Meath’s achievement in claiming a fourth All-Ireland MFC title has been recognised with eight players on the 2021 Electric Ireland GAA Team of the Year while corner-back Conor Ennis is the Minor Football Player of the Year.
Ennis is joined by team-mates Liam Kelly, Tomas Corbett, Shaun Leonard, Jack Kinlough, Sean Emmanuel, Hughie Corcoran and Oisin O Murchu in the team while defeated finalists Tyrone have five representatives – Callan Kelly, Shea O’Hare, Ruairi McHugh, Cormac Devlin and Ronan Cassidy.
Cork goalkeeper Daniel Walsh and Sligo sharpshooter Luke Marren make up the 15.
Ballinabrackey clubman Ennis delivered a series of fine displays for the Royals en route to claiming the Tom Markham Cup.
He was involved in the build-up to what proved to be the matching winning point by Shaun Leonard in the memorable 1-12 to 1-11 victory over the Red Hands.
Captain Liam Kelly was ‘man-of-the-match’ in the final and he is selected on the team for the second year in-a-row having been selected at right corner-back on the 2020 equivalent.
2021 Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year - Daniel Walsh (Cork); Conor Ennis (Meath), Liam Kelly (Meath), Callan Kelly (Tyrone); Tomas Corbett (Meath), Shea O'Hare (Tyrone), Shaun Leonard (Meath); Ruairi McHugh (Tyrone), Jack Kinlough (Meath); Cormac Devlin (Tyrone), Sean Emmanuel (Meath), Ronan Cassidy (Tyrone); Hughie Corcoran (Meath), Oisin O Murchu (Meath), Luke Marren (Sligo).
The 2021 Minor Championships also saw the return of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Special Recognition awards, recognising those Minor players who stepped up and a made life-changing contributions to our society.
The winner of the 2021 Electric Ireland Minor Football Special Recognition Award is the Moynalty/Carnaross Minor Panel who took part in a 1,200km walk/run during five days of lockdown, when training was not possible, to raise funds for Jigsaw – who help young people suffering from emotional, mental health and addiction problems.
The fundraiser, ‘Minor for Minors’, raised over €5,000 for Jigsaw and raised awareness of the charity’s services amongst the young people in the community, who may find need to avail of Jigsaw’s services in the future.
GAA President Larry McCarthy said: “I would like to congratulate the Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year and specifically Conor Ennis, the Electric Ireland Minor Football Player of the Year, on their achievements during the 2021 Minor Football season.
"The level of talent on display during this year’s Minor Football Championship has been incredible and I have no doubt many of these young men will go on to have a significant impact on their counties for many years to come. It has been a privilege to watch them perform to such a high level during the 2021 season.
"A special thanks also goes to the parents of all Minor players and also the coaches who have moulded and mentored these young men into the people they are today.
"I would also like to congratulate the Moynalty/Carnaross Minor panel who went above and beyond for their local community by raising life changing funds for Jigsaw. They epitomise what the Minor Championships is about and they are a credit to our great games."
It's time to announce the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Team of the Year for 2021! Follow the thread below to read more #GAAThisIsMajor pic.twitter.com/rHiDrWQ1DT
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
While @OfficialCorkGAA lost to Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final, an inspired performance from @DouglasGAAClub man, Daniel Walsh ensured that it could have been much worse pic.twitter.com/N3k5e1Rv0N
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
Conor Ennis rarely put a foot wrong at any stage during the campaign for @MeathGAA and was the architect of the @Ballinabrackey1 man's winning point in the final. Conor is the 2021 Minor Football Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/HoTQAk7ydA
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
Liam Kelly was an inspirational captain for @MeathGAA, often given the task of dealing with opposition dangermen, the @RatoathGAA man relished the challenge and won man of the match in the final pic.twitter.com/VeWXDisUMA
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
While @TyroneGAALive impressed in an attacking sense so often during the campaign, at the other end they could rely on Callan Kelly from @FrRocksGFC to keep things tight at the back pic.twitter.com/OEbPLXdTvs
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
@RatoathGAA man Tomás Corbett Excelled in the final, the culmination of a superb campaign where he was a consistently strong performer for @MeathGAA pic.twitter.com/fOxPFSW2Fi
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
A strong presence in the middle of @TyroneGAALive's defence, @ardboegfc man Shea O’Hare could be proud of his final display even if it ended in defeat pic.twitter.com/ZSi4R3q6Yg
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
While he operated at wing-forward in the final, where he scored the winning point for @MeathGAA, Shaun Leonard from @StColmcillesGAA excelled at wing-back up to that stage, demonstrating his versatility pic.twitter.com/gsBywgUmYB
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
A prototypical modern midfielder, good in the air but equally adept at carrying the ball, @NaFianna1903 man Ruairí McHugh was central to @TyroneGAALive reaching the final pic.twitter.com/4ud8UYO7I7
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
@DunboyneGAA's Jack Kinlough was part of the panel which reached the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final earlier in the summer, the @MeathGAA midfielder came to the fore in this successful campaign pic.twitter.com/4mfjqTSBw8
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
@TyroneGAALive's captain Cormac Devlin set the tone with a tour de force against Down in the Ulster championship and the @ardboegfc man never let his standards drop thereafter, scoring 1-1 in the All-Ireland final pic.twitter.com/LOfJ9b7edB
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
@stpatsmeath's Seán Emmanuel kicked a vital point in the All-Ireland final win for @MeathGAA and brought his influence to the fore at key points throughout the campaign pic.twitter.com/ktbl5LtaWd
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
@Donaghmoregaa's Ronan Cassidy's 2-3 for @TyroneGAALive against Fermanagh in the Ulster semi-final was a stand-out but he contributed on the scoreboard at all stages pic.twitter.com/01YkGMvK7e
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
Hughie Corcoran scored 1-5 for @MeathGAA in the Leinster final win over Dublin and the @DrumbaraghGfc man came up with some big moments in the All-Ireland semi-final and final pic.twitter.com/yhMlY8xgyr
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
On the biggest stage, Oisín Ó Murchú landed 1-2 for @MeathGAA in the All-Ireland final, with the @StColmcillesGAA man having led the line well all the way to Croke Park pic.twitter.com/PJnVVrhpiM
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021
TweetLuke Marren scored 11 points as @sligogaa ended a 53-year wait for a Connacht minor title and though they lost to Meath in the All-Ireland semi-final, the @bunninaddengaa man still contributed six points pic.twitter.com/AICZEQ24LA
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) September 15, 2021