Prodigious talents: The young players of the year

Donegal’s Finbarr Roarty has been tipped as the Young Footballer of the Year in waiting and Niall Gartland takes a look at previous winners of the prized award

2024 – Oisin Conaty

AFTER last year’s All-Ireland final win over Galway, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney basically said it would be a complete travesty if Oisin Conaty wasn’t duly named as Young Footballer of the Year. He got his wish. Conaty was a revelation as Armagh marched to a second-ever All-Ireland SFC title, winning the Player of the Match award for his performance against Galway. He also maintained his high standards this year, even if their campaign came to an abrupt halt in the last-eight against Kerry.

2023 – Ethan Doherty

IT’S been a bad two seasons for Derry. It wasn’t that long ago that they ruled the roost in Ulster, claiming back-to-back provincial titles and they gave Kerry one hell of a game in the 2023 All-Ireland semi-final. Glen star Ethan Doherty picked up the Young Footballer of the Year for his dynamic performances, and it’s also worth noting that he was nominated for the award in 2022. He’s a class player who has performed at an elite level for both club and county.

2022 – Jack Glynn

GALWAY reached their first All-Ireland final in 21 years in 2022, losing out narrowly in the final to Kerry. Tenacious corner-back Jack Glynn made his first championship start in the Connacht Championship against Mayo that year, becoming a permanent presence in the starting line-up and producing a strong display in the final against Kerry, kicking a first-half point to put his side ahead at half-time.

2021 – Oisin Mullin

MAYO fans would be forgiven for feeling rather wistful when they think about their swashbuckling defender Oisin Mullin, who for the last three years has been down under playing Australian Rules Football for Geelong. An outrageous talent, Mullin pocketed his second Connacht medal in 2021 with victory over old rivals Galway, and though they made it to the All-Ireland final, they produced a flat performance against Tyrone.

2020 – Oisin Mullin

YEP, it’s him again. The Mayo man made his senior intercounty debut in 2020 and played a starring role in their run to an All-Ireland final played behind closed doors against Dublin due to Covid. He caught the eye for his rampaging performances, being named on the Sunday Game Team of the Year, winning an All-Star and of course, winning the Young Footballer of the Year gong. He only played two more seasons for Mayo before joining AFL club Geelong for the 2023 season.

2019 – Seán O’Shea

UNLIKE the aforementioned Mullin, Seán O’Shea is still going strong for his county and is bidding to pocket his second Celtic Cross when Kerry take on Donegal on Sunday week. The talented forward won two All-Ireland Minor titles before stepping up to the senior team in 2018, and a year later he won the Young Footballer of the Year award. His most memorable moment in a Kerry jersey to date was his sensational late winning free against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final of 2022. Now 26, he’s already won seven Munster titles and a bagful of other honours.

2018 – David Clifford

WHATEVER happened to him? David Clifford is on course for his third Footballer of the Year award after sensational performances in Kerry’s last two outings against Armagh and Tyrone, and he was destined for stardom from the off. Talked up as a future star from his school days, he scored 4-4 as he captained Kerry to All-Ireland Minor honours with victory over Derry in the 2017 showdown. He made his senior debut in 2018, scoring heavily throughout, including a 1-5 tally against Galway and 2-6 against Kildare, winning an All-Star and Young Footballer of the Year.

2017 – Con O’Callaghan

ANOTHER living legend, Con O’Callaghan came to prominence in his second season with Dublin in 2017, scoring a remarkable early goal against Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final before repeating the trick in the final against Mayo. He also scored 12 points in the Leinster final against Kildare. A brilliantly talented dual player, Con O’Callaghan is one of the most decorated players in the game and while he struggled with injury this season, he’s still very much in his prime years.