DUBLIN FORWARD AARON Byrne has claimed the 2017 EirGrid U21 football player of the year award in the wake of their All-Ireland triumph last month.
The Na Fianna club man was central to Dessie Farrell’s side landing the title, netting the second goal that sealed Dublin’s success in the decider against Galway in Tullamore.
Previously Byrne had been in exceptional form for Dublin in striking 2-3 from play in their opening round win over Westmeath and then bagging 0-4 in both the Leinster final victory over Offaly and the All-Ireland semi-final success against Donegal.
Dublin team-mate Brian Howard and Galway defender Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh were the other nominees in the running, with Byrne receiving 46% of the votes that were cast last week on the official GAA social media channels.
Byrne was joined by seven of his Dublin team-mates in a selection of 21 players who stood out in this year’s U21 championship.
Beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway had five players included while Kerry (3), Donegal (3), Sligo (1) and Offaly (1) make up the rest of the list.
Goalkeepers
Evan Comerford – Dublin
Ronán Ó Beoláin – Galway
Defenders
Eoin Murchan – Dublin
Cian Murphy – Dublin
Cillian O’Shea – Dublin
Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh – Galway
Cillian McDaid – Galway
Brian Ó Beaglaoich – Kerry
Eoghan Bán Gallagher – Donegal
Midfielders
Brian Howard – Dublin
Andrew Barry – Kerry
Peter Cooke – Galway
Darragh Cummins – Sligo
Forwards
Aaron Byrne – Dublin
Con O’Callaghan – Dublin
Glenn O’Reilly – Dublin
Michael Carroll – Donegal
Michael Langan – Donegal
Michael Daly – Galway
Matthew Flaherty – Kerry
Shane Tierney – Offaly
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Imo Sean Andy shhould have got that award and votes should have been done by a panel of analysts … any player he marked he marked out off all the games he played they had to get moved off him especially in the Kerry game where there best forward got switched off him.. that includes the Dublin team where he was definitely man of the match on a losing team as well .
Yeah Sean Andy definitely should have got it. Was imperious in both the semi final and final. It was a public vote though and Dublin has a much bigger population than Galway hence the outcome.
@Sean Moore: Galway no.3 looks a top player no doubt and hopefully will be part of a new era for Galway football. To say he was imperious in the final, not sure, his direct opponent Con O’Callaghan scored 1-1 from play and won a free off Sean Andy for dublins first score of the game and O’Callaghan also laid off at least two gimme points directly. I thought it was a great contest between COC and Sean Andy and for my money the Galway man shaded it but imperious, no. Aaron Byrne was key in the victory for dublin as he was in the semi against Donegal. Neither Galway or Donegal were able to cope with the controlled direct running of the dublin half forward, for me he was the key man in the destination of the title this year. Hopefully we will see more great contests between these players in the years ahead.