Rebel star O’Neill wins U21 award

COLM O’NEILL capped a month to remember when he was named the 2009 Cadbury Hero of the Future at Croke Park last night.

It was also confirmed that Cadbury is extending its sponsorship of the U21 football championship for a further three years, giving a clear indication that the beleaguered grade will survive the axe.

O’Neill was honoured as a result of his leadership and all-round influence while captaining Cork to success in the Cadbury’s All-Ireland U21 football championship.

Captaining an All-Ireland winning team was unbelievable,” he said. “It’s something you dream of since you were a young fella. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. Getting this award is a great honour as well but it’s all about the team.”

The Ballyclough marksman was pocketing his second All-Ireland medal at this grade, having played in 2007 as well, and it came as no surprise that he was one of a quartet from this year’s victorious panel to be called up to the senior squad by Conor Counihan this week.

The creative ciotóg joins Killian Young (Kerry), Fintan Goold (Cork) and Keith Higgins (Mayo) on an impressive list of previous winners of what is effectively a player of the season award for the U21 football championship.

He received his specially commissioned bronze award from GAA president Christy Cooney, who also presented his Cork compatriot with the Clarke Cup after that last gasp victory in the All-Ireland U21FC final over Down.

He was also given a €1,000 holiday voucher, while his club, Ballyclough, and Cork county board were each given a grant of €1,000. Fifteen footballers were shortlisted as part of the Cadbury Hero of the Future initiative which ran in tandem with the championship. The nominations come from the Hero of the Match (man of the match) selections in the provincial semi-finals and finals, as well as the All-Ireland series.

O’Neill was nominated following his performance in the Munster semi-final against Waterford. He was named overall winner as a result of public voting on www.cadburygaau21.com and the deliberations of an expert judging panel comprising Kildare footballer Dermot Earley, former Dublin manager Paul Caffrey and TG4 presenter Micheál O Domhnaill.

This 15 award nominees were: Gary Gaughan (Sligo), Ger Reddin (Laois), Stefan Forker (Armagh), Paul McComiskey (Down), Peter Fitzpatrick (Down), Conor Poland (Down), Colm O’Neill (Cork), Colm O’Driscoll (Cork), Ciaran Sheehan (Cork), Dean Kelly (Dublin), Patrick Andrews (Dublin), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Sean Carey (Tipperary), Brain Fox (Tipperary).