Cork's Walsh wins U-21 Breaking Through award

Cork dual star Aidan Walsh has been selected as the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year for 2011.

On Leeside today he received his award of a specially commissioned trophy, plus a voucher for €1,000 courtesy of Bord Gáis Energy.

The Kanturk clubman was picked from a shortlist of seven that included Niall O'Donoghue, Niall Burke and Barry Daly, who all played a pivotal role in helping Galway lift the Cross of Cashel trophy for the first time since 2007.

Also in the running for the award were Dublin captain Liam Rushe, who led his team to the All-Ireland final, and Limerick duo Shane Dowling and Declan Hannon who picked up provincial medals in a hugely positive year for hurling in the Treaty county.

However, Walsh's outstanding performances throughout the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship put him top of the pile. His haul of eight points against Limerick in the Munster final was one of the finest individual performances witnessed throughout the inter-county season.

Playing at wing forward, the CIT student displayed his aerial prowess to great effect and scored all eight points from play, including an incredible long range effort in the dying seconds to send the game into extra-time. Unfortunately for the 2010 Young Footballer of the Year it was not to be, as Limerick finished as two-point winners to claim the Munster title.

Walsh also performed brilliantly in a thrilling Munster semi-final victory over the defending All-Ireland U-21 champions Tipperary where his tally of 1-1 helped overturn and dethrone the Premier men.

Ger Cunningham, Bord Gáis Energy Sport Sponsorship Manager, said: "The 2011 Bord Gáis Energy GAA U-21 Hurling Championship has been one of the most competitive in recent years. The quality and skill on show meant that it was going to be very tough to single out one player.

"However, Aidan was immense for Cork in their Munster Championship campaign. His performance in the Munster final was one of the best individual performances I have ever witnessed.

"With players of the calibre of Aidan coming through hopefully Cork will be back challenging for All-Ireland glory before long. Aidan is a prized possession and his dual star qualities are evident in the fact that he won the 2010 Young Footballer of the Year award."

The player himself commented: "I'm delighted to accept this award, especially considering the talent I was up against and I would like to congratulate the other lads for their own achievements this year.

"Unfortunately we were beaten in the Munster final by a very talented Limerick side and we felt we maybe should have won that match but it wasn't to be.

"There is a huge amount of work going into Cork hurling at underage levels and I'm sure we will be winning All-Irelands at all age groups before long. I'm very honoured to be accepting this award and would like to thank all involved in the selection process."

The selection panel consisted of Ger Cunningham, RTÉ's Marty Morrissey, Micheál Ó Domhnaill of TG4, All-Ireland U-21 winner Joe Canning and Waterford great Ken McGrath.