U20 Footballer of the Year

The EirGrid U20 Footballer of the year, (previously known as the Cadbury's Hero of the Future) is a Gaelic football award given to the top performing under-20 (formerly under-21) player in the Provincial and All-Ireland Championship each year. The award was first awarded in 2006.

Eirgrid Under-20 Footballer of the Year
Country	Ireland
Presented by	Gaelic Athletic Association
First awarded	2006 (2006)
Current holder	Shea O'Hare

List of winners

Year	Player	County	Club
2024	Shea O'Hare	Tyrone	Ardboe	[1]
2023	James McGrath	Kildare	Athy	[2]
2022	Ruairí Canavan	Tyrone	Errigal Ciarán	[3]
2021	Jack Bryant	Offaly	Shamrocks	[4]
2020	Jack Glynn	Galway	Claregalway	[5]
2019	Ciarán Archer	Dublin	St Maur's	[6]
2018	Jimmy Hyland	Kildare	Ballyteague	[7]
2017	Aaron Byrne	Dublin	Na Fianna	[8]
2016	Diarmuid O'Connor	Mayo	Ballintubber	[9]
2015	Colin O'Riordan	Tipperary	JK Brackens	[10]
2014	Conor McHugh	Dublin	Na Fianna	[11]
2013	Ian Burke	Galway	Corofin	[12]
2012	Ciarán Kilkenny	Dublin	Castleknock	[13]
2011	Tom Flynn	Galway	Athenry	[14]
2010	Rory O'Carroll	Dublin	Kilmacud Crokes	[15]
2009	Colm O'Neill	Cork	Ballyclough	[16]
2008	Killian Young	Kerry	Renard	[17]
2007	Fintan Goold	Cork	Macroom	[18]
2006	Keith Higgins	Mayo	Ballyhaunis

References

1. "Shea O'Hare crowned the EirGrid U20 Footballer of the Year". Gaelic Athletic Association. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
2. Nolan, Darragh (25 May 2023). "Kildare's James McGrath named EirGrid GAA Football U20 Player of the Year". Kildare Now. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
3. "Tyrone's Ruairí Canavan named EirGrid Under-20 Footballer of the Year". Irish Independent. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
4. "Jack Bryant wins Eirgrid U-20 Player of the Year as Offaly sweep awards". Irish Independent. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
5. "Galway captain Jack Glynn wins top honour as 20 best players under-20 named". Irish Examiner. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
6. "Dublin star Archer named U20 footballer of the year after prolific championship". The42.ie. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
7. "Hyland named player of the year as champions Kildare lead the way in U20 football awards". The42.ie. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
8. "Dublin's Aaron Byrne named U21 Football Player of the Year". Irish Examiner. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
9. "Mayo star O'Connor claims U21 Player of the Year award". The42.ie. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
10. "O'Riordan voted U21 Player of the Year". Gaelic Athletic Association. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
11. "Dublin's Conor McHugh was the best U21 footballer in the country in 2014". The42.ie. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
12. "Galway's Burke wins Hero of the Future award". Irish Examiner. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
13. "Dublin Under-21 star Ciarán Kilkenny honoured". RTÉ. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
14. "Thomas Flynn wins Cadbury Hero of the Future Award". Irish Independent. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
15. "Rory O'Carroll takes Under-21 award". RTÉ. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
16. "O'Neill wins Hero of the Future award". Irish Examiner. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
17. "Young wins Cadbury's Hero award". Hogan Stand. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
18. "Goold named Cadbury hero of the future". Irish Examiner. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

External links

• Official website