1. David Hanrahan – Cork
The Douglas stopper has minded the net for the Rebels at minor and U21 level while also playing in goals for Cork IT during the 2014 and 2015 Sigerson campaigns. He was in goals during the amazing 2010 All-Ireland minor semi-final when Cork came from nine points down to beat Galway. Hanrahan will join up with the Ulster club in San Francisco.
2. Sean Mullooly – Roscommon
The Roscommon U21 full-back is off to San Francisco this summer and leaves the country with a provincial medal in his pocket after guiding the Rossies to their second Connacht title in a row. He was also full-back on the side that made the All-Ireland final in 2014 before eventually being overpowered by Dublin.
3. Israel Ilunga – Westmeath
The 19-year-old is regarded as Westmeath’s brightest young star and played at full-back for the county’s U21 side this spring in their defeat to Meath. The Congo born defender is a serious athlete and has represented the Lake county all the way through underage level and will surely play a big role with the senior side in years to come.
4. Sean George – Dublin
The Ballymun Kickhams full-back is off to play with Wolfetones in Boston. Having moved back to Dublin in 2012 from Laois, George quickly established himself in the Kickhams team that made the All-Ireland final in 2013 only to lose out to St Brigids of Roscommon.
He also started at corner-back on the Dublin U21 team that won the All-Ireland final against Roscommon in 2012.
5. Kevin Nolan – Dublin
The Kilmacud Crokes man hasn’t been involved with the panel this year and has gone to New York to play with the Monaghan club. He is quite a coup for the Farney men based in New York, having been named Man of the Match in the 2011 All-Ireland final as Dublin ended their 16-year famine.
6. Kevin Cassidy – Donegal
The former All-Star has opted for a move Stateside and will represent the John McBrides club in Chicago. The 32-year-old has been out of the Donegal panel since 2012 following his bust-up with then Donegal boss Jim McGuinness but he will no doubt be a serious loss to his club Gweedore.
7. Maitias MacDonncha – Dublin
The Clontarf flier was wing-back on the Dublin minor side that captured the 2012 All-Ireland and he will join up with Cassidy and the John McBrides club in Chicago also. Interestingly, two of his team-mates from that All-Ireland win, Shane Cunningham and David Campbell, will both play alongside him with the same club this summer.
8. Paschal Connell – Kildare
Connell played at midfield for the Kildare U21′s this year and has been a prominent figure in Kildare football for a few seasons now. The powerful midfielder won a Leinster title with the Kildare minors in 2013 and captained his club side Athy to minor county success that same year.
9. Cathal Compton – Roscommon
Compton was one of the main players on the Roscommon side that captured the U21 Connacht title this year and his loss is a massive blow to his club side Strokestown who are also facing into the summer without the services of Sean Mullooly, Thomas Corcoran and Kevin Finn who will all join him at Sean Treacy’s in San Francisco.
10. Neil Flynn – Kildare
The Maynooth star who guided Kildare to this year’s Leinster U21 final will be a huge loss to Jason Ryan this summer. After scoring 0-11 in the provincial decider against Dublin he would have been expected to make the step up and bring his form into the senior set-up. It was not to be however as the NUI Maynooth student jetted off to play with Wolfetones in Boston.
11. Johnny Brickland – Offaly
Brickland has been lining out at either centre-forward or midfield for Offaly over the past two seasons and his decision to leave came as a major blow to Offaly manager Pat Flanagan.
The Faithful county have been hit with a few major departures from the panel and Brickland was not expected to leave for Boston this summer.
12. Daniel Flynn – Kildare
Flynn’s departure to America is as big a blow as his return from the AFL in January was a boost for the Lilywhites. After cutting short his stay down under Flynn was eased back into the Kildare set-up but last month Kildare selector Morgan O’Callaghan confirmed that he would leave for the US. He joined a long list of players to exit the squad for 2015.
13. Emlyn Mulligan – Leitrim
It was a huge blow to Leitrim manager Shane Ward and the to the rest of the panel when Mulligan decided he would take a year out and go travelling this year. The talented forward has carried the hopes of his county on his shoulders for a few years now and he should prove a pivotal player at the Donegal club in Boston.
14. Liam Irwin – Mayo
The full-forward who provided such an attacking threat in the 2013 All-Ireland winning minor team has gone off to Chicago for the summer. He lit up the Connacht minor championship that same year, scoring the goal of the championship following two superb dummies against Roscommon in the Connacht final. County title hopefuls Breaffy will miss his presence at the edge of the square.
15. Martin Farragher – Galway
Farragher was superb on Corofin’s run to the All-Ireland club final this year and he scored a crucial goal as Galway ran out comfortable 10-point winners over Slaughtneil in the Croke Park finale. Farragher’s presence in the Galway side’s full-forward line will be missed this season as they attempt to retain their county title.
Heffernan
@ken shannon: 100% Heffernan, he was superb!
@ken shannon: heffernan wud have got it only for his first half performance. Ronan maher or Noel Mcrgrath.
For me is was Kennedy, Tipp wing back. Scored an important point befor the first goal and played well the whole game.
@Cormac Flanagan: close but I thought Ronan Maher was immense. Bubbles not far off it either. Roll 2020
@Ado Smith: thought bubbles was hot and miss and was out of the game until the second half when they had more space. Ya R.Maher was excellent under the high ball but some of his distributing was off(for him). Heffernan also was excellent. Caught some excellent ball over Wally Walsh.
@Cormac Flanagan: agree with Kennedy had an excellent game throughout.
Barry heffernan stand out player
Has to be Liam Sheedy
@The Debater: delighted for him. Great to see him interacting with the crowd there after the speech. Assume he’ll go again now and come back when they need another Liam Mac!
@Joe Kennedy: joe enjoy the celebrations lad!! Great win for yas
@The Debater: not a Tipp man I’m afraid! Was cheering them on at it though!
@Joe Kennedy: me too bud:)
Ronan Maher was fantastic. Deserves man of the match
The Referee as he stood up to the challenge and made the correct calls
@pat seery: definitely decided game
The ref
Tipp are back in business
Heffernan for me too
Ronan Maher, he was immense!
Will be some Trip to Tipp
Seamus Kennedy