Derry’s Matthew Downey named Electric Ireland Minor Football Player of the Year
Electric Ireland is pleased to spotlight 15 outstanding performers from the 2020 Minor Football season, today unveiling the 2020 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Team of the Year and the Electric Ireland Minor Football Player of the Year. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused many delays to the season, the 2020 Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship proved to be an exciting championship and an excellent showcase of the young talent in the GAA.
This year’s features six players from All-Ireland champions Derry, All-Ireland finalists, Kerry have four players represented and Leinster champions, Meath contribute two players to the team. While Monaghan, Offaly and Roscommon each have one representative on this year’s team.
Matthew Downey, captain of the Derry Minor Football team has been named as the 2020 Electric Ireland Minor Football Player of the Year. The Lavey forward was consistently brilliant throughout the campaign and showed maturity beyond his years by stepping up to score a phenomenal penalty in added time of the All-Ireland Final, securing a first Minor title for the Oak Leaf County since 2002.
The team was selected by a panel of GAA experts and was determined in part by Electric Ireland’s ‘Player of the Week’ initiative on Twitter.
2020 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Team of the Year
1. Kian McGonigle (Derry and Dungiven)
2. Liam Kelly (Meath and Ratoath)
3. Lee Brady (Derry and Bellaghy)
4. Dara O’Callaghan (Kerry and Kilcummin)
5. Oisín Maunsell (Kerry and Na Gaeil)
6. Eoin McEvoy (Derry and Magherafelt)
7. Cathal Ryan (Offaly and Daingean)
8. Connor Eccles (Monaghan and Cremartin)
9. Paudie O’Leary (Kerry and Gneeveguilla)
10. Mark Doherty (Derry and Newbridge)
11. Matthew Downey (Derry and Lavey)
12. Keith Evans (Kerry and Keel)
13. Conor Hand (Roscommon and St Brigid’s)
14. Lachlan Murray (Derry and Desertmartin)
15. Eoghan Frayne (Meath and Summerhill)
During the 2020 Minor Championships, Electric Ireland also spotlighted Minor players who stepped up and made life-changing contributions to our society. Connor Eccles, a worthy member of the 2020 Team of the year, was one such Minor whom Electric Ireland featured in their TV ad. In 2020, Connor set up a fundraiser campaign for his teammate’s younger sister, who had fallen ill. Connor galvanised the Minor squad, a local GAA club, Magheracloone and his community to either walk or run a socially distanced mile for Milly. The different fundraising campaigns raised nearly €200,000. These achievements from Minor players, like Connor, across the country spurred Electric Ireland to introduce a Special Recognition Award to acknowledge Minor players’ commitment to their communities. These individuals were recognised through the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Special Recognition awards, celebrating their major contribution off-the-pitch.
The Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year and Hurling Player of the Year was announced on Tuesday, 20th July.
Keep an eye on our social media channels for more action and be a part of the conversation using the hashtag #GAAThisIsMajor.
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