On 14th October we launched the ninth year of their Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships sponsorship. With 2020 being a year like no other for all aspects of GAA and sport, we will once more recognise the significance of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships and how much they mean to the players, their families and the communities they represent, with the announcement of the return of the Player of the Week initiative as well as the awarding of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Team of the Year in Hurling and Football.
At Electric Ireland we understand the positive impact partaking in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships has long after the championship ends. In recognition of this fact, we lined up four GAA legends as the judging panel for the awards, to include former Minor Dublin manager and footballer, Jason Sherlock, former Waterford Minor, Noel Connors, former Minor Kilkenny forward, Aidan Fogarty and 2004 All-Ireland winning Minor with Tyrone, Colm Cavanagh. Their previous involvement in the GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships saw them all go on to excel at senior level, showing that the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships had a massive influence on their lives, both on and off the field of play.
We will highlight the best performances from both the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football and Hurling Championships, with the Player of the Week initiative - celebrating three key players from both codes each week - to be announced weekly on the Electric Ireland Twitter page . Despite the absence of a physical awards ceremony in 2020, we will still celebrate the huge achievements by individuals on the pitch by announcing Minor Star recipients at the end of the 2020 season. A special Electric Ireland award will also take into consideration the difficulties experienced in 2020 by players and communities off the pitch and will see Electric Ireland recognise one young Minor in the country who has gone above and beyond in their community during Covid-19. This will be followed by the much-anticipated announcement of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Hurling and Football Teams of the Year.
Speaking about the launch, Lisa Browne, Head of Marketing and Customer Insights at Electric Ireland stated: “We are looking forward to championing this age group once more, particularly in what has been an extremely difficult year. This age group has already missed out on so many coming of age moments, and we are delighted to be shining a spotlight on their achievements, both on and off the pitch. We are thrilled that they get to take part in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships, and that we are there to support and celebrate them.”
Uachtarán CLG John Horan said; “The Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships are an excellent showcase of upcoming talent and are often where some of the biggest names of the GAA first make their mark as young players. In this shortened season, Electric Ireland’s support of the GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships has ensured that young players, and their support circles, get the recognition that they truly deserve, and I look forward to seeing emerging young talent excelling on the field of play in the coming weeks."
Speaking at the launch, Dublin’s Jason Sherlock said: “I am thrilled that the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships are going ahead this year. There is no doubt that my minor career helped to develop me hugely as a person in terms of both leadership and resilience, but also in identifying my potential. It was a huge honour at the time and one that instilled seeds of belief that stood to me not just in my transition to a Senior player, but also into adulthood. I am delighted that this year’s crop of minor players will be afforded the same experience as I was.”
Waterford’s Noel Connors added; “I am extremely proud to be a part of this year’s Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards panel. Little did I know at the time that playing in the GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships would be the beginning of an incredible association I have been privileged to have with the GAA. Both the confidence and values instilled in me from representing Waterford at minor level, fuelled my ambition not just for my playing career, but also away from the playing field.”
Keep an eye on our social media channels for more action and be apart of the conversation using the hashtag #GAAThisIsMajor.