Colin oriordan selected as the eirgrid u21 player of the year
Tipperary’s Colin O’Riordan has today been honoured as the EirGrid U21 Player of the Year for 2015.
The midfielder received the award following a public vote on the official GAA Facebook page. Fans had been asked to select their EirGrid Player of the Year from a shortlist that also included Tyrone duo Cathal McShane and Lee Brennan.
Despite the disappointment of losing the EirGrid GAA Football U21 All-Ireland Championship Final by the narrowest of margins to Tyrone, O’Riordan received 3,602 votes to claim the prestigious title ahead of McShane on 2,856 votes, and Brennan with 1,422 votes.
The JK Brackens clubman is regarded as one of the most promising footballing talents to emerge from Tipperary, winning an All-Ireland Minor Football title in 2011 aged only 15. Last summer saw O’Riordan nominated for an All Star following his first campaign with the county’s senior football panel.
O’Riordan produced a host of standout performances in this year’s EirGrid U21 championship, including an impressive display against Cork which helped deliver the Premier County their second ever Munster U21 title.
The 19-year-old UCD student featured prominently again in the All-Ireland semi-final scoring two points as the Munster champions defeated a strong Dublin team to reach their first ever All-Ireland final at this level.
Although Tipperary came up short against Tyrone in the All-Ireland Final on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-13, O’Riordan played a captain’s role, leading the comeback against the Red Hand County with two long-range efforts as the final whistle closed in.
Forging a successful partnership with Steven O’Brien, the pair is regarded by many pundits as the best midfield pairing in the country.
Rosemary Steen of EirGrid commented; “On behalf of EirGrid, I am delighted to present Colin with the EirGrid GAA Football U21 All-Ireland Championship Player of the Year award. Colin displayed tremendous courage, skill and determination throughout this year’s campaign and we are thrilled that he is the inaugural recipient of this prestigious award. His performances embodied all that is good about the U21 championship. Many congratulations to Colin, his family, coaches and friends; all of whom have played an important role in his development. No doubt this will be one of many awards Colin will receive in years to come.”