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Cadbury Munster U21F Q-Final – Clare 2-7 Limerick 0-10
McInerney goals put Banner in last four
Limerick 0-10 Clare 2-7
By Eamonn Ryan for the Irish Examiner newspaper
A goal in either half from Clare senior hurler Cathal McInerney powered the Banner into the Munster U21 FC semi-final against Cork in two weeks. The Cratloe man was the difference in the Gaelic Grounds, last night, with a haul of 2-1 from play. Clare, who were beaten by Limerick after extra time last season, led 1-5 to 0-5 at half time. Limerick senior player Eoghan O’Connor had the home side off the mark after just 30 seconds but it was a McInerney goal in the 16th minute that divided the teams by the break. The dual player finished expertly after winning possession in the right corner and working his way goalwards before crashing to the net.
Jamie Lee and captain Derry O’Connor had early Limerick scores with Darren O’Neill, Enda Finucane and Stephen Tierney on the mark for Clare as the sides were level 0-3 each after the opening quarter. Then came the Clare goal and both McInerney and Tierney added points to hand them a five-point lead. Limerick fought back and points from O’Connor and Ian Corbett left just a goal between them at the break. Limerick started the second-half well with Francis O’Riordan, Eoghan O’Connor and Derry O’Connor on target to level the game 0-9 to 1-6. Then McInerney struck for his second goal — cooly slotting home after Shane Brennan carved the opening for a 2-9 to 0-7 lead. But that was to be their last score as Limerick searched for an equaliser but could only engineer a free from Eoghan O’Connor.
Scores for Limerick: E O’Connor 0-5 (4fs), D O’Connor 0-2, J Lee, I Corbett, F O’Riordan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: C McInerney 2-1, S Tierney 0-3, D O’Neill 0-2 (1f), E Finucane 0-1.
LIMERICK: J Brouder; A Morrissey, A O’Sullivan, C McLoughlin; J O’Meara, T McCarthy, S Sheahan; D Treacy, I Corbett, D O’Connor, E O’Connor, F O’Riordan; D O’Dea, J Donovan, J Lee.
Subs: J Lane for D O’Dea (45), D Bonfil for J Donovan (51), P Quinn for D Treacy (28), T Quilligan for J Lee (58).
CLARE: W De Loughery; E Ralph, E Malone, M O’Connor; S Malone, S Collins, S Tierney; K O’Connor, C Ryan; D O’Neill, P Collins, S Brennan; E Finucane, C McInerney, S O’Driscoll.
Subs: M O’Shea for S O’Driscoll (35), M Malone for K O’Connor (43), J Looney for C Ryan (50), R Linnane for E Finucane (59), O Vaughan for E Ralph (62).
Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
Team News
CLARE U21F: W DeLoughery; E Ralph, E Malone, M O’Connor; Sean Malone, S Collins, S Tierney; K O’Connor, C Ryan; D O’Neill, P Collins, S Brennan; E Finnucane, C McInerney, S O’Driscoll.
LIMERICK U21F: J Brouder; A Morrissey, A O’Sullivan, C McLoughlin; J O’Meara, T McCarthy, S Sheehan; D Treacy, I Corbett; G O’Connor, E O’Connor, F O’Riordan; D O’Dea, J Donovan, J Lee.
For the Record
| Limerick | Clare | |
| 2012 Team Management | John Cummins (Manager), Gerry O’Sullivan, Billy Lee | Colm Collins (Cratloe – Manager), Peter O’Connell (Shannon Gaels), Gerry Kelly (Kildysert), Michael Considine (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) |
| 2012 Team Captain | Derry O’Connor | Shane Brennan (Clondegad) |
| Under 21 players on their respective Senior Football Panels | Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen), Darragh Treacy (St. Kieran’s), James O’Meara (Ballysteen), Ian Corbett (Newcastlewest), Eoghan O’Connor (St.Mary’s/ Sean Finn’s) |
|
| 2011 Championship Performance | Defeated Clare after extra time in the Quarter-Final before losing to Kerry in the Semi-Final by 3-15 to 2-6 | Lost to Limerick by 2-11 to 0-15 after extra time in the Quarter Final at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick |
| Number of Munster Under 21 Football titles | 1 | 0 |
| Last Munster Under 21 Football Title | 2000 | N/A |
| Munster Under 21 Football Championship Record since 2000 | Played – 19 Won – 8 Lost – 11 Drawn – 0 |
Played – 18 Won – 5 Lost – 12 Drawn – 1 |
| Last meeting in the Munster Under 21 Football Championship | 2011 Munster Quarter Final – March 9th at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick – Limerick 2-11 Clare 0-15 (after extra time) – Clare led by five points with two minutes of normal time remaining before Limerick scored 1-2 without reply to force extra time. Limerick outscored Clare by 0-5 to 0-3 in extra time to run out two point winners. | |
| What happened 3 years ago?
2009 Munster Minor Football Championship Round-up |
Lost to Cork in the first round by 2-12 to 1-6 before losing to Waterford in the Losers Group playoff by 0-9 to 0-6. | Defeated Waterford by 1-15 to 1-5 in the first round before losing to Kerry by 2-10 to 1-4 in the Semi-Final |
2012 Cadbury Munster Under 21 Football Championship Fixtures
Quarter Finals
Wednesday March 14th
@ Semple Stadium Thurles Tipperary v Kerry @ 7:30pm
@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick Limerick v Clare @ 7:30pm
Semi-Finals
Wednesday March 28th
@ Semple Stadium Thurles
or Austin Stack Park Tralee Waterford v Kerry or Tipperary @ 7:30pm
@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick
or Pairc Ui Rinn Cork v Limerick or Clare @ 7:30pm
Final
Wednesday April 11th
@ Venue TBC @ 7:30pm
Extra time if necessary in all games
Munster Under 21 Football Championship Roll of Honour
Kerry (25) – 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008
Cork (22) – 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Limerick (1) – 2000
Waterford (1) – 2003
Tipperary (1) – 2010
Munster Under 21 Football Cup
Corn na Cásca presented by the Football Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.
All Ireland Under 21 Football Championship
In Under 21 Football All Ireland Roll of Honour Cork have won 11 Titles and Kerry have 10 Titles to their credit. Cork were All Ireland Under 21 Champions in 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007, 2009. Kerry titles were won in 1964, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2008
Munster Under 21 Football Championship – Useful Information
- Attendances for the Munster Under 21 Football Championship have grown by 153% in the period 2007 through to 2011. This is consistent with the 51% rise in attendances for all Munster inter-county football competitions during that period (not including replays).
- All matches in this competition will be played under lights on Wednesday nights for the second consecutive year.
- Cork have won 6 of the last 8 Munster Under 21 Football titles, winning 16 of their last 18 games in this Championship. Their only defeats since 2004 came against Kerry in Tralee in 2010 (0-19 to 1-8) and 2008 (0-15 to 0-10). Prior to 2004, Cork won just 2 of the previous 14 Munster Under 21 Football titles from 1990 to 2003 as Kerry won 9 of the 10 titles on offer during the 1990’s.
- Kerry have won 2 of the last 12 Munster Under 21 Football Championships, winning 13 of their 25 matches in that period.
- Tipperary have won at least 1 game in each of the last 5 Munster Under 21 Football campaigns. No other county has a current winning streak longer than 2 years.
- Between 2003 and 2005, Waterford won 5 of their 8 matches played in the Munster Under 21 Football Championshp, securing the 2003 Munster title. Since then, Waterford have lost their first game in each of the last 5 Munster Under 21 Football Championship campaigns, losing by an average of 13 points.
- Clare have won 3 of their last 13 matches in the Munster Under 21 Football Championship dating back to 2003.
- Limerick lost 5 matches in a row in the Munster Under 21 Football Championship from 2005 to 2009 before securing victories over Clare in each of the last 2 campaigns.
- Though Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary have won this competition in this millennium, the combined record of the so called four weaker counties since 2000 is played 74, won 27, lost 44 and drawn 3 – a winning percentage of 36%.
- Kerry and Cork have dominated this competition and only once in the history of the championship were one or both counties not involved in the final. That was in 2000 when Limerick played Waterford in the Final in Dungarvan with Limerick lifting the crown for the first and only time on a 0-7 to 0-4 scoreline. The winning Limerick Team was Mike Keogh, Mark O’Riordan, Pat Fitzgerald, Brian Geary, Conor Mullane, Stephen Lucey, Tommy Stack. Jason Stokes, John Galvin (Captain), Pat Aherne, Timmy Carroll, Declan Brouder, Conor Fitzgerald, Brian Begley, Colm Hickey.
- Waterford lifted the title for the only time in 2003 when they overcame Cork in the semi-final and Kerry in the final on a 2-8 to 1-9 scoreline. The victorious Waterford team was – David Hickey, Michael Crotty, Ger Hayes, John O’Reilly, Niall Hennessy (Captain), Edmond Rockett, John Hurney, Sean Dempsey, Michael Walsh, Liam Ó Lonáin, Mark Power, Tony Whelan, Bob Costello, Shane Walsh, Billy Harty
- Tipperary, who suffered defeat in 9 finals, recorded their first Munster Under 21 Football success when they overcame Kerry 1-7 to 1-6 in Tralee in 2010. The victorious Tipperary team was – Kieran Kenrick, Robbie Kiely, Ciaran McDonald (Captain), Donal Lynch, Padraig O’Dwyer, John Coghlan, Dara Dwyer, Alan Moloney, Peter Acheson, Sean Carey, Bernard O’Brien, Aldo Matassa, Conor Sweeney, Brian O’Meara, Michael O’Dwyer
- For the record Cork have appeared in 36 finals: Kerry in 34 finals: Tipperary in 10 finals: Clare in 10 finals: Waterford in 8 finals and Limerick in 4 finals
- Only 2 Finals have been drawn. The 1987 final between Kerry and Tipperary played in Tralee finished level, 0-7 each and in the replay in Clonmel victory went to Kerry on a 0-15 to 1-11 scoreline. The 1997 final between Cork and Kerry also finished all square, Kerry 2-11 Cork 3-8, in Tralee with victory going to the Kerry side in the replay at Pairc Ui Rinn on a 0-12 to 1-7 scoreline
- Present Cork Under 21 Selector Mick O’Loughlin won a Munster Under 21 Medal in 1965 losing to Kildare in the All-Ireland Final
- Present Cork Under 21 Manager John Cleary won Munster and All Ireland Under 21 Medals in 1984
Munster Under 21 Football Finals
1962 @ Kenmare Kerry 2-7 Cork 1-4
1963 @ Clonakilty Cork 2-3 Kerry 1-4
1964 @ Kilmallock Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 1-2
1965 @ Castletownroche Cork 2-14 Tipperary 1-6
1966 @ Cork Ath. Grounds Kerry 3-8 Cork 0-14
1967 @ Listowel Kerry 2-12 Clare 1-7
1968 @ Kilrush Kerry 5-7 Clare 2-9
1969 @ Killarney Cork 1-14 Kerry 1-11
1970 @ Buttevant Cork 5-12 Clare 1-7
1971 @ Fermoy Cork 1-10 Waterford 2-5
1972 @ Killarney Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-7
1973 @ Skibbereen Kerry 2-12 Cork 1-12
1974 @ Cahirciveen Cork 3-5 Kerry 1-10
1975 @ Killorglin Kerry 0-17 Waterford 1-5
1976 @ Dingle Kerry 2-16 Cork 1-6
1977 @ Pairc Ui Chaoimh Kerry 2-8 Cork 0-8
1978 @ Killarney Kerry 0-14 Cork 0-9
1979 @ Limerick Cork 1-11 Clare 1-9
1980 @ Bruff Cork 3-15 Clare 0-4
1981 @ Tralee Cork 0-11 Kerry 0-5
1982 @ Pairc Ui Chaoimh Cork 2-12 Kerry 0-4
1983 @ Castleisland Kerry 1-10 Cork 0-12
1984 @ Askeaton Cork 1-18 Limerick 0-4
1985 @ Tralee Cork 1-18 Clare 1-7
1986 @ Clonmel Cork 0-8 Tipperary 0-7
1987 @ Tralee Kerry 0-7 Tipperary 0-7 Draw
@ Clonmel Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 1-11 Replay
1988 @ Cooraclare Kerry 0-14 Clare 2-6
1989 @ Limerick Cork 3-15 Clare 1-7
1990 @ Tralee Kerry 2-9 Cork 0-9
1991 @ P. Ui Chaoimh Kerry 1-8 Cork 0-10
1992 @ Tralee Kerry 3-12 Cork 1-8
1993 @ Waterford Kerry 1-21 Waterford 3-5
1994 @ Dungarvan Cork 2-11 Waterford 0-4
1995 @ Killarney Kerry 1-21 Waterford 2-5
1996 @ Tralee Kerry 3-14 Clare 0-6
1997 @ Tralee Kerry 2-11 Cork 3-8 Draw
@ Pairc Ui Rinn Kerry 0-12 Cork 1-7 Replay
1998 @ Tralee Kerry 3-10 Tipperary 1-11
1999 @ Tralee Kerry 1-10 Cork 0-7
2000 @ Dungarvan Limerick 0-7 Waterford 0-4
2001 @ Kilmallock Cork 1-12 Limerick 0-8
2002 @ Ennis Kerry 3-15 Clare 2-11
2003 @ Waterford Waterford 2-8 Kerry 1-9
2004 @ Tralee Cork 0-13 Kerry 0-12
2005 @ Limerick Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-11
2006 @ Pairc Ui Rinn Cork 4-14 Waterford 1-6
2007 @ Limerick Cork 3-19 Tipperary 3-12
2008 @ Ardfinnan Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 2-7
2009 @ Thurles Cork 1-9 Tipperary 2-5
2010 @ Tralee Tipperary 1-7 Kerry 1-6
2011 @ Pairc Ui Rinn Cork 2-24 Kerry 0-8
2011 Munster Under 21 Football Championship Matches played
Tipperary 1-14 Waterford 1-4 – March 9th @ Fraher Field Dungarvan (Munster Quarter-Final)
Tipperary: Jack English; Mark Hanly, Jonathan Ryan, Robbie Kiely; Donagh Leahy, Eddie Kenrick, John O’Callaghan (0-1); Peter Acheson (0-1), Donagh Heffernan; Billy Hewitt, Thomas Hanly, Aldo Matassa (0-1); Conor Sweeney (1-6, 0-5 frees), David Butler (0-3), David McGrath (0-1)
Subs: Michael O’Dwyer for Thomas Hanly (38th minute), Gavin Ryan for Donagh Leahy (50th minute), Paul McEvoy (0-1) for Billy Hewitt (54th minute). Liam Boland for David Butler (55th minute), Kevin O’Riordan for Peter Acheson (57th minute)
Waterford: Kevin Williams; Mark Cummins, Shane O’Cuirrin, Mark Wyse; Thomas Walsh, David Phelan (1-0), Jamie Kirwan; Ronan Cahill (Captain), Niall Walsh (0-1); Conor Buckley, Adam Brophy, James Coade; David Grey (0-1), Tadhg Houlihan, Paul Whyte (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 45)
Sub: Eoin Walsh for James Coade (HT), Paul Drohan for Conor Buckley (49th minute), Ian Power for Paul Whyte (52nd minute), Sean Burke for Thomas Walsh (56th minute)
Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)
Limerick 2-11 Clare 0-15 (AET) – March 9th @ Pairc na Gael Limerick (Munster Quarter-Final)
Limerick: Brian Scanlon; Paul Martin, Mike Sheehan, Ray O’Flaherty; Patrick Sheehan, Paul Hannon, Padraig Quinn; Tom McCarthy, Padraig Horan; Seamus O’Carroll, James Kelly, Donagh Kelly (Captain); Eoghan O’Connor, Jack Donovan, Patrick O’Donnell.
Subs: Barry Ryan for Horan (39); Padraig Scanlon for O’Donnell (45); Aidan O’Sullivan for Quinn (inj. 53); Eoin Cahill for Ryan (inj. 55); Jamie Richardson for D Kelly (59).
Extra-time: Paudie O’Connor (additional player 60); Padraig Quinn for Martin (79).
Clare: Jamie Joyce; Joe Blake, Sean Brennan, Sean Cormican; Stephan Collins, Liam Markham, Stephan Tierney; Conor Ryan, Shane Brennan; Podge Collins, Michael Malone, Conor Cormican; Podge McMahon (Captain), Cathal McInerney, Killian Malone.
Subs: Darren O’Neill for Conor Cormican (30); Joe Curtin for Michael Malone (45).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
Cork 0-21 Tipperary 2-3 – March 23rd @ Pairc Ui Rinn (Munster Semi-Final)
CORK : John Mellet; Liam Jennings, Damien Cahalane, Alan Cronin; Peter Daly, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Jamie Wall; Michael Ó Laoire (0-3), Aidan Walsh (capt); Ciaran Sheehan (0-4), Mark Collins (0-8, 0-5 frees), John O’Rourke; Donal Óg Hodnett, Barry O’Driscoll (0-4, one free), Paul Honohan (0-2).
Subs : Brian Coughlan for O’Driscoll (55 mins), Eoin Buckley for Hodnett and David Nation for Walsh (57 mins), Thomas Clancy (Fermoy) for Wall and Danny O’Donovan for Cronin (59 mins).
Tipperary : Jack English; Mark Hanly, Jonathan Ryan, Robbie Kiely; Donagh Leahy (1-0), Eddie Kenrick, John O’Callaghan; Donagh Heffernan, Peter Acheson (0-1); Billy Hewitt, Alan Moloney, Aldo Matassa; Conor Sweeney (0-1, free), David Butler, David McGrath (1-0).
Subs: Gavin Ryan for Kenrick (17 mins), Michael O’Dwyer for Hewitt (half-time), Liam Boland (0-1) for Butler (44 mins), Thomas Hanly for Matassa (45 mins), Graham Quinn for M Hanly (55 mins)
Referee: Maurice Condon (Waterford)
2011 Munster Under 21 Football Championship Matches played
Kerry 3-15 Limerick 2-6 – March 23rd @ Pairc na Gael Limerick (Munster Semi-Final)
Kerry: Brian Kelly; Peter Crowley, Mark Griffin, Pa Kilkenny; Jack Sherwood, Barry Shanahan, Jonathan Lyne; Colm Moriarty, Edmund Walsh; James O’Donoghue, Barry John Walsh, Alan Fitzgerald; Steven O’Brien, Daithi Casey, Paul Greaney. Subs: James Walsh for Moriarty (41), Niall O’Shea for Casey (51)
Limerick: Brian Scanlon; Paul Martin, Mike Sheehan, Ray O’Flaherty; Patrick Sheehan, Paul Hannon, Padraig Quinn; Tom McCarthy, Padraig Horan; Padraig Scanlon, James Kelly, Donagh Kelly; Patrick O’Donnell, Jack Donovan, Eoghan O’Connor
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)
Cork 2-24 Kerry 0-8 – April 6th @ Pairc Uí Rinn (Munster Final)
Cork: John Mellet; Liam Jennings, Damien Cahalane, Alan Cronin; Peter Daly, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall; Michael O’Leary, Aidan Walsh (Captain); Ciaran Sheehan, Mark Collins, John O’Rourke; Barry O’Driscoll, Donal Óg Hodnett Paul Honohan
Subs: Danny O’Donovan for Cronin (inj) (40), Eoin Buckley for O’Driscoll (49), Shane Beston for Honohan (52), Brian Coughlan for Sheehan (54), David Nation for Walsh (55)
Kerry: Brian Kelly; Peter Crowley, Mark Griffin, David O’Leary; Jack Sherwood, Barry Shanahan, Jonathan Lyne; Thomas Ladden, Edmund Walsh; James O’Donoghue, Barry John Keane, Alan Fitzgerald; Stephen O’Brien, Daithí Casey, Paul Geaney
Subs: James Walsh for Lyne (blood) (15 to 26), Barry John Walsh for Fitzgerald (28), James Walsh for Edmund Walsh (28), Pa Kilkenny for Shanahan (h-t), Kieran Hurley for O’Brien (34), Colm Moriarty for Sherwood (51)
Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary)
2011 Top Scorers – Munster Under 21 Football Championship
Mark Collins (Cork) – 0-15, 0-10 frees
Barry O’Driscoll (Cork) – 1-10, 0-2 free, 0-2 45s
Eoghan O’Connor (Limerick) – 1-10, 1-8 frees
Paul Geaney (Kerry) – 2-5, 0-4 frees
James O’Donoghue (Kerry) – 1-7, 0-2 frees
Conor Sweeney (Tipperary) – 1-7, 0-6 frees
Ciaran Sheehan (Cork) – 0-7
Donal Óg Hodnett (Cork) – 1-4
Barry John Walsh (Kerry) – 0-6
Cathal McInerney (Clare) – 0-6, 0-3 frees
Killian Malone (Clare) – 0-5, 0-3 frees
James Kelly (Limerick) – 1-2
Jack Donovan (Limerick) – 1-2
Michael Ó Laoire (Cork) – 0-4
Donagh Kelly (Limerick) – 1-1
David McGrath (Tipperary) – 1-1
Donagh Leahy (Tipperary) – 1-0
David Phelan (Waterford) – 1-0
David Butler (Tipperary) – 0-3
Jamie Wall (Cork) 0-2
Paul Whyte (Waterford) – 0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 45
Podge McMahon (Clare) – 0-2, 0-1 free
Peter Acheson (Tipperary) – 0-2
Paul Honohan (Cork) – 0-2
Eoin Buckley (Cork), Daithí Casey (Kerry), Kieran Hurley (Kerry), John O’Callaghan (Tipperary), Aldo Matassa (Tipperary), Paul McEvoy (Tipperary), Niall Walsh (Waterford), David Grey (Waterford), Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick), Podge Collins (Clare), Daniel Gallery (Clare), Tom McCarthy (Limerick), Edmund Walsh (Kerry), Alan Fitzgerald (Kerry), Liam Boland (Tipperary) – 0-1 each
Cadbury renew sponsorship of Cadbury GAA U21 Football Championship
Kraft Foods recently announced the renewal of the Cadbury sponsorship of the GAA U21 Football Championship for another 3 years. The renewal builds on a successful 7 year partnership between Cadbury and the GAA which has seen the Championship go from strength to strength with greater TV coverage now than ever before and over 20,000 fans attending the final in Croke Park last year. This success has been built on innovative sponsorship activation especially in the area of new media which has seen an ever increasing engaged audience of GAA fans participate in the Championship discussion.
Launching the Championship at an event in Croke Park last month were promising Under 21 footballers; Patrick McBrearty (Donegal), Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary) and Cillian O’Connor (Mayo), Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Críostóir Ó Cuana and Cadbury Hero of the Future (HOTF) Judges: Paul Caffrey, Dermot Earley and Micheál Ó Domhnaill.
Speaking at the launch, Shane Guest, Kraft Foods Ireland said “We are delighted to be able to renew our sponsorship with the GAA and look forward to building on the success of the past 7 years. The skill and determination these young footballers demonstrate continues to astound us and we look forward to another exciting championship in 2012”.
Speaking at the launch Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Críostóir Ó Cuana said: “The GAA U21 Football Championship has served as an important stepping stone for many of the players who progress to reach the highest level of our game and those who follow the grade closely have been treated to some excellent campaigns in recent seasons. To that end we are delighted to acknowledge the three year extension to our arrangement with Cadbury. Their support and innovation has helped bring great energy to the competition in recent seasons and I look forward to the continuation of what has been a fruitful partnership ahead of what promises to be another intriguing championship.”
Last year’s championship culminated in a great spectacle which saw over 20,000 attendants in Croke Park watch Galway earn a hard fought win against Ulster Champions Cavan and this year the Cadbury GAA Facebook Community have again identified Cavan and Galway as the two counties most likely to battle it out for the All Ireland title. The Cadbury GAA under 21 Football Championship is widely regarded as an important stepping stone to senior success with a large number of Under 21 players already starring for their senior county teams in the National League and in previous Senior All Ireland Championships. Amongst those is 2010 Cadbury Hero of the Future Rory O’Carroll who starred at full back as Dublin claimed the All-Ireland for the first time since 1995. Previous Cadbury Hero of the Future award winners; Colm O’Neill, (HOTF 2009), Killian Young (2008) and Fintan Goold’s (HOTF 2007) have also gone on to claim All-Ireland Senior success.
Cadbury Hero of the Future Awards
Former Cadbury Hero of the Future Award Winners:
- 2006: Keith Higgins from Mayo
- 2007: Fintan Goold from Cork
- 2008: Killian Young from Kerry
- 2009: Colm O’Neill from Cork
- 2010: Rory O’Carroll from Dublin
- 2011: Thomas Flynn from Galway
Cadbury Scholarship Programme
The Cadbury Scholarship programme now covers 9 third level institutions with 13 students receiving awards so far in 2012.
- James O’Meara – Limerick (UL)
- Eamonn Kiely – Kerry (UL)
- Damien Cahalane – Cork (UCC)
- Kevin Hallissey – Cork (CIT)
- Gary Sweeney – Galway – (NUI Galway)
- Einne O’ hEochaidh – Galway (NUI Galway)
- Kevin O’Sullivan – Meath (TCD)
- Patrick O’Higgins – Dublin (TCD)
- Aaron Murphy – Wicklow (UCD)
- Cormac Boyle – Westmeath (UCD)
- Ciaran Cafferky – Roscommon (DCU)
- Jack McCarron – Monaghan (DCU)
- Bernard Allen – Offaly (DIT)
- 2 x University of Ulster – scholarships yet to take place
Cadbury GAA Online
For the 2012 season, Cadbury will continue to build on its digital platforms for its dedicated online community who follow every move of the Championship throughout the season. With established social media platforms including
Facebook – www.facebook.com/U21GAAFootball
Twitter – http://twitter.com/CadburyU21
Flickr – www.flickr.com/photos/cadburyu21football
Website (newly updated) – www.cadburygaau21.com
GAA fans from every corner of the globe can contribute with comments, photos and videos and of course vote for the 2011 Cadbury Hero of the Future.
For further information: Darragh Rea
drea@mcsquared.ie or 01 4980322 / 086 8981062
