It was at risk in the Covid lockdown but the Electric Ireland GAA All Ireland Minor Championships were only ever postponed and now they are returning in both hurling and football.
Matches in both codes across each of the provinces will be scheduled before Christmas with a conclusion likely early in the new year.
The traditional place as a curtain-raiser to the All Ireland Senior Final will not happen this year though the Eirgrid U20 Final between Galway and Dublin, a late victim of lockdown in October will be played before the Senior Football Final at Croke Park.
Sponsors Electric Ireland were ready to go as soon as the nod came from the GAA and Government that the Championships could recommence and yesterday launched the 2020 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Special Recognition Awards.
These have been designed to champion the outstanding off-the-pitch contributions of four Minor players during 2020, and are open to nomination from the public.
The awards will take into consideration the difficulties experienced this year by players and communities across the country, and will see Electric Ireland recognise Minors who have gone above and beyond in their community during the challenges of Covid-19 – with one Minor honoured in each of the four provinces of Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
Electric Ireland has also lined up an exceptional judging panel for the awards, which includes former Minor Kilkenny forward, Aidan Fogarty, 2004 All-Ireland winning Minor with Tyrone, Colm Cavanagh and representatives from the GAA and Electric Ireland.
The Awards are open to GAA players of Minor age at both club and county level and aim to bring a major moment back into this age group’s lives.
Having missed out on a host of coming-of-age moments over the past nine months, the awards will recognise that what these Minors have been doing for their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, truly is major.
To nominate an extraordinary contribution made by a Minor during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, simply visit https://www.electricireland.ie/minorawards.
Nominations can be made by any individual, parent, guardian, volunteer, club official or county official individual or sporting body. Nominations for the awards will close at 5 pm sharp on December 14th, 2020.
“Electric Ireland is delighted to welcome the return of the 2020 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships today,” said Lisa Browne, Head of Marketing and Customer Insights.
“In what has been an extremely challenging year for all, and in particular for this age group, we are also very proud to launch the Electric Ireland Minor Star Special Recognition Awards to acknowledge the major impact of this brilliant group off the pitch within their communities.”
“The Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships are always 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,” added GAA President John Horan.
“We are looking forward to seeing the Minors back in action very soon, and we are delighted to support these Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Special Recognition Awards. Electric Ireland’s continued support for this age group will ensure that they are now also recognised for their wonderful societal impact in this incredibly tough year.”
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