AS WE REFLECT on the 2016 All-Ireland SHC, we’re taking a look at six young players who made their mark on the senior stage.
A couple of these players don’t qualify for Young Hurler of the Year, but we’re looking at hurlers in their first couple of years at this level. Let us know in the comments section below who you think we should have included.
1. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
Gleeson is a shoe-in to take home his first ever All-Star and the Young Hurler of the Year award to boot. Gleeson was a force of nature during the Deise’s run to the last four of the senior All-Ireland series.
At U21 level, he led Waterford’s youngsters to the Munster title and the All-Ireland final, where they’ll take on Galway on Saturday evening. The man who almost walked away from the county set-up last winter will pick up his first All-Star this year. He’ll add a few more before he’s done.
2. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
Maher showed his maturity in Sunday’s All-Ireland final, dealing admirably with the challenge as Brian Cody alternated between TJ Reid and Richie Hogan in the No. 11 position in the first-half.
But Maher stood strong at centre-back and cleared a sight of ball. The quality of his tackling and his nose for danger provided the platform for Tipp as they cleaned out the Kilkenny half-forwards.
3. Conor Whelan (Galway)
At 19 he’s already got two seasons of senior inter-county hurling behind him, but Whelan may miss out on the chance to conclude the year on a high.
He’s a major doubt for Sunday’s All-Ireland U21 final after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the semi-final win over Dublin.
Whelan enjoyed a good year for the Tribe, scoring two points in their narrow All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary.
4. Shane Bennett (Waterford)
Bennett was a key member of Waterford’s hard working attack in 2016. He started every one of the Deise’s championship games this year and scored five points from play, despite operating way out the field.
The 19-year-old left the field during Waterford U21′s semi-final win over Antrim as a precaution, but should return to the starting fifteen to fire them to All-Ireland glory.
5. John McGrath (Tipperary)
At 22, McGrath finally established himself in the Tipperary attack in 2016. He made a few league appearances last year, but under the guidance of Michael Ryan he’s flourished.
He acted as the executioner of Waterford in the Munster final, following in the footsteps of Lar Corbett by scoring a hat-trick in the provincial final.
He formed part of a devastating Tipp attack alongside Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer, scoring 1-3 in his maiden senior All-Ireland final.
6. Michael Breen (Tipperary)
Although he was replaced early on in the second-half of the final, Breen enjoyed a highly successful year. The 22-year-old was a victim of his own versatility in the past, but under Ryan he settled into midfield role and never looked back.
Breen’s ghosting runs from midfield saw him rack up 3-5 during an outstanding championship campaign.
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I’ve always been a big fan of Roy Keane and defended him during many footballing debates with people over the years but he should have left that part out of his dig at Walters. It was more than enough to slag off his lack of medals without bringing his family into it. In hindsight it seems Keane got caught up in the moment, felt good about getting a laugh from the crowd and went too far. Looking back I’d say he regrets that comment but at the same time there are too many people suffering with mental health issues that it was unacceptable to have a go at Walters for his tv interview about his family issues. Maybe it’s now Keane that should lay low for a while.
@Glenn Harman: if Keane had a brain he would regret lots of things
@Glenn Harman: I doubt Keane regrets anything. He knew exactly what he was saying. He is a bitter angry man. His comments were Trumpesqe in their nature the way he tried to belittle Walters. The sad thing was that the muppets in the crowd lapped it up and no one from offtheball saw fit yo pull him up.
@Glenn Harman: well said.
@Glenn Harman: stop fecking fighting everyone Roy, just surrender and smile
@Glenn Harman:
Roy has a personality disorder.
It helped, in some respects, as a player but is no good to him anymore.
He needs to control it or prepare for longer periods of isolation and loneliness.
Some would say he’s just a mouth but that would be a bit simple and unfair.
@Kevin: the irony is Walters seems to have done really well out of it and guess what he is doing lots and lots of interviews.
@Glenn Harman: He is a knob head always will and always has been…..he walked out of a world cup finals throwing a tantrum because Fergie wanted him back for united…..if he done that in any other country he would be an outcast for it….this is just another example of what he is all about.
@Glenn Harman: I have always had great time for Keane but he needs to man up know and apologise to Walter’s who gave everything he had to the Jersey and we would have been list without him there for a few years.
@Glenn Harman: Keane has always been a egotistical self obsessed bully boy with no class whatsoever. A bitter and angry man who didn’t had any success in life after he hang up his boots and even as a footballer he is much overrated.
Mocking other people over a tragedy or mental health issues is another low though!
It‘s strange how this traitor to his own country is still held in such high regard!
What did Roy Keane ever do for Ireland apart from abandoning ship when the going got tough?
@m flynsk: he first and foremost is your average school yard bully!
No class whatsoever and a thick knob on and off the pitch!
@Matt Beaumont: Matt just replying to the football side of your comment. Roy Keane was not overrated. He was a world class football player and that cant be questioned because he done it (medals etc). As for what did he do for Ireland. Did you watch the qualifying campaign for 2002 world cup? His performances against holland/portugal were top top drawer.
@Glenn Harman: Keane is a bully. I’ve stood up for him when I believed he was being harshly treated. But he is a sad old man angry and unfulfilled and willing to stick it to anyone who doesn’t see it his way
Whether it was harsh or not, the simple truth is, is he said it. And nobody at the time, either on the stage or in the crowd, stepped up to challenge it.
It’s the world we live in.
@Eoin Nolan: the lads were scared of him. There’s an untouchable vibe when it comes to Keane. He commanded the stage. It seemed to feed off on Neville who got v cocky and had a go at Joe Molloy. Some of it was v unnecessary. I like Keane and he had the presence and delivery if a good stand up comic but some of his carry on was quite narcissistic. The looks he gives I wouldn’t have pulled him up either.
@Eoin Nolan: yeah the world we live in indeed….this article is basically a fairly low profile ex player that has been signed up to help promote Eir Sports Packages -jumps on the Roy Keane media coverage bandwagon to justify getting a whole article out of a disagreement that has nothing to do with him at all but he is happy to air in public….and the sheeple start jumping all over Roy Keane again…..the world we live in indeed.
@Eoin Nolan: challenge what?? FFS, is everyone and everything beyond criticism. What he said was shite but it was said. We arent in a school playground.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: stop defending the talking heads of newstalk – they inherited that show let’s not forget – second captains are the original off the ball – Keane and Neville achieved the dream and won everything domestically.
@Dave Hammond: fanboy much?
Really enjoy otb but they conducted a shocking show on the night. Got cowered by Neville putting them in there box and failed to challenge anything Keane said after that. Should have pulled him on the Walters stuff for sure. Also should have been challenged on the fact he still thinks he’s capable of management…laughable.
@Paul Crampsie: the Walters stuff? How many things did he say that were wrong or untrue?
@Paul O Mahony: seen it on YouTube, not sure why everyone is getting so carried away, this article mentioned more about Walters personal life than I ever knew, Keane just mentioned the word “family” i think people may be taking it totally out of context because Keane is box office…. The audience seemed like a pack of clowns tho, laughing and jeering at every word was cringe..
@Paul O Mahony: why say it at all Paul, Walters went on TV talking about family circumstance…etc, standard chat show fair. Also gets blasted for being injured and not winning enough…like the majority of pro footballers everywhere. Keane ran to the media post Saipan(book and tv) when it suited him and constantly pulled sickies with Ireland only to be available for United next match( post World Cup play off v Iraq). He has zero self awareness which is why he has never developed as a person or manager.
Did keane not just state a fact to be fair. 100% true what he said. John Walters spent more time doing interviews than playing football. Look if you want decent lad who sit and have chat about your problems and life John may well be the man. If you want someone to drag you through the muck to reach your goals and then push you a little more roys the man. Hell of alot more ppl we should be looking at for inspiration before we head to Irish soccer team.
@Doire: someone who deliberately breaks a fellow professional‘s leg is a disrespectful knob. He is a bully and a traitor and shouldn’t be given any more attention!
An overrated knob jockey with a dubious character!
Legend, me hole maybe for Utd but certainly not for Ireland!
@Matt Beaumont: bitter much ?
@Matt Beaumont: you’re forgetting that Keane had those kinds of leg breaker tackles done on him all the time. Every team had a hatchet man back in those days, razor Ruddock, Vinnie Jones, Stuart Pearce, Viera, Duncan ferguson
@Stanley Baggins: he also never broke anybody’s leg but let’s not let facts get in the way here.
@Matt Beaumont: didnt break any legs on purpose, was sent home from world cup as thats what you refer to as a traitor. Overrated yet regarded, at least in premiership as one of the best ever. Winners and champions have dubious charachters.
Ah christ, stop flogging this story to death ! Every day now
@Chris Tobin: couldn’t agree more. It’s like how many more angles can we get on Roys throwaway line which was short of compassion admittedly but how surprising really is that given the things he’s said and done in the past? It was pretty much a given he’d say something controversial if you sat him in front of a microphone.
Keane. Great footballer. Dire manager. Brain of a pigeon. Social skills of a nettle.
Roy Keane has very little respect for players , he appears to believe that everyone has to agree with what his philosophy is, or was as a player . He appears to have no idea how to manage people and therefore is not fit to be in charge of any club. He will end up being sacked every time. Just go away and walk your dog for Gods sake.
Keane is a toe rag.