Electric Ireland has unveiled 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 Championship got to be played out and proved a winner for Derry landing their first title at underage since 2002.
The Team of the Year features six players from the Champions, with beaten finalists Kerry adding four players and Leinster champions, Meath contributing two. 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 that first Minor title for the Oak Leaf County in almost two decades.
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. He 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.
“We are delighted to announce the 2020 Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year,” said Sarah Sharkey, Brand, PR and Sponsorship Manager at Electric Ireland.
“This season was one like no other and what these players have achieved, both on and off the pitch is more major than ever. We recognise it has been no minor journey to get here and we would like to commend every player, who played a part in the 2020 Electric Ireland Minor Championships, for their hard work and determination over this long season.”
“I would like to congratulate the Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year and specifically Matthew Downey, the Electric Ireland Minor Football Player of the Year, on their achievements during the 2020 Minor Football season,” added GAA President Larry McCarthy.
“These young players have been incredible throughout a long and difficult season and have been a great advertisement for Gaelic Football. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, both on and off the pitch, for everyone who took part in the 2020 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships.”
“It is unfortunate that we will be unable to honour the players in a formal ceremony, however, I have no doubt that their achievements will be celebrated by their friends, family, coaches, clubs and their county, which they represented so well this season.”
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