Five U21 footballers to watch

Fintan O'Toole

 

Colin Forde (Galway): The Killererin defender started in six of Galway’s seven league games and is in pole position for a spot come championship. Tomás Ó’Flatharta’s decision to shift Finian Hanley to midfield means Forde is most likely to take up the mantle at the edge of the square. On Sunday he again produced an assured defensive display as he captained his county to All-Ireland U21 glory.

Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan): The Swanlinbar player has already prospered this season in helping his club reach the All-Ireland JFC final and playing a pivotal role in Cavan’s journey to last Sunday’s All-Ireland U21 decider. An excellent scoretaker, McKiernan is comfortable at midfield or half-forward and will be in Val Andrews' senior championship plans this summer.

Barry O’Driscoll (Cork): O’Driscoll has a real opportunity to stake a claim in the Cork senior setup this season with Conor Counihan’s side stretched for options when it comes to natural attackers in their full-forward line. He has already shone in 2011 for the Nemo Rangers senior’s, the UCC Sigerson Cup winning team and in Cork’s Munster U21 campaign.

Liam Óg McGovern (Wexford): McGovern was a driving force as Wexford claimed a memorable first Leinster U21 crown last month. He is an extremely versatile player who can fit in an array of positions in the middle eight and the St Anne’s man has already being regularly drafted into action by senior boss Jason Ryan this spring.

Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone): The Trillick forward burst to prominence during the county’s 2008 All-Ireland minor victory yet has had to bide his time before making the step up to senior level. There have been flashes of his undoubted potential over the past couple of months for the UUJ Sigerson Cup side and the Tyrone U21s, which will have brought him to the attention of Red Hands supremo Mickey Harte.

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/myhFaq5bjBo/post.aspx

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