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SHARPSHOOTING hero David Clifford was named the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Footballer of the Year. The Minor Star Hurler and Footballer of the Year were announced on Saturday at the inaugural Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards lunch in Croke Park.

Kerry’s All-Ireland Minor winning forward, David Clifford of Fossa took a bow alongside Cork Minor corner forward Brian Turnbull, who secured the Electric Ireland Minor Star Hurler of the Year award.

Clifford was a key figure as Kerry secured their fourth Minor All-Ireland title in four years. The Fossa clubman scored 1-10 in the semi-final win over Cavan and 4-4 as Kerry defeated Derry in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Final.

Brian Turnbull had an equally impressive season for Cork’s Minors. While they lost out to Galway in the All-Ireland Minor Final, Turnbull scored 1-07 in the Croke Park showpiece. The Douglas star also scored 13 points in a Man of the Match display in the semi-final win over Dublin for a total of 1-51 for the Championship season.

Clifford and Turnbull were announced as part of the first Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards today. The event celebrated the Minor Footballing and Hurling Teams of the Year who were joined by their families and county managers in Croke Park.

Kerry legend Jack O’Connor was also honoured with the Minor Star Special Merit Award, presented to him by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, for his significant contribution to Minor football in Kerry.

The inaugural awards emphasise that there is “nothing minor about playing Minor” and so honour the best individual performers from the entire season, also recognising the crucial and admirable part played by the families, clubs and communities of players which allowed them to get to this point in their sporting career.

Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Football Team of the Year
1. Deividas Uosis (Kerry, Dingle)
2. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin, Cuala)
3. Conor McCluskey (Derry, Magherafelt)
4. Cian Gammell (Kerry, Killarney Legion)
5. Michael Potts (Kerry, Dr Crokes)
6. Padraig McGrogan (Derry, Newbridge)
7. Niall Donohue (Kerry, Firies)
8. Barry Mahony (Kerry, St Senan’s)
9. Oisin McWilliams (Derry, Swatragh)
10. Ross McGarry (Dublin, Ballyboden St Enda's)
11. David Clifford (Kerry, Fossa)
12. Donal O’Sullivan (Kerry, Kilgarvan)
13. Oisin Pierson (Cavan, Gowna)
14. Lorcan McWilliams (Derry, Swatragh)
15. Fiachra Clifford (Kerry, Laune Rangers)
 

 
Above: Electric Ireland presented Kerry's David Clifford with the 2017 Electric Ireland Minor Star Footballer of the Year award. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile