In advance of this year's final Electric Ireland, proud sponsor of the GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships, has teamed up with Dublin footballing great and RTÉ Sunday Game panellist Ciaran Whelan who reflects on the major moments from when he was 17 and played Minor for his county.

A man who knows all about the joys as well as the challenges of playing the game at the very highest and 'dubbed' one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland, Ciaran gives an insight into his experiences back in 1994.

What's your best memory of playing at Minor level?

Where do you start, it is one of the most incredible journeys of discovery that a 17 year old can ever experience.  Across all the years I played for the Dublin seniors there are many games that I have forgotten but there's not one thing about my minor year, 1994, that hasn't stayed with me.  That was the time before pre development squads and the minor grade was the first opportunity for players from different clubs to come together and put on the coveted Dublin jersey. 

The commitment and expertise around the squad really made me sit up and take notice with constant medical and fitness tests. However playing and winning the Leinster final against Wexford in Croke Park in front of your home fans at 17, is simply the stuff dreams are made of.

When you were 17 what do you think was your greatest achievement on the field?

For me it was coming back from adversity.  In '94 I had gone for trials, made the squad and was completely focused and committed only to be dropped.  That was very difficult for a young person to overcome, especially as it was something that meant so much to me. But I was determined to get back into that panel and I put my head down, worked hard with the Club and was called back in April, going on to play in all our Championships games right through to the All-Ireland semi-final.  Although that's when it all ended as we were defeated by Galway, coming up against two players who would go on to become all time Galway greats Padraig Joyce and Michael Donnellan. 

So it was my resilience and determination to come back from being dropped and resurrect the dream which was my greatest achievement at that time.  Some fellas would have left the game altogether.  I use that experience to advise young Dublin players to keep going when everything seems to be going against them, because it can turn around.

What advice would you give to the 17 year old's that are preparing for the All-Ireland Final on Sunday?

The biggest challenge for 17 year olds who find themselves in this hugely exciting but also challenging cauldron is to remember this is just another game.  I know it's a cliché but I tell the young guys at my club, if you make a mistake in the first 5 minutes, there's another 55 to make up for it.  Don't let one mistake unsettle you.  How a minor reacts to mistakes will dictate how he will perform.

What was the best advice you were ever given when you were 17?

It all goes back to being dropped by the Dublin minor squad in 1994.  I could have thrown the head up and missed out on what was undoubtedly the most memorable summer of my life.  The fact that I didn't was as much to do with the support, encouragement and self-belief my Raheny manager Eamon Curley instilled in me as it was my own determination.  He also advised me to work harder and that is an ethic that stayed with me and one I pass on to the minors of today.  The harder you work the more things fall into place.

Did you have a part-time job at 17? If so, how did you balance work, study, training, play etc?

Leaving cert undoubtedly was a big factor and it was important to strike the right balance.  I was fortunate as the Dublin minor training base at that time was in my home club, so things fell well for me in that respect.  However, I believe football or hurling is a release, a break from the study which fellas definitely need. So if 17 year's playing minor get that balance right it's a win win scenario.

Who was your favourite band / music artist when you were 17 or did you go to any concerts?

U2 was at the height of its fame back in 1994, so naturally as a Dub I was a big fan but I didn't really get the opportunity to go festivals at that time, my focus was on football and I hurled as well.  The gigs and festivals came a little later.

In your opinion, who will win the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final?

From what I've seen both Kerry and Galway are two good sides but it's notoriously difficult to pick out a winner at minor level.  As I've already said the side that best copes with setbacks during the game normally comes out on top.

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