Never predict too early which amateur sports teams will do well mate
Too many unknowns
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Colm Keys: Who are young guns to watch out for as a brave new year dawns in Gaelic football?
Ruairi Murphy will aim to shine for Kerry. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Galwayâs Sam OâNeill, Corkâs Hugh OâConnor and Roscommonâs Shane McGinley are ones to watch out for in 2025. Photo: Sportsfile
Ruairi Murphy will aim to shine for Kerry. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Galwayâs Sam OâNeill, Corkâs Hugh OâConnor and Roscommonâs Shane McGinley are ones to watch out for in 2025. Photo: Sportsfile
Colm Keys
Today at 02:30
Will there be another OisĂn Conaty in 2025, a breakthrough player to make an impact like the young Armagh man did to scoop Young Footballer of the Year in his first full season?
Outside Armagh, Conaty wasnât as easily identifiable this time last year as a player who could progress as he did. But hope springs eternal in every county in these weeks as the search for new talent intensifies.
We look at 16 who could establish themselves in the months ahead.
Shane McGinley (Roscommon)
Roscommon is teeming with good forwards and McGinley will only compound selection issues in the months ahead. The young Strokestown man was the top scorer in last yearâs All-Ireland U-20 campaign with 4-31 as Roscommon won a Connacht title, losing to Tyrone in an All-Ireland semi-final. He packs a powerful shot as he showed in that Tyrone game but has a stride that can take him by defenders in one-to-one situations. Decent freetaker off the ground too.
Finnbar Roarty (Donegal)
There wonât be much personnel change from year-to-year in Donegal but Roarty, who just turned 19, is most likely to make headway. Remember last year he was played in their opening McKenna Cup game despite being ineligible as he was still U-18.
That was a sign of what they thought of him then. Twelve months on and the Naomh Conaill manâs trajectory keeps rising. He brings a strong physical presence in the tackle and has mobility to adapt to a quicker game. One spot looks open in the Donegal defence. Even at his age, Roarty is well placed to take it.
Tadhg McDonnell (Louth)
McDonnellâs was Louthâs fifth substitute against Donegal in last yearâs All-Ireland quarter-final, coming in for his debut at a time when the game was already decided. He had only joined the squad after an impressive Leinster U-20 campaign and still has another U-20 campaign ahead, which might limit league time. But beyond that he has the pace and the ball-carrying ability out of defence to dovetail with Craig Lennon and was impressive during St Maryâs Ardeeâs run to the Leinster final.
Sam OâNeill (Galway)
OâNeill has featured prominently for Galway in early season challenges. A real athlete, the St Jamesâ man covers ground easily and after overcoming a knee injury that left him sidelined at various stages in the last 12 months, he can provide league options between midfield and centre-forward.
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Cian McHale (Mayo)
The absence of a left-footed inside forward, especially one who can convert frees that suit such a kicker, has hurt Mayo in the past. Moy Davittsâ McHale will get an opportunity in the early stages of the league, to stake a claim in the absence of quite a few regulars. Long-range scores are a speciality for one of the best players in last yearâs Mayo intermediate championship that carry an added bonus.
Rossa Sloyan (Sligo)
The son of former Sligo forward and coach Dessie, Sloyan is a real prospect as a hard-hitting and attacking half-back who can score comfortably off his left side. Part of the countyâs Connacht U-20 winning team in 2023, he was U-20 last year but looks primed to step up in the months ahead.
SeĂĄn McEvoy (Cavan)
So much is thought of McEvoy that even when still U-18 and ineligible to play adult inter-county football, then Cavan manager Mickey Graham brought the Ramor United player into his 2020 training squad with an eye to the future.
Since then McEvoy embarked on a professional soccer career in the US for the last three years, based in Baltimore, where he played college soccer with Loyola University.
Prior to his departure in 2021, he helped Ramor to win their last county title, scoring 0-4 in the replay against Gowna. The former Republic of Ireland international can bring added pace and scoring power in tandem with Darragh Lovett.
Eoin McElholm (Tyrone)
Take your pick from the abundance of talent sweeping through in Tyrone but a place will surely be found for Loughmacroryâs McElholm, who has already debuted in the championship when he came on against Roscommon at half-time in last yearâs preliminary quarter-final. McElholmâs deep AFL ambitions have been put on hold for now and at half-forward or the inside line, Malachy OâRourke will have options for this prodigious talent that lit up last yearâs All-Ireland U-20 final with seven points from play.
James Madden (Dublin)
Now 25, Madden is home after a six-year spell playing AFL with Brisbane and it will take him time to adjust but with gaps in midfield. The 2017 Dublin Leinster minor title winnerâs pace and athleticism can provide an option across a variety of âmiddle eightâ positions.
RuairĂ Kinsella (Meath)
Kinsella made a couple of fleeting appearances off the bench in last yearâs championship but can expect to play a more prominent role in the months ahead, having featured in last yearâs league too. The 22-year-old played an important playmaking role in Dunshaughlinâs Meath SFC win in 2024.
Stephen Mooney (Monaghan)
The exciting Cremartin prospect was used sparingly last year, coming off the bench late just a couple of times in the championship having been a bit player in the early part of the league too. A year on, he should be much more prominent in the inside line to build on a promising underage career.
Ruairi Murphy will aim to shine for Kerry. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
RuairĂ Murphy (Kerry)
Murphy was close to a breakthrough in 2023 but a severe hamstring injury that required surgery sidelined him for all of 2024. Now back training, the 22-year-old Listry player will surely fill voids at half-forward left by Cillian Burke, Stephen OâBrien and Adrian Spillane who have departed and MicheĂĄl Burns who is not returning.
RuairĂ Forbes (Derry)
Forbes has been a big influence behind Ballinderryâs run to an All-Ireland intermediate club final and is one of Derryâs best prospects. For club he has been operating at wing-back, for the county U-20 team he has played midfield. Good on the ball in either position he gives new boss Paddy Tally options.
Colm Dalton (Kildare)
Players capable of kicking two-pointers from outside the new arc will see their stock rise and Dalton has had a good track record for that with the Kildare U-20s in recent seasons. An All-Ireland U-20 winner in 2023, the Sallins man can provide an athletic presence around the half-forward line.
Hugh OâConnor (Cork)
OâConnor has been centre-forward with Cork U-20s for the last few seasons and captained the team last year. With a number of defections in the off season, Cork are in the market for half-forwards and OâConnor can expect a swift introduction.
Darragh McMullen (Armagh)
A surprise inclusion for Armagh in last yearâs Division 2 league final against Donegal â he didnât feature again â his manager Kieran McGeeney was full of praise afterwards. âHeâs a good player and heâs going to be a great player,â he said. A creative force for his club Madden and Armagh U-20s at half-forward in the past, he can impress for the seniors.
Five players to watch in the 2025 Sigerson Cup
Duaghâs Cormac Dillon was the star for TomĂĄs Ă SĂŠâs Kerry U20 team last year and is already replicating that form for UCC.
Cormac Dillon, Cian McBride and Sam OâNeill.
Tue, 07 Jan, 2025 - 07:15
Maurice Brosnan
Cian McBride (TU Dublin)
Last year, TU Dublin came in as 4/1 underdogs and stunned a stacked University of Galway outfit in the opening round. The sides meet again this Tuesday in Grangegorman, thankfully the fixture will be live on the Higher Education YouTube channel.
TU Dublin can call upon Meathâs Cian McBride for the game. The former AFL pro spent four years with Essendon before returning to county football in 2024. McBride had tried to continue his college education in Australia, but the only viable opportunity was to do so as a foreign student which comes with costly fees.
McBride is a giant and athletic midfielder who won a Leinster minor in 2018. TU Dublinâs squad also contains some of their star performers from 2024, including Mayoâs Cian Hanley and Kildareâs Sean Hanifin.
Daire Cregg (UCD)
The story of last yearâs decider was the class kicking by the Canavan brothers at one end and Daire Cregg at the other. The Roscommon sharpshooter kicked 0-9, four from play, as they went down to Ulster University in Tralee.
Cregg is now captain of what is a remarkably strong UCD panel that includes Mayoâs Sam Callinan, Leitrimâs Barry McNulty and Roscommonâs Ben OâCarroll. The Boyle man had been linked with a move to the AFL but told Shannonside FM it wasnât for him.
âI suppose all those little things fed into the fact that I probably love the game too much and I donât feel Iâd be fully⌠that Iâd be getting the best out of myself over there because Iâd miss this side of things too much.â
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It will be tricky for an inter-county talent like Cregg to swap between the new rules and the old but brilliant forwards can find a home in either game.
Ronan McCaffrey (Ulster University)
The reigning champions had seven players on the Electric Ireland Team of the Year after triumphing for the first time since 2008. Two of them were from Fermanagh, Josh Largo Ellis and Ronan McCaffrey. After collecting his award, McCaffrey explained that he was the first player from Teemore Shamrocks to win a Sigerson with the university.
âWe were down in Kerry there and before the game, they were talking about the history of Jordanstown and how the club was founded. The strides they made over the last couple of years to go and win it. Fermanagh boys won more Sigerson with Queens than Jordanstown. It is nice, especially going back to the club.â
He also outlined their goal for 2025.
âThis is lovely. Hopefully, we will be back-to-back next year.â
The postponement of Dr Crokes and Errigal Ciaranâs All-Ireland semi-final until next Saturday should rule Ruairi Canavan out UUâs opener against ATU Sligo on Tuesday. McCaffrey is a powerful runner who excelled for his county throughout 2024. Donegalâs Ciaran Moore, Monaghanâs Gary Mohan, Derryâs Eoin McEvoy and Tyroneâs Eoin McElholm are also listed in their squad.
Sam OâNeill (University of Galway)
After a promising campaign with the Galway U20s in 2023, Sam OâNeill was called into Padraic Joyceâs senior side. He looked primed for a big season until he went down with a serious knee injury in the knockout stages of the club championship.
A torn PCL and meniscus saw him originally ruled out for four months. OâNeill was named in the 26 for the Connacht final but a setback in training saw him drop out.
The St Jamesâ clubman is fully fit and has played an extensive role in Galwayâs recent challenge matches. A club-mate of Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy, OâNeill partnered the star for his club yet can also operate in the half-forward line. Another University of Galway student who is now available for Maurice Sheridan is Cian Hernon. He missed the 2024 campaign due to Erasmus. Hernon impressed for Galway upon his return until a broken hand ruled him out of the All-Ireland semi-final and final.
Cormac Dillon (UCC)
Duagh and Kerry forward Cormac Dillon has carried his form into this year. He kicked five points in the Higher Education Division 1 League final victory over DCU with left and right.
Dillon won Munster U20 Player of the Year in 2024. He was a star in TomĂĄs Ă SĂŠâs side and is underage again this season. It was a welcome return for a prospect who endured injury issues throughout 2023. He finished the U20 championship with 0-8 in the decider against eventual winners Tyrone.
The entire UCC panel is split across two counties. 15 from Kerry, 20 from Cork.
Apparently under the new rules thereâs potential for a 5 point play.
If a team scores a goal, opposition abuse the ref, the ref can cancel the kickout and award a free in which can be moved outside the arc if preferred.
Correct.
Nothing wrong with that surely?
Nothing, Iâm just saying you could potentially be down 5 points from 1 play, thatâs all. Wasnât a scenario Iâd considered.
I think i mentioned it before but busy recruiting a dedicated man in the stand to abuse the ref of my behalf. Iâll have him micâd up so I can tell him what to shout.
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I see Rory Beggan kicked 0-6 for Monaghan this evening, surely a free outside the arc shouldnât be rewarded with 0-2? The whole point of the arc is to get teams shooting from distance what baring does it have when you stand over a free with nobody on you.
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I reckon thatâs going against the spirit of the rule a wee bit
Coach Poacher has not captured the hearts and minds of the Leitrim squad
What a surprise. @Massey where is the game on Sunday? I heard a rumor it isnt in PĂĄirc Sean?
An extra 9 minute drive.
You absolute bastards. I see what youâre at.
Talk it could be changed to St Osnatts now with the storm coming. @TreatyStones
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Ah hold fucking on now, that is fuckacting!!!
Depends on the 
weâre expecting next weekend.SOH have only done their field recently too and wonât want it ruined
Gway ta fuck - this is serious shithousery
Carlow are gonna do Meath arenât they?
Sensible choice
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bogball RIP