Cadbury, proud sponsor of the Cadbury GAA U21 Football Championship today announced the selection of the best fifteen U21 footballers between 2005 and 2010, as voted by the fans. Cadbury also announced its sixth year of GAA Scholarships and the latest third level institution to be added to the programme. Since the introduction of the Scholarship programme, Cadbury have awarded over €50,000 to third level students from 18 counties across the country.
At the beginning of this year’s U21 championship, Cadbury asked GAA supporters from all across Ireland to vote for the best fifteen players at U21 grade from 2005-2010. Supporters were asked to log onto Cadbury’s dedicated football website www.cadburygaau21.com where all of the Cadbury ‘Hero of the Match’ winners from 2005 to 2010 are listed. The public also had the option to propose any player from outside this list as long as they had represented their county at U21 level between 2005 and 2010.
The voting closed the day of the Senior All-Ireland Final and the fifteen players with the highest amount of votes make up the ‘Cadbury 15′. With almost 1,500 votes cast for 92 players from across all of Ireland the competition for places was intense right up to the final whistle. Each of the provinces is represented with the players in the ‘Cadbury 15′ spread across ten counties.
Recently crowned Senior All-Ireland champions Cork, have three players on the team, all of whom were involved in this year’s senior team’s heroics. Cork have been the most successful U21 team since the beginning of the Cadbury sponsorship winning the All-Ireland twice. 2008 U21 All-Ireland champions Kerry have a single representative on the team, while Tipperary who finally won the U21 Munster title for the first time this year also have a player on the team.
Mayo are represented four times, having won an All-Ireland title and four Connacht titles in a row during the Cadbury sponsorship. Roscommon who bridged a ten year gap to claim the Connacht crown this year are also represented.
Down who won two Ulster titles in a row and appeared in the 2009 All-Ireland final are represented with one player. Current Ulster champions Donegal also have a player on the team, having reclaimed the Ulster title for the first time in 15 years. Tyrone who last claimed Ulster U21 honours in 2006 are the third and final Ulster County to have a player on the team.
Leinster have the least amount of players on the ‘Cadbury 15′ with 2010 All-Ireland champions Dublin and 2007 Leinster champions Laois the only counties to get a look in.
The ‘Cadbury 15′ :
Brian Fox (Tipperary) Fintan Goold (Cork) Daniel Goulding (Cork)
Pearce Hanley (Mayo) Keith Higgins (Mayo) Paul McComiskey (Down)
Justin McMahon (Tyrone) Michael Murphy (Donegal) Rory O’Carroll (Dublin)
David O’Gara (Roscommon) Colm O’Neill (Cork) Aidan O’Shea (Mayo)
Tom Parsons (Mayo) Brendan Quigley (Laois) Killian Young (Kerry)
Commenting on today’s announcement, Shane Guest, Senior Brand Manager, Cadbury Ireland said. ‘This is Cadbury Ireland’s sixth year as sponsor of the U-21 Football Championship and we remain fully committed to supporting GAA in Ireland. I am delighted to say that the Championship continues to go from strength to strength and initiatives such as the Cadbury 15 serve to remind us all of the depth of footballing talent which features so prominently at this grade. It is no surprise that every single one of the Cadbury 15 has gone on to represent their county at senior level. In addition the Cadbury Scholarships programme is another successful initiative which allows us to support these U21 players and their hard work, skill, passion and dedication in pursuit of sporting excellence.’
Cadbury are entering into their sixth year of the Cadbury Scholarship programme. Since the beginning of the Cadbury sponsorship, Cadbury have awarded scholarships to the value of €53,500 to support the dedication and skill of 52 talented young players from a variety of third level institutions. The programme, which has been extended this year to include Dublin Institute of Technology, brings to nine the number of third level institutions benefiting from Cadbury support. Dublin Institute of Technology now joins NUI Galway, University of Limerick, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and Jordanstown campus of the University of Ulster as third level institutions to benefit from the Cadbury Scholarship initiative.
Previous Cadbury U21 All-Ireland winners are:
· 2006:
Mayo Final Score: Mayo 1-13 Cork 1-11
· 2007:
Cork Final Score: Cork 2-10 Laois 0-15
· 2008:
Kerry Final Score: Kerry 2-12 Kildare 0-11
· 2009:
Cork Final Score: Cork 1-13 Down 2-09
· 2010:
Dublin Final Score: Dublin 1-10 Donegal 1-08
Previous Cadbury Hero of the Future winners are:
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
Brian Fox County: Tipperary Club: Éire Óg Anacarty
Was a member of two Tipperary U21 teams to narrowly lose two provincial finals. He won Man of the Match in the 2009 Munster final, a game Cork won with a last minute goal and went on to win the All-Ireland. Fox is currently involved with the Tipperary senior team.
Fintan Gould: County: Cork Club: Macroom
A central figure to Cork reaching the U21 All-Ireland final in 2006 and claiming the U21 All-Ireland title in 2007. Gould was a member of the Cork senior panel which beat Down to claim All-Ireland success.
Daniel Goulding: County: Cork Club: Éire Óg
Goulding was a member of the 2006 Cork team which narrowly lost the U21 All-Ireland final, and also a member of the team the following year when they claimed All-Ireland success by defeating Laois in a close encounter. Goulding was recently awarded the Man of the Match award after Cork’s triumph in the senior All-Ireland final having scored 0-9 points.
Pearce Hanley: County: Mayo Club: Ballaghderren
Hanley was a vital component to Mayo’s 2007 Connacht title victory and had been a member of the Mayo senior panel before he joined up with the Brisbane Lions which is now a part of the AFL senior squad.
Keith Higgins: County: Mayo Club: Ballyhaunis
Higgins captained the Mayo U21’s in 2006 and proved an inspirational figure in defense as they claimed the U21 All-Ireland for the first time since 1983. He is involved with both the Mayo senior hurling and football panels.
Paul McComiskey: County: Down Club: Dundrum
Down won two Ulster U21 championships in a row with McComiskey as one of the scorers in chief as Down lost the All-Ireland final to Cork in 2009 to a last minute goal. He is currently a member of the Down senior panel and scored 0-3 points from play in the recent senior All-Ireland final defeat to Cork.
Justin McMahon: County: Tyrone Club: Omagh St. Enda’s
Tyrone claimed the 2006 Ulster U21 crown with McMahon starring in defense. He is currently a member of the Tyrone senior football team and collected a senior All-Ireland medal in 2008.
Michael Murphy: County: Donegal Club: Glenswilly
Captain of Donegal and the focus of their attack when claiming the Ulster title for the first time in 15 years. He is a former ‘Young Player of the Year’ award winner. Murphy is a member of the Donegal senior panel.
Rory O’Carroll: County: Dublin Club: Kilmacud Crokes
Dublin won the 2010 U21 All-Ireland final and had O’Carroll to thank for a series of impressive performances along the way. A key member of the senior Dublin defense that were unfortunate to lose to eventual champions Cork this year.
David O’Gara: County: Roscommon Club: Roscommon Gaels
O’Gara was a member of the Roscommon U21 team that narrowly lost to Mayo in the 2008 Connacht final and also the 2009 Connacht semi final. O’Gara is presently on the Roscommon Senior team and won a senior Connacht medal this year.
Colm O’Neill: County: Cork Club: Ballyclough
Cork claimed their second U21 All-Ireland in three years in 2009 and Colm O’Neill played a pivotal part as Cork had narrow wins over Tipperary, Dublin and Down. He is a recent winner of a Senior All-Ireland medal after Cork’s triumph over down.
Aidan O’Shea: County: Mayo Club: Breaffy
O’Shea was a member of the Mayo U21 team in 2009 that claimed a fourth Connacht title in a row. He is currently a member of the Mayo senior panel.
Tom Parsons: County: Mayo Club: Charlestown
Parsons was a member of the Mayo teams in 2007, 2008 and 2009 each team claiming a Connacht title. He currently plays as a member of the Mayo senior panel.
Brendan Quigley: County: Laois Club: Timahoe
Quigley was a starring member of the Laois teams which won two Leinster titles in a row in 2006 and 2007 and narrowly lost the 2007 All-Ireland U21 final to Cork. He is currently a member of the Laois Senior set up.
Killian Young County: Kerry Club: Reenard
Was the Kerry U21 captain in 2008 and lead his team to All-Ireland success. Is now an ever present member of the Kerry defense, and has since claimed another Senior All-Ireland medal.
