off the pitch, especially in the extra-time win over Cork in the Munster semi-final.

Alan Tynan (Tipperary)

Electric Ireland GAA Football All Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final, Croke Park, Dublin 30/8/2015 Kildare vs Tipperary Tipperary's Alan Tynan and Brian McGrath celebrate after the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The dual star lit up both the hurling and football championships with his energetic displays at half-forward.

He scored half his side’s total on Sunday and his willingness to attack a rampant Kerry was admirable, even when the result was well beyond doubt.

Grabbing 0-3 in the semi final win over Kildare and 1-5 against Galway proves his work-rate was complimented with a wonderful eye for a score.

His relationship with nine of his dual colleagues was key in the style of play that Tipperary instilled and his terrifying runs from deep will be long remembered by Premier supporters.

A real shame that he ends the season on the losing side in two successive Electric Ireland All-Ireland finals, Tipperary’s challenge will be to try and mould him into a dual star at U21 and senior level too.

Ciaran Kelly (Kildare)

Electric Ireland Leinster GAA Football Minor Championship Final, Croke Park, Dublin 12/7/2015 Kildare vs Longford KildareÕs Ciaran Kelly and Cathal McCabe of Longford Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

The Lilywhites may have faltered at the penultimate stage but there is no doubting the Clane clubman was the star of their run to the last four.

He grabbed 0-4 in the loss to Tipperary but his best work was done before that game as he scored 1-2 in the Leinster final win over Longford while the Electric Ireland All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Cavan saw the corner-forward notch  1-7 of his side’s total of 2-14.

Strong and powerful, his runs to create space as well as intelligence to almost always choose the right option in possession meant he was one of the outstanding forwards of the championship.

Kelly has already stated that he is looking to move into the Kildare U21 and senior panels in the near future, and after a wonderful 2015, his claims for a role in both will be impossible to ignore.

Shane McGuigan (Derry)

Electric Ireland Ulster GAA Football Minor Championship Final, Clones, Co. Monaghan 19/7/2015 Cavan vs Derry Shane McGuigan of Derry and Donal Monahan of Cavan Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

The black card in the semi final was a disappointing way to end his intercounty season, but Shane McGuigan was one of the key forces behind Derry ‘s push to the brink of an All-Ireland final.

The scorer of two points against Kerry before being dismissed, his absence meant colleagues were forced to try and get back into a game that was being controlled by the Kingdom.

A focal point for his county’s attack along with Conor Glass, McGuigan’s class on the ball should see him easily transition to U21 and senior ranks.

Grabbed 0-7 in a thrilling All-Ireland quarter-final win over Longford to haul his team to Croke Park, the teenager was a whirlwind of pace and energy in Derry’s Ulster triumph mid-summer.

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